Discuss The Flapper
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Who or what are flappers?
posted by wonder2wonderSTAFFMOD on February 8, 2023 at 7:34 AM
Flapper:
. [Definitions from Oxford Languages]:
(in the 1920s) a fashionable young woman intent on enjoying herself and flouting conventional standards of behaviour.
. Wikipedia:
The slang term "flapper" may derive from an earlier use in northern England to mean "teenage girl", referring to one whose hair is not yet put up and whose plaited pigtail "flapped" on her back, or from an older word meaning "prostitute". The slang word "flap" was used for a young prostitute as early as 1631.
... Excerpts from Flapper Hairstyles – A 1920’s Revolution:
Bobbed hair was first made popular by dancer Irene Castle, as far back as 1916, is the definitive hairstyle look for the 1920’s. Known as the Castle Bob it was simply a tousled straight round cut that was level with the lobes of the ears. As the 1920’s advanced, it became synonymous with the flapper look. To wear your hair short was a major statement by a woman, one of independence.
In Paris, fashion designer Coco Chanel had her locks cropped. Young Hollywood stars such as Colleen Moore and Louise Brooks took the page boy look, also known as the ” Dutch Bob ” This is probably the most definitive and iconic bobbed hairstyle remembered today.
Reply by genplant29
on February 8, 2023 at 11:57 AM
I never heard of this 1920 Silent before. Neat thread you've created, wonder!
I think of a flapper as doing a specific reckless-abandon "flapping" type of dance, having a very short bobbed hairstyle (often quite bushy), wearing a certain general style of dress, and frequently the back-then requisite fashion accessory of a cloche hat. Probably also sporting "bee stung" lips.
Pre-1930s Joan Crawford, before she reinvented herself for sound-era films, was considered the quintessential flapper.
Reply by wonder2wonder
on February 8, 2023 at 1:24 PM
I don't post a lot about movies from the Pre-Code Era and Silent Era, but I do watch them regularly.
Those were the times when everything seemed simpler, more 'peaceful', compared to now with all the modern technology.
Movies relied more on the actors acting than on all the special effects.
Fortunately there are many 'old' movies on YouTube.
Reply by genplant29
on February 8, 2023 at 2:29 PM
I've always been fascinated with, and felt like I'd be perfectly at home living in, the mid 1910s through early '40s. I get that naturally from having had parents who were 44 years my senior (I'm of the late Baby Boomer generation incidentally), who regularly spoke (mostly fondly) of their childhood through early adulthood years that transpired during that precise era. My mom was an avid movie goer during her childhood through teens and into 20s, which definitely, 100%, is where I get my fandom of, and easy, comfortable familiarity with, movies and stars of former times.
It's a shame so many young people of today want no parts of any of that. Many refuse to even watch anything that's in b&w. They truly are missing out on so much great/good, as well as interesting, or simply entertaining, stuff.
Reply by wonder2wonder
on February 8, 2023 at 3:07 PM
Yes, I agree. Many young people prefer the new movies and television shows. Anything 'old' is slow and boring. They complain about the sound,the resolution, the old-fashioned dialogue, etc. Most writers and actors are also young and whenever they are interviewed, I get the impression that they know very little about movies and shows from more than twenty years ago, except for the popular ones that have their 'fandoms'. If it was possible, I would travel back in time...