The High Point of street photography started in the 1920s, bolstered by the introduction of the Leica camera. Photographers let themselves be carried away by the flux of the metropolis with its paradoxical, ambiguous universe, and they photographed freely from the hand. Aesthetics changed: What was accidental, casual, surprising, fleeting, and also trivial in urban events became the subjects of these photographers. The camera served as an extension of their subjective view. (1)
April 21, 1927. “Do ducks swim? Misses Eugenia Dunbar and Mary Moose.” The main focus here is of course the horse trough, once a common item of street furniture in many big cities. National Photo glass negative. Found on shorpy.comLadies at the pet shop. Found on artdecogal.com1920’s Greenwich Village Woman Hanging Poster. Found on fantomas-en-cavale.tumblr.comChicago Women Eating Hot Dogs, 1920s. Found on 24hoursinthelifeofawoman.tumblr.comBerlin, 1928. Found on vintag.esWalker Evans, Girl on Fulton Street, New York, 1929. Found on wehadfacesthen.tumblr.comBudapest, Hungary circa 1928. Found on soyouthinkyoucansee.tumblr.comGirl playing Yo-Yo. Berlin 1920sScotland, 1926Ladies noticed the camera and said hi!
The concept of studio photography was being replaced by shots documenting not only day to day life situations but also the fashions of the decade.
Harlem, 1927Street scene, Washington, D.C, 1924. Found on loc.gov“Norma Shearer (Mrs. Irving Thalberg).” The Oscar-winning actress at the White House, July 24, 1929. junipergallery Fine-Art Prints by Juniper GalleryWashington, D.C., 1922. “Spring fashions at Easter.”junipergallery Fine-Art Prints by Juniper Gallery1925 Easter Sunday, Washington, D.C. junipergallery Fine-Art Prints by Juniper GalleryTwo gorgeous, smiling 1920s girls. Found on sydneyflapper.tumblr.comTwo stylish ladies in Milan, Italy, 1929. Found on lombardiabeniculturali.itAmerican tourist – Hôtle Ritz Place Vendôme, Paris 1920s. Collection Roger-Viollet / Lipnitzki. Found on mimbeau.tumblr.comJacques Henri Lartigue, Royan 1926. Found on mimbeau.tumblr.comMother and daughter, London, 1926. Found on flickr.com1920s Fashion by Puttnam on Getty Images. Found on pleasurephotoroom.files.wordpress.comWashington, D.C. 1920s. Found on loc.govYoung woman with dog, Washington, D.C. Found on loc.gov
Stylish ladies were featured on fashion magazines and by the 1920s, Parisian Postcard photographers Seeberger Brothers were pioneers in what we call street style photography. They would attend every upper french society events to capture the latest fashions to be published in magazines such as Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue. Haute Couture designers Chanel, Hermes, Vionnet, etc, rushed to send their models to be photographed by the Brothers at these events.
Day Dresses by Seeberger Freres on Getty Images. Found on hipstersleek.comElegance by Seeberger Freres on Getty Images. Found on hipstersleek.comA black dress tapering in slightly at the hem, including a front panel decorated with tiny pleats. Designed by Jenny. Seeberger Freres on Getty ImagesJacquet Dresses by Seeberger Freres, 1924 on Getty Images.A model wears a wrap over coat with a low-waisted embroidered and tasseled belt, with a fur stole and a cloche hat decorated with a velvet bow, October 1923 by Seeberger Freres on Getty Images.1921: A woman models models the latest fashion of the day in a Paris street by Seeberger Freres on Getty Images.Eye-catching skirt and sleeves by Seeberger Freres. Found on smoda.elpais.comby Seeberger Freres. Found on smoda.elpais.comCurved Dress by Seeberger Freres on Getty ImagesLacey Fashion by Seeberger Freres on Getty ImagesTown Fashion by Seeberger Freres on Getty ImagesOriental silk dress by Seeberger Freres.Summer Dress by Seeberger Freres on Getty Images.Wide Brimmed Hat by Seeberger Freres on Getty ImagesDesigner Fashions by Seeberger Freres on Getty ImagesFashion By Lanvin by Seeberger Freres on Getty ImagesBelted Dress by Seeberger Freres on Getty ImagesFree Hanging Dress, 1926 by Seeberger Freres on Getty ImagesMix And Match by Seeberger Freres on Getty ImagesOutlandish Hat, 1925 by Seeberger Freres on Getty Images
Other photographers followed Seeberger Brothers steps documenting the most exquisite fashions at the races and other elite events.
Paris Fashions, 1924 by Topical Press Agency on Getty ImagesSpaarnestad Photo Collection: Life Photos, Daywear, 1926 Auteuil, France. Found on geheugenvannederland.nlFound on sydneyflapper.tumblr.comParis, 1920s. Found on zamantika.comAuteuil, 1925Paris, 1920. Found on mashable.comParis, 1920. Found on mashable.com
SOURCES:
(1) The Art of Black and White Photography: Techniques for Creating Superb Images in a Digital Workflow Hardcover by Torsten Andreas Hoffmann, 2008
Hello and welcome!
My name is Daniela and this is where I share my never ending passion and interest for Fashion History.
It all started when I was very young and I did everything I could to follow my dream – to become a fashion designer. However, soon I realised that I was more interested to learn and understand the concept and history of fashion rather than designing something new.
The aim for this blog is to share knowledge about Fashion and its context and concept throughout the years and also learn from you my readers. All my content is as accurate as possible and I hope it can also be used as an online resource for fashion students, enthusiasts and other researchers.
Please enjoy and thank you for stopping by! X
Some really interesting pictures there – I loved the two ladies in Berlin dressed up like men! What a wonderful collection you have put together. thanks.
This is so interesting – it’s really important to look at this range of street photography to get a deeper sense of the ways people dressed. And good to see the Seeberger brothers get their due – Jean Moral and Martin Munkacsi then developed this outdoors style in their fashion photography.
Thank you for all the amazing photos!
Exactly! It’s also interesting to see the way people from different social backgrounds dressed.
It was hard to find good quality pictures and put them all together, but I am very pleased with the result, so I really appreciate your feedback! 🙂
Many thanks for this. It’s interesting to see these sort of pictures given they give a much more accurate picture of the times rather than the cliched illustrations and photographs of society women that are trotted out ad nauseum but give a distorted and selective view of the 1920s. Keep up the good work!
This is wonderful, to see them all in one place. I just want to comment that the two women in Berlin are not dressed like men, they are wearing 1920s women’s riding attire. Also, the photo which claims 1920s at the Ritz Hotel in Paris is actually very early 1930s, not 1920s. No matter, it is a beautiful photo.
the exquisite fabrics, extreme attention to details, accessories, the feminine attitudes of women in posing and carriage…..and, it was post-WWI Europe & America. Thank you for the journey. The journey was one of archeology and history……
fascinationstreetvintage.wordpress.com 
August 21, 2015 at 11:23 am
Some really interesting pictures there – I loved the two ladies in Berlin dressed up like men! What a wonderful collection you have put together. thanks.
LikeLiked by 2 people
August 21, 2015 at 5:53 pm
Thank you so much! Xxx
LikeLiked by 2 people
August 21, 2015 at 4:49 pm
This is so interesting – it’s really important to look at this range of street photography to get a deeper sense of the ways people dressed. And good to see the Seeberger brothers get their due – Jean Moral and Martin Munkacsi then developed this outdoors style in their fashion photography.
Thank you for all the amazing photos!
LikeLiked by 2 people
August 21, 2015 at 5:49 pm
Exactly! It’s also interesting to see the way people from different social backgrounds dressed.
It was hard to find good quality pictures and put them all together, but I am very pleased with the result, so I really appreciate your feedback! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
August 21, 2015 at 7:41 pm
Many thanks for this. It’s interesting to see these sort of pictures given they give a much more accurate picture of the times rather than the cliched illustrations and photographs of society women that are trotted out ad nauseum but give a distorted and selective view of the 1920s. Keep up the good work!
LikeLiked by 2 people
August 21, 2015 at 7:43 pm
Glad you like my content!! It was hard to find the best pictures but I’m really happy with this post. We’ll definitely share more soon!
LikeLiked by 2 people
August 21, 2015 at 7:49 pm
I look forward to seeing more soon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 31, 2016 at 2:19 am
This is wonderful, to see them all in one place. I just want to comment that the two women in Berlin are not dressed like men, they are wearing 1920s women’s riding attire. Also, the photo which claims 1920s at the Ritz Hotel in Paris is actually very early 1930s, not 1920s. No matter, it is a beautiful photo.
LikeLiked by 2 people
August 7, 2016 at 9:01 pm
the exquisite fabrics, extreme attention to details, accessories, the feminine attitudes of women in posing and carriage…..and, it was post-WWI Europe & America. Thank you for the journey. The journey was one of archeology and history……
LikeLiked by 2 people