Tonie Carrol - Hello Ma Baby - 1930 - Press Play Button

 During this period there was a fashion war between the two coasts

From a San Francisco Newspaper in 1890:  NEW YORK thinks It proper to Inform us of her latest whims and oddities In frills and fur bottoms. She is a little nearer to Paris than we are, and naturally feels that she can give us "pointers." Strange to say, she has not so far demanded that the hair be dressed low. Paris threw us Into a panic in the early spring by giving us fair warning, but her second has not followed the example, for which most of us are duly thankful.

But this latest coiffure? What is It? Well, after all, it is not so very different from what you are wearing right now, that is, if you are affecting the loose, easy, careless fashion.

The ornaments are where the difference comes in. A silk hair ornament, liberally sprinkled with jet or beads or silk flowers, is worn very low, almost at the nape of the neck in fact.

To even things up a bit, silk flowers are set high in the coiffure. Not primly, but naturally and gracefully, just as though they were perfectly at home. Some people cannot stand the low effect, so a sunburst of diamonds Is cunningly fastened in the soft pompadour. It tends to make the hair droop over the eye a trifle, and at the same time makes a decidedly swell ornament.

From The San Francisco Sunday Call on 11/24/1901 

Would You Wear This In Public - These women did in 1902.

 The Highest Award For Fashion In 1919?(would this have made today's best dressed list?)

The fine print: EXPERT judgment representing foremost retail garment establishments of the country and the leading fashion journals declared our exhibit at the Shelton Looms Fashion Show held at the Ritz-Carlton to be the most beautiful garment in entire competition and granted it the first award called "The Supreme of 1919". Originality of design, interpretation of fabric and standard of workmanship are the features which the judges had to pass upon in arriving at their decision. Their award stamped our production as being "Supreme" in all of these qualifications.

The Boston Clothing Store Sale: From the Daily Bee, Omaha, Nebraska, 1892

"The unanimous verdict of the public is : "There is no holiday display in Omaha that can be compared with-that of the "Boston Store" There is but one holiday bazaar worthy of the name and that is right here at Boston Store. Our immense basement is piled up from floor to ceiling with thousands of toys and dolls , enough for every boy and girl in the whole state. People are dumbfounded on beholding the display. Our book department is immense. The handkerchief department is something wonderful. The plush goods , fancy goods , and glove departments are innovations that are bewildering in their greatness.."

Check out the descriptions like "Swellest and Nobbiest Cloaks"

This cartoon from the Mahoning Dispatch, Canfield, Ohio 08/22/1913 pretty much sums up the fashion of the day

Up next: Men's fashion and Hats