During the beginning of the 1930s times were tough because the economy was very poor, the worst it had been in decades. These years were known as the Great Depression. Many Americans did not have the money to get the newest styles of clothing so they did whatever they had to do to be up to date when it came to fashion. Women felt that fashion was important when times were tough. Women in at the beginning of the 1930s would go to many heights to save money on clothes while still looking trendy. Some women would sew extra fabrics onto their once short dresses to lengthen them. The long dresses became popular among women. Fashion was often a response to social changes and the economy, so the long dresses reflected the economic slump that was occurring. Another popular trend you would see among all Americans was colors of black, navy, and gray reflecting the gloomy mood of the time. Manufactures, in response to the Depression, cut their prices and produced new lines of ready to wear clothes. They made practical clothes that people could afford and that were washable fabrics. One way for women to save money was to wear less clothes than before and use the less expensive fabrics like Rayon and cotton. "Coco" showed a collection of evening dresses that promoted cotton and cut nearly 50% off prices in 1931. Americans needed their lives to be as non stressful as possible, so ready to wear clothes that were washable were very practical. During the later 1930s economy was not as depressed, so styles changed and more variety was seen. Shoes showed a variety of styles like sandals and more practical daytime shoes. Evening clothes also became very different from daytime clothes. During the day women's clothes were practical for housework and daily chores while at night they dressed elegant.
Even though times were tough, Americans still loved the movies. It was a great way for Americans to forget about the hardships and dream big. The movie industry impacted what new fashion trends appeared in the 1930s. The short bob became popular for women after Greta Garbo styled her hair like that. Women also copied Marlene Dietrich's eyebrows. Many women could buy clothes seen in films in department stores or catalogs. Some magazines even showed women how to sew their own outfit that looked just like a movie stars. This was a great way for women who were troubled economically to still keep up with the latest trends. Children were also impacted by Hollywood idols like Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, and Shirley Temple. Shirley Temple resembled sweetness and innocence, so mothers were all over that idea. Mothers dressed their little girls like Shirley Temple and did their hair in tight curls. Another popular movie style was the cowboy, western theme. Young boys and even adults started to wear western-style shirts and follow the trend. The movies were often times fun movies like Wizard of Oz and Shirley Temple movies because movies were supposed to be an escape. The popularity of movies is what led fashion designers to follow trends that movie stars had set.
Men in the early 1930s often dressed very dull. Their clothes because the Great Depression brought an extremely conservative style. Business and social ettiquette required them to still wear heavy, dark suits, collars, ties, and hats. The suits were often cut close and fit tight to their bodies to save money on fabric. Men were required to wear hats outside the home. The later 1930s brought more economic support which also brought men more freedom in clothing. In the later 1930s there were less restrictions on mens fashion because it was not as necessary to save as much money as possible. Men were often portrayed as masculine and earthy men in the movies, so as movies were on the rise in popularity, fashion reflected it. Young men like the Bohemain artists and writers felt dealing with serious world problems was more important than appearance. These young men often dressed basic with longer, straight hair.
Sports were on the rise also. In the 1930s a trained, athletic body was "key to happiness". Women saw more shorts and shorter skirts in the 1930s for maximum movement while participating in sports. In menswear the athletic look also became popular. Another popular craze was spectator-sports clothes for those who enjoyed just watching.