1930s Hairstyles

Woman Red Dress, Fashion Model in Retro Clothes Lace Collar

While searching for information, I came across a wonderful website filled with fashion and style in the 1930’s – Fashion Gone Rogue. I will be using the PRESS THIS button to share their research into the 1930’s and other eras.

When I chose the model for my cover off to the left (yes, I licensed the use from iStockPhoto.com), I thought that her long hair style with the barrel curls, middle part, and upswept hair at her temples closely matched the time period. I will admit, it’s probably closer to the late thirties – early forties.   Isabella’s story starts in her late teens in 1934, and the dress was definitely an eye-catching addition that gave me the idea for red dresses on all my covers.

Below is a link to Fashion Gone Rogue,  along with a few pictures I’ve carried over from the website.  Enjoy as you take a look at the hairstyles.  Waves, curls, and center parts were common.  Actually, these styles appear invitingly soft, framing the beautiful faces.

From Fashion Gone Rogue – Follow the Link for More

In the 1930s, the major trends for hairstyles were all about waves. With a softer look than the sleek bob and tight ringlets of the 1920s, women began wearing their hair in more feminine styles with parts sweeping to the side or down the middle. At the beginning of the decade, short hair still reigned …

Source: 1930s Hairstyles: Elegant Waves for Women

All my best,

Vicki

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1930’s and Fallen Women

Are there fallen women in every era? Well, since I’ve written mostly in the Victorian era and a little bit into the Edwardian, I thought that I would stretch myself both forward and backward in time. I’ve not visited the Regency era, because I haven’t studied it much (though I’ve read my share of Austen books).

As far as the 1930’s, and 1940’s, you can say I have a fascination mainly because those were the years my mother became a young woman.  She turned eighteen in 1930.  Her marriage to my father in 1940 had been her second time to the altar.  My mother lived until she was eighty-seven years old and never once told me that she had been married and divorced before she married my father.  The news came to me from my brother, and I recently confirmed it through my ancestral research finding the marriage certificate from 1935.  She was twenty-two when they wed.  Did she think it a scandal that should be kept secret from me because she divorced?  Frankly, I will never know.

Of course, every era has its view on courtship and marriage rituals.  They have evolved as the hemlines have risen and women dared to show their ankles to men.  What was considered scandalous in the early nineteenth century certainly wasn’t considered as risque in the 1930’s. Nevertheless, sex before marriage, out-of-wedlock pregnancies, divorce, and adultery all carry connotations of women who have missed the mark of perfection. The female who falls from morality’s heights is coined “fallen.” Men, on the other hand, are merely rogues who go on with their lives, for the most part, unscathed or perhaps to be avoided.   In my Google search of scandalous behavior in 1930’s England, King Edward VIII’s lifestyle shares in the results.  Even men partook in scandalous behavior in high society, making history.

Currently, I’m in the 1930’s with Lady Isabella.  Let make one thing clear – I’m no historian.  As a writer, though, I attempt to do my homework to avoid scathing reviews regarding my lack of knowledge.  Do I miss the mark?  Occasionally.  Do I take creative liberties?  Definitely.  However, my hope is to leave you with a story that pleases in the end.  As far as this era, I’ve always enjoyed the fashions, hairstyles, makeup, hats, and gloves. And who can forget about the handsome men in their three-piece, double-breasted suits? The  1930s were also the Golden Years of Hollywood, receiving condemnation from the church for the declining moral standards.  (Frankly, I think we’ve been blaming them ever since.)

In the posts ahead, I’ll be researching the morals, economics, political climate, fashions, hairstyles, and makeup of the various eras.  For this particular book, I have been learning about the 1936 Royal Ascot, since one of my scenes is placed during that event.

All of my ladies in this series will be wearing a red dress on the cover.  I thought it appropriate fashion based on the disgraceful behavior of my new characters.  After all, the red dress has been the iconic indication in most instances of bad female behavior.  Can anyone forget Scarlett O’Hara’s grand entrance into Ashley’s birthday party and the meaning behind that scene?  It has gone down in history.

I’ll be back with more about the 1930’s.

Fondly,

Vicki

Every Era Has Its Fallen Women

Welcome to my new blog for Ladies of Disgrace, which will be a new series of books released about fallen women in different eras. My first three ladies to take their walk of shame with my readers are named below but there may be more in the future. You’ll find one common element in each of the covers:

Lady Isabella
Lady Grace
Lady Charlotte

As I write about each era, I will be posting any research or historical tidbits of interest. If you are familiar with my books, you will find other blogs linked below for The Legacy Series and Dark Persuasion where I have done the same. As an author, I find that writing about my research experiences while I pen the story is a therapeutic break from plotting.

My first lady of disgrace, Isabella, is set in the 1930’s, which is an entirely different era. Of course, that means I’m off to Google, Wikipedia, and other resources to look up tidbits during this time period. A lot happened from 1934-1937 when my story is set. Perhaps, as I write about them, you will already be familiar with a few.

As in some of my more recent books, I’m going to use the name of my ancestors. Jane Isabella Burrows is the name of my great-grandmother, who was a stubborn woman. I will be dedicating Lady Isabella to her memory, along with a short quip on her tenacious personality.

It’s hard to believe that my mother was twenty-four years old in 1936. I have a few interesting pictures of her during those years and this one is a favorite. She’s is the young lady on the left, and I’m sure her strawberry blonde hair must have been glowing in the sun. Of course, I can’t help but wonder what wild times these ladies had together. Who knows what shenanigans they were up to when this photo was taken?

Nevertheless, I hope that you will come along for the ride as I begin to post while writing the first book. You can track my progress off to the side. As you can see, I’m starting Chapter 12 and have already passed the 23,000-word mark of a 50,000-word goal.

Welcome to The Ladies of Disgrace.

Other Book Blogs:

• The Legacy Series
• Dark Persuasion