Historic

Fashioning Contagion: The Impact of the 1918 Flu Pandemic on Women's Dress

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Abstract

The 1918 Flu pandemic (1918–1922), is considered one of the most devastating medical catastrophes in modern history. The 1918 Flu resulted in 50-100 million deaths, public health restrictions, and social isolation. The current study found that women’s dress during the 1918 Flu functioned as tools for protection, mobility, and comfort. Object-based analysis of historical garments and archival research revealed changes in the design and use of external garments worn in public spaces, to increasingly personal garments of daily dress, highlighting that the 1918 Flu left no layer of clothing unaltered. The range of dress changes and methods women used clothing to adapt to and endure the traumatic environment of the 1918 Flu demonstrates that fashion is an active agent in the experience of global pandemics. When dealing with trauma on both an individual and collective level, clothing provides an integral tool for navigating and processing global pandemics.

Keywords: Material Culture, Fashion History, Pandemic, Women’s Dress

How to Cite:

Lamothe, S., (2025) “Fashioning Contagion: The Impact of the 1918 Flu Pandemic on Women's Dress”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 82(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.21841