The Great Gatsby: Flappers

The ideal flapper was “lovely, expensive, and about nineteen.” Flappers were young ladies in the 1920’s who were rebellious with the way they dressed and the way they acted. Flappers seemed to cling to youth as if it were to leave them at any moment. The flappers would marry at a later age. They would also smoke and consume alcohol in public places. Most commonly in speakeasies, because during the 1920’s prohibition was illegal. Flappers became known for their careless lifestyles. Instead of wearing long dresses the flappers would wear short shapeless knee high dresses, making it easier for the women to dance to the new aged music jazz. They wanted to be more independent and have similar rights as the men, so they would dress more man-like. The flappers took risks and

with that soon became able to vote with the men. Flappers kept their hair short and curly, known as the “bob”. With a hair style like that the girls would wear a bell shaped hat called the “cloche.” Women got the name flappers because when they would walk with galoshes on, they would keep them unbuckled causing them to make a flapping noise.