Final answer:
In the 1920s, as women's fashion embraced shorter skirts and a more liberated lifestyle exemplified by the flapper, rolled stockings became popular. These stockings highlighted the visible legs and ankles, fitting the era's trend towards simplicity and practicality, and the social movement towards greater personal freedom and rebellion against traditional norms.
Step-by-step explanation:
As skirts grew shorter in the 1920s, rolled stockings became popular. The 1920s witnessed a dramatic shift in fashion and societal norms, especially for women. The end of World War I brought about new freedoms in clothing, as women had taken on new roles during the war and retained a sense of empowerment and independence in peacetime. The era's fashion was marked by a trend towards simplicity and practicality, and this was reflected in women's attire.
The flapper, an embodiment of the Jazz Age female stereotype, often wore knee-length skirts, discarded corsets, cut their hair into bobs, and engaged in social activities like drinking, smoking, and dancing. The flapper's dresses were characterized by straight lines that de-emphasized the female form, particularly the hips and bust, and instead highlighted the legs and ankles, which was further accentuated by the popularity of rolled stockings. These fashion trends underlined the era's shift towards a more permissive and rebellious youth culture, contrasting sharply with the conservative dress and mores of previous generations.
By shedding more restrictive forms of dress, the women of the 1920s embodied the 'New Woman'—one who was more liberated, confident, and expressive both in appearance and behavior. Rolled stockings, being visible due to the shorter skirt lengths, became a fashionable and rebellious statement that complemented the flapper's desire for freedom and fun.