Between The Wars Part 1

You may have seen the photographs from RAF Cosford, I posted way back in November of last year, and I promised to explain all well here you are. That trip to RAF Cosford was to be the starting point of my exploration into the world of planes, machinery, Art deco and 1920’s –1930’s garments. I went there to gain ideas and inspiration to create a garment and a final printed fabric for a brief entitled Between The Wars. The brief was to create eveningwear for either a male or female and to design and use a final length of fabric all inspired by planes, machinery, all things Art Deco and the 20’s and 30’s. I decided that I would design and make a suit for a man so began researching.

Colour scheme

Any icy range of metallic colouring trimmed with very soft colours. Pastel tones, here and there, bring their childish touch. This season we still like all the shades that gray reveals.

I took a large variety of photographs whilst at RAF Cosford; I was really excited by the prints, badges and paintwork that decorated the planes tanks and machinery. I knew that this is where I was going to focus my attention on the print side of things.

I started to look at styles and suits that were worn in the 20’s and 30’s. Older men in the 20’s and 30’s still wore Edwardian style clothes, formal frock coats or morning coats, and tails and white tie for eveningwear. But the younger generation were choosing a more relaxed style.

High waist trousers were made very popular in the 20’s they were found on a trousers named Oxford bags. Young men at Oxford University began the rage for wearing the Oxford bags, baggy flannel trousers that were half a metre wide at the bottom or more! Adapted from sportswear, these were one of the more outrageous styles of the century. Personally I think the look terrible, but I loved the idea of having high waist trousers so I began looking for more examples of high waist trousers and designing.