Final answer:
After World War I, women's fashion saw a shift towards simpler, more practical attire such as the flapper style, with shorter dresses and hair, symbolizing freedom and liberation. This reflected broader societal changes, including women's increased independence and the challenging of traditional norms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Changes in Women's Fashion Post-World War I
The L-85 regulations and the societal shifts following World War I led to significant changes in women's fashion. As patriotism surged during the war, women donated their metal corsets, leading to a permanent decline in corset sales. In the 1920s, the iconic flapper style emerged, characterized by knee-length dresses, which were modest yet accentuated movement for new dance styles. This era's fashion minimized the female form, contrasting sharply with the voluptuous Gibson Girl silhouette of the early 1900s.
New freedoms in dress were partly driven by practicality—women had to adapt their attire for work in farms and factories during the war, leading to more comfortable and less constricting clothing. These changes reflected the shift in women's roles and their growing independence.
Post-war disillusionment and the Jazz Age further influenced fashion as young women opted for shorter skirts and hair, and bolder makeup choices. The rise of the flapper reflected not just a fashion trend but symbolized a broader movement of women’s liberation and the challenging of traditional social norms. With the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment in the U.S., women’s social expression through fashion became intertwined with their expanding political power.