Music and Fashion of the 1920s

The 1920s was such a busy decade with so many different angles to view from.
The previous post I did on the 1920s fashion was focused more on prohibition and rebellion whereas this post will be focused on how jazz music influenced the fashions of the '20s!

In the 1920s, a new form of music was introduced: jazz music. Jazz captivated cities with the melodies and beats fit for dancing wildly through the night. The Charleston quickly became the dance craze to flow with the new music. It was then that the people realized how unsuitable the Victorian apparel was for the new ways of dancing.

First, the drop-waist was introduced along with strands of beads and pearls that  would "flap" as the ladies danced. The new lower waist allowed women to move and dance more freely without being constricted by a corset.

 

Next came the loosely fitted and shapeless dress. This again allowed easier movement and created the desired boyish figure.

 Along with the boyish look came the short hairstyle. Not only were these in favor of the rebellion, but also were more practical and comfortable for dancing all night to the fabulous jazz music.

The History of Wedding Rings

Because I am just a hopeless romantic at heart, this week's post is all about the history of wedding rings and the logic behind them!

The earliest exchange of rings to symbolize love was in ancient Egypt. Along the Nile River there was a plant called papyrus that would be bent and shaped into rings.

The rings are shaped like circles to symbolize eternity. Because a circle has no beginning nor end, the marriage will therefore have no end. A circle is continuous, as is the love in the marriage. The hole in the middle also symbolizes the gateway into the life the husband and wife now share.

Later, the materials the rings were being made of were replaced by longer-lasting materials such as leather, ivory, and even bone. It wasn't until much later that rings began to be made from gold. However, even before gold rings, it was still thought to be that the more expensive the material was, the more the man loved his wife.

Of course, the Romans couldn't resist on adopting this adornment--but not without putting their own spin on it first. They began to make the rings out of iron and it's also believed that they were the first to engrave their rings.

The Christians later adopted this tradition and came up with the other tradition of wearing the ring on the fourth finger of the left hand. During the wedding ceremony when the bride and groom exchange rings, the minister would take the ring and tap the thumb and say, "In the name of the Father," tap the index finger, "the Son," tap the middle finger, "and the Holy Spirit," then he would place the ring on the ring finger and say, "Amen" thus sealing the marriage.

The other reason for wearing the wedding ring on the fourth finger on the left hand was because it was believed that there was a vein in that finger that lead straight to the heart called "Vena Amoris" or the "Vein of Love."