Entering Modernity: 1920S Fashion from the Parodi Costume Collection
The dawn of modernity in fashion after the turn of the 20th century is a story of the many forms of freedom and the quest to represent a new sense of self. Following the global upheavals of the First World War and the women’s suffrage movement, the Roaring ’20s witnessed radical social and sartorial transformation as a new generation emerged, liberated from the confinements of the past. Upending deeply entrenched traditions and domestic expectations, the modern women of the 1920s embraced new careers, new experiences, and new attires — freed from the constrictive garments of their forebearers.
As fashion design evolved, mirroring larger societal shifts, simple, relaxed silhouettes gained popularity, emphasizing a gamine body shape that celebrated youth culture. Most notably, the introduction of the cocktail dress, with its sleek layers of delicate silks and beads, became an enduring emblem of the age and the nascent “flapper” aesthetic. In Entering Modernity: 1920s Fashion from the Parodi Costume Collection, viewers are immersed in more than 50 works by era-defining designers such as Paul Poiret, Madeleine Vionnet, Jeanne Lanvin, and Jean Patou, who embodied the decade’s ethos of experimentation and convention-defying artistry.
The exhibition is curated by Francisca Parodi, founder of the Parodi Costume Collection, and Gonzalo Parodi, director of the Parodi Costume Collection, in partnership with Rafael Gomes, creative director of SCAD FASH museums.
ABOUT THE PARODI COSTUME COLLECTION
Founded by Francisca Parodi in the mid-1960s, the Parodi Costume Collection is dedicated to sartorial conservation, research, and education. Maintaining a vast archive of well-preserved pieces from significant moments in fashion history, from the mid-1800s to the late 20th century, the Parodi Costume Collection features a wealth of garments, accessories, and ephemera that explicate the enduring influences of the past. Located in Miami and open to visitors, the Parodi Costume Collection curates its extensive holdings in exhibitions that explore the impact of fashion on greater society.
Images courtesy of SCAD FASHION and FILM museum.