Boudoir Photography and the Roaring ’20s

The “Roaring ’20s” were a time of great art and great fun. People all around the world, tired from a pandemic and a long war, celebrated life. They were inspired to create great art. The art of boudoir photography originated in the roaring 20s in Paris. Albert Arthur Allen is often credited for starting the fashionable trend. He celebrated the feminine form as a piece of art in an elaborately decorated studio. The boudoir trend fills me with hope and inspiration for women in this new era of the roaring ’20s.

Celebrating your body is the tenet upon which this art form grows. Women during the 1920s were shortening hemlines, bobbing their hair, and voting for the first time. Instead of covering up, women got to start showing more of their form. Hair and makeup trends changed dramatically. Artists were delighted and the beauty of all body shapes was celebrated in art and fashion. The empowering feeling that comes with boudoir photography is how one might imagine these women felt during this time of amazing change. The nostalgia this creates is also inspiring. Women today stand at the precipice of a decade filled with so many wins and firsts.

Times change but some things remain the same.

Boudoir photography in the roaring ’20s isn’t exactly what we know today. It has changed through the many decades of its existence, but one thing remains the same. The focus remains the beauty of your body. It’s as though the pendulum has swung back in time to this point of time 100 years ago. Women are feeling strong and in control, loving their bodies as the treasure they are. No matter what shape or size you are,  your unique self can dazzle and shine.

Zelda Fitzgerald, a notorious flapper, feminist, and author once said, “No one has ever measured (even poets) how much the human heart can hold.” A heart has the space to hold not only confidence and love for others, but true love for one’s self. Owning your body and self creates an internal power and strength. Let these new “Roaring ’20s” be a time of self-growth and awareness. Believe in the art in yourself and the wonder of your body. A change in perspective and a look forward to making your dreams a reality can push you to grow in ways you never imagined. Those words feel like a message from the ladies of the past. Seize the day! Be strong and sassy. Be you!