The Etiquette of Changing Fashions

The new freedoms of women after World War I brought the “flappers” and their shorter hemlines, bare legs, and bare-backed dresses. These styles brought new problems in etiquette... “Several nights ago a dozen barelegged and bare-backed women surprised an exclusive west-end restaurant by appearing on the dance floor. Customers who remembered the Victorian days gasped and several of them hurriedly left ... Complaints were dispatched!”

Half Dressed Women Annoy London Police 

(By United Press) LONDON, July, 27 — The Lord Chamberlain's office was given a new problem in etiquette today, involving the appearance of women dancers without stockings. Several nights ago a dozen barelegged and bare-backed women surprised an exclusive west-end restaurant by appearing on the dance floor. Customers who remembered the Victorian days gasped and several of them hurriedly left the place. Complaints were dispatched to the Lord Chamberlain's office in an effort to force a decision on whether bare-legged women could dance in cabarets. The bare-leg fad has gained popularity among office women, tennis players and suburban shop girls. — 1931

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Etiquette and French Calves

According to all rules of precedent and etiquette, if knee breeches must be donned, and nature has been unkind to the wearer he must call in artificial aid.

Coronation Calves to Order
A Parisian Industry Being Boomed by Thin British Shanks

Parisians must and will be amused. When there is nothing to occupy their attention they upset ministries and raise barricades. Consequently one must not begrudge them their joke, even if it is a “false calf.” 

It would appear, or at least Parisian news-sheets tell us so, that a certain quantity of artificial calves are being manufactured in Paris in view of the Coronation festivities. We are not all Pickwicks, with a well-filled gaiter, and when, according to all rules of precedent and etiquette, knee breeches must be donned, if nature has been unkind to the wearer he must call in artificial aid. Consequently the trade in artificial calves is very brisk. 

It has been found, however, that even without such an incentive as the coronation fetes the artlficial-calf industry is regularly occupied in manufacturing such articles for home consumption. Frenchmen must not chaff England in this respect, for every year numerous French cyclists, society men—yes, and society women —invest thirty francs in padding for their nether limbs. 

We must therefore add another article to the list of adulterated and imitated goods mentioned above, for even legs are not always what they seem. —From the Los Angeles Herald, as printed in the Paris Messenger, 1902

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia