Fashion trends of the 1930s were a response to the Depression. They included synthetic fabrics that could be more cheaply manufactured than using natural fibers (rayon instead of cotton, nylon stockings instead of silk); recycled burlap flour sacks; color and pattern to liven up otherwise dreary lives; and zippers which were less labor intensive to install than buttons or other fasteners. For the few remaining wealthy folks, winter vacations in the Mediterranean and the Bahamas allowed them to sport tans emphasized by sparkling white dinner jackets and shimmering ivory evening gowns. Read more about fashion trends across the decades in A Brain. A Heart. The Nerve. (see NOVELS).
