What event during this time may have sparked this newfound independence of women and ushered in an era of adopting more modern societal values

The 1920s marked the beginning of an unprecedented era of freedom for women. Not only did they gain the right to vote in 1920, but women also began to play a more active role in sports, social life and even the workplace. In accordance with their changing roles in society, women adopted new fashions that permitted them more freedom of movement than the tight-laced Victorian and Edwardian garments they had previously worn.

Undergarments and Hosiery

The revolution in women's garments began from the inside out as women discarded corsets in favor of the new brassieres. Bulky knickers and long drawers were replaced by more comfortable bloomers, which later evolved into panties as the decade progressed. Stockings, which had formerly been heavy black wool, were now beige in color and made of lightweight rayon and silk. Shorter hemlines which displayed the leg up to the knee led to the manufacture of patterned stockings with fancy embroidery, meant to be seen.

Sportswear and Bathing Suits

Women in the 1920s increasingly participated in active sports, and new types of sportswear were designed to better accommodate their needs. Lady golfers were outfitted in pleated, knee-length skirts, while tennis players wore slim-fitting, lightweight dresses. Women also adopted certain items of menswear for outdoor activities, such as plaid wool lumberjack shirts, knickers and Fair Isle sweaters. Women bathers snapped up the new form-fitting, stretch knit swimsuits, and several manufacturers who got their start at this time -- Catalina, Cole and Jantzen -- are still big names in today's swimwear industry.

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