The 1920s were a decade that reverberates through history as one of opulence, rebellion, and transformation. Known as the Roaring ’20s, this era exploded with innovation in fashion, music, and culture, while society was forever reshaped by movements of defiance and the constant search for new freedoms. From the jazz-filled speakeasies of New York to the sparkling flapper dresses gliding across dance floors, these images bring the energy, extravagance, and contradictions of the decade to life. Here are 20 images from America’s golden age, the Roaring ’20s.
1. The ’20s were the height of live music.
Some of the meanest brass bands in the world were from the 1920s.
2. Looking good in the Roaring ’20s.
You can tell by the slicked-back hair and the new car that this man is going out tonight.
3. Athletic footwear was different in the 1920s.
Only in a time like the ’20s would someone wear high heels to play tennis.
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4. Whatever these hats from this era are called, I need one.
It looks like this man is about to do some illegal gangster activity.
5. Being goth in 1920.
So many people were obsessed with goth trends.
6. Class photo from a school in Missouri, 1920.
Many of those kids went to school with bare feet.
7. This photo from Vanity Fair is extremely terrifying.
I’m happy fashion trends like this ended before I was born.
8. He’s got some Roaring ’20s swag.
It’s funny how men’s style doesn’t change all that much. In the ’20s, we were wearing suits, and today, we still wear suits.
9. Check out that industrial hair dryer.
It’s like a bunch of leaf blowers aimed at her face.
10. Vintage gangster mugshots from the 1920s.
Here’s a crew you wouldn’t want to mess with. These guys did some sick things to their enemies.
11. Hairstyles in the ’20s.
Everyone had the same wavy-hair thing going on.
12. The style from the Roaring ’20s even made its way to China.
The Last Emperor of China, mid-1920s.
13. A gentlemen’s club, 1920.
Why did canes ever stop being popular?
14. Back when bathing suits actually had some style.
You wouldn’t catch a single soul in a bathing suit like this today.
15. Beauty contest winners, 1922.
I wonder if people will look at our beauty standards in 2125 and think, “hmm”.
16. Stan Hywet Hall, 1920s.
A car like this in the ’20s put you at the top of society’s list.
17. A veteran and his wife, 1920s.
This couple’s love story had a tragic ending, leaving them both fatally wounded.
18. Here’s what Christmas looked like in 1920.
Some of those gifts would still hold up today.
19. This family is celebrating in style.
Those striped shirts and hats make it look like these guys work for the circus.
20. The women’s swim team, 1920.
Those don’t look like beach shoes.
