Back To The 1920's!

Since all the year 11s and up have already left school to go on study leave, the year 7-10s are left here by ourselves. Last year and the years before, the year 7 and 8s have been doing an arts kete project but this year the teachers have tried to shake it up a bit. We are now doing an activity that involves year 7-10s called Passion Project. The teacher have organized what 'subjects' they would want to teach within it. I have chosen Musical Theatre. The production we are doing is a stage performance to Bugsy Malone, which is set in the 1920's. That brings us to our next question; What was the 1920's period of time like? What style of clothes did they wear? What were the roles of male and female?

For starters, the buildings in the 20's were very much like apartments. They have a close resemblance to the modern buildings these days in big cities such as New York. Even though I wasn't born anywhere the 20's decade, I'd presume that the building's structures weren't that secure. That reason is because (in Christchurch) after the 2011 earthquake, it was only then that the buildings got soildly got built with a metal frame for extra support. Comparing the 20's to the 2000's, we are a whole lot more modern. 

The fashion for that period of time is quite 'strict' The ladies were expected to wear a short jacket/coat and a classy dress underneath, especially when going out. The man were required to wear a formal suit that is basically a tuxedo. They have to wear preferably black, grey or white jacket with a white long sleeve top underneath it, matching coloured (to the jacket) pants and black shoes. To add another sense of elegance, they would add a bow tie or just a tie. What makes this style different to the one we use these days, is the 'bowling hat' (or any classic hat) they'd add to the outfit.. 

The jobs back in those days were restricted according to gender. Males would do the hard stuff to make a living for their families such as work on the farm, salesman, movie producers etc. Women were expected to stay at home and look after the house by clean it, cooking meals, sewing clothes and looking after children ect. If they did want to get a job, they would have to get a job as a librarian, clothes maker or something simple like that.They also didn't get the right to vote either (until NZ was the first country to allow women to vote).