The shirtwaist was a popular day look for many women and was easier to maintain than traditional gowns. The ensemble consisted of a shirtwaist, or light cotton blouse, usually pared with a dark skirt. This look provided more options of dress at a smaller price and the demand for the shirtwaist became so high, their production is often credited with the development of the ready-made clothing market.
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After the extreme contortion of the "s bend" the preferred look of women became more cylindrical in shape. Waling suits for the day and elaborately beaded gown in the evening gowns were the preferred style, obviously for those who could afford them. The three piece walking suit was often pared with large, ostentatiously decorated hats, the goal was for the body to look as narrow as possible and the large hats aided to this illusion. This popular style of dress is commonly associated with the doomed ocean liner Titanic which sank in 1912, at the apex of this fashion trend.
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The svelte look of the "Titanic fashion" continued to be the most popular style, the only major change being the length of the skirt. By 1914 the skirt hem stopped at the ankles, the preceding fashion of the Twenties. Asymmetrical walking suits with smaller hats were the preferred look for the daytime and the most impressive changes in fashion occurred with eveningwear. There was a great interest in Eastern fashion and Turkish pants and oriental garments were all of the rage and the most popular designer of the time being Paul Poiret.
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