In the 1910s, women were becoming more active in their lifestyle, and their clothing reflected it. An increasing number of women were working outside the home in positions like mill workers or office clerks, joining women’s clubs, participating in sports, and campaigning for various reform movements. These changes, along with the popularity of the automobile, prompted the form-changing silhouettes and restrictive styles of previous decades to fall out of fashion, while more comfortable and practical clothing replaced them. In general, a more natural silhouette, looser waistlines, and shorter hems became popular throughout the decade as women became more and more active in society. Along with the changing trends, the source of clothing shifted. With women spending less time in the home, it became easier to purchase mass-produced clothing from department stores or mail-order catalogs rather than sew it themselves. By the end of the 1910s, ready-made garments were affordable and offered women a variety of fashionable styles.

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