Hemlines: Up in '25, Down With the Crash -- legs were more exposed than ever
before.
In 1920 skirts were nine inches off the ground (hovering at the lower calf).
In 1923, waistlines began to drop to a point between the natural waist and
hips, while styles continued to be loose and baggy. In 1924 the waistline
dropped to the hip. In 1925, "shift" type dresses with no waistline emerged.
Hemlines rose to the knee. In 1927, dresses became more fitted and were being
worn with straight bodices and collars. Tucks at the bottom of the bodices
were popular, as well as knife-pleated skirts. These changes laid the foundation
for the elegantly styled fashions of the 1930s. In 1929, the hemline the
plummeted (along with the stock market) back down to the lower calf.
Stockings were made of silk and had back seams; the sheerer the better. Casual, or sport stockings, were made of cotton lisle. Stockings were affixed with garters attached to corsets, or they were rolled just above the knee and held fast with pretty elastic garters. Patterned hose from Paris was in vogue for a while, with beautiful handpainted designs or embedded rhinestones near the ankle.