Filming the Fashions is a weirdly fun look at 1920s 'modernity'

You should probably watch this today if you have ten minutes and a real curiosity about how people used to look before everything became mass-produced. It’s perfect for people who like vintage clothes or those who enjoy people-watching through a time machine. If you want a story with a plot and characters, you will probably hate it. It’s basically a TikTok from 1923.

I watched this right after Felix Minds the Kid and the contrast is wild. One is a cartoon about a cat, and the other is real life, but they both feel like they belong to a different planet. It’s weirdly fascinating to see what they thought was 'old fashioned' back then.

To the people in this movie, the 1900s were ancient history. To us, the 1920s are ancient history. It’s like a time travel sandwich. The whole point of this short is to show how much things changed in twenty years, which feels like a lot until you realize how little has changed in how we stare at things.

The bathing suits are the highlight. The women from the 'past' are covered in wool from head to toe. They have these weird little lace-up shoes too. It looks like they’re going for a hike in a swamp, not a swim at the beach.

Then the 'modern' girls come out. They’re showing their arms! The horror! You can tell the audience back then probably thought this was very spicy. They look so much more free, but the wool still looks heavy enough to drown a person if they actually hit the water.

The way the girls walk is funny too. They do this very stiff 'model' walk that feels very rehearsed. They look a bit nervous, like they’re afraid of tripping over the camera or the tripod. One girl does this little spin and you can see she's realy proud of her outfit.

I noticed one girl in the back of a shot. She’s trying to fix her hair while the camera is rolling and she looks so annoyed. It’s the most real moment in the whole movie. It reminds me of the candid vibes in Aren't We All? where everyone is trying to look proper but failing slightly.

There isn't much to say about the 'directing.' The camera just stands there. It’s like the cameraman was afraid to move. But the texture of the film is lovely.

Things that made me blink:

• The hats. Seriously. They are the size of satellite dishes.
• How much fabric it takes to make a 'swimsuit' in 1900.
• The way the men in the background are dressed in full suits at the beach. Who does that?
• One woman’s parasol looks like it could double as a camping tent.

The contrast between the two eras is the whole hook. It’s simple and effective. Men will probably like the 'bathing beauties,' just like the old plot summaries say, but honestly, the clothes are more interesting than the people. The fabric looks so thick and itchy.

I found myself wondering where these women went after the filming ended. They look so happy and full of life in their silly fashon. Now they’re all gone. It gives the movie a bit of a sad feeling if you think about it too much, but maybe that's just me being moody.

The film quality isn't great. There are some scratches on the lens and some parts are overexposed. But that just adds to the charm of it. It’s like looking through an old photo album that started moving.

If you’ve seen The Silent Accuser, you know the visual style of this era. Very soft and grainy. It makes everyone look like a ghost.

One woman has this very sharp smirk. She knows she looks good. She’s the star of her own little world for five seconds. I love moments like that where the humanity breaks through the staging.

It’s definitely better than some of the other shorts from that time. Like Canada's Mountain of Tears, which was way too depressing for a Tuesday. This one is just light and fun.

The movie doesn't have a big climax. It just... stops. No fancy credits, just a black screen. It feels unfinished, like the cameraman ran out of film or just got bored and went to lunch.

Check it out if you’re into the history of style. Or if you just want to see some very large hats. I'm still thinking about those hats. How did they stay on their heads in the wind?

Anyway, it’s a neat little slice of life. Not a masterpiece. Just a window into a world that’s long gone. 👒