Woman's Vest c. 1920s

Editor: This is a Woman's Vest, created around the 1920s, and the artist is unknown. It looks like it's made of textile with really elaborate beaded embellishments. The colors and patterns give it a lively, almost celebratory feel. What do you see in this piece that might tell us more? Curator: It's tempting to see this vest as simply a decorative object, but I think we need to dig deeper. The Art Deco period, from which this comes, saw immense shifts in women's roles and fashion. Consider this: Who was likely to wear such an item? How did it reflect the changing socio-political landscape for women at the time? Editor: So, it's more than just a pretty garment? It makes me think about how clothing can represent someone's identity. Curator: Precisely! Think about how women in the 1920s were pushing boundaries, entering the workforce, and demanding more rights. Garments like this could have signaled independence and a break from more restrictive Victorian styles. What about the use of potentially mass-produced beads and textiles versus hand-crafted detail -- how does that tension speak to a shifting cultural identity? Editor: I didn't even think about the materials. It makes me wonder about class and access. Was it for the everyday woman or just a symbol of the elite flapper? Curator: That is an important intersectional point to consider. Access would definitely dictate who would wear this item, thus constructing identity by affiliation or aspiration. The garment itself may be considered to represent the rise of the New Woman while simultaneously barring entry based on class. Editor: This has really changed how I look at it. Now I'm thinking about it less as just 'art' and more as a document of a specific moment. I will be researching class dynamics in the 20’s. Curator: Exactly! The personal is political. Now think of what this vest might say about labor and globalization if we considered its origins.