Clara Bow and Her Iconic Role as a Flapper in These Stunning Photo

The Roaring Twenties remain one of the most fascinating decades in American history, marked by jazz, prohibition, economic prosperity, and a seismic shift in cultural norms. Among the symbols of this era, none shone quite as brightly as Clara Bow, Hollywood’s original “It Girl” and the embodiment of the flapper spirit.

Clara Bow rose from humble beginnings in Brooklyn, New York, to become a silver screen sensation. With her captivating on-screen presence and distinctive bobbed hair, she quickly became the era’s “It Girl,” a term coined from her performance in the 1927 film “It.” This term soon became synonymous with the young women of the age who exuded confidence, sex appeal, and a certain indefinable allure.

Flappers were known for their bold new attitudes and fashion styles. They were the rebels of their time, challenging post-Victorian gender norms by cutting their hair short, raising their hemlines, and embracing a lifestyle that included smoking, drinking, and attending jazz clubs — activities that were previously off-limits for respectable women.

Clara Bow’s flapper image was not just a screen persona; it reflected in her real life too. She was unapologetically herself, living with an independence and zest that resonated with the young women of the time. Bow was not only an actress playing a part; she was a role model who led by example. Her film roles often mirrored the lives of her fans, as she portrayed women who were both assertive and sexual, taking charge of their destinies in a rapidly changing world.

Despite her success, she faced personal challenges and scandals, exacerbated by the intense scrutiny of the public and the press. The advent of talkies and her Brooklyn accent posed as career obstacles, leading to her early retirement from the movie industry.

#1 Clara Bow holding fan mail, circa 1928.

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#2 Clara Bow in a satin dress, 1929.

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#3 Clara Bow on a luxurious bed, circa 1929.

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#4 Clara Bow in ‘The Saturday Night Kid’, 1929.

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#5 Clara Bow as a clown in ‘Dangerous Curves’, 1929.

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#6 Clara Bow, 1920s.

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#7 Clara Bow, destined to become the 1920’s flapper, circa 1920s.

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#8 Clara Bow in ‘True To The Navy’, 1920s

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#9 Clara Bow in a publicity photo for ‘The Saturday Night Kid’, circa 1929.

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#10 Clara Bow in ‘Dangerous Curves’, 1929.

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#11 Clara Bow with a cane, known as the “It Girl” 1920s

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#12 Clara Bow sitting on a chimney with toys, circa 1950.

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#13 Clara Bow poking through a giant calendar, 1920s

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#14 Clara Bow holding a revolver and rope, 1920s

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#15 Clara Bow relaxing on the beach with a dog, 1920s

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#16 Clara Bow, Flapper, 1920s.

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#17 Clara Bow, Flapper, 1920s.

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#18 Clara Bow, Flapper, 1920s.

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#19 Clara Bow, Flapper, 1920s.

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#20 Clara Bow, Flapper, 1920s.

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#21 Clara Bow, Flapper, 1920s.

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#22 Clara Bow, Flapper, 1920s.

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#23 Clara Bow, Flapper, 1920s.

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#24 Clara Bow, Flapper, 1920s.

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#25 Clara Bow in a lace dress from ‘The Saturday Night Kid’, 1929.

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#26 Clara Bow in a shiny strapless dress, 1926.

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#27 Clara Bow aboard her yacht, circa 1920s.

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#28 Clara Bow in a feather boa and backless dress, 1927.

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#29 Clara Bow in ‘Down to the Sea in Ships’, 1920s

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#30 Clara Bow in ‘Wine’, 1920s

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#31 Edward Everett Horton, Clara Bow, and Peggy Montgomery in ‘Helen’s Babies’, 1924.

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#32 Clara Bow in ‘Wine’, 1920s

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#33 Clara Bow winking for the camera, circa 1925.

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#34 Clara Bow’s lunch at her Beverly Hills home, circa 1925.

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#35 Clara Bow, known as ‘The It Girl’, circa 1925.

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#36 Clara Bow posing for a portrait, Los Angeles, circa 1925.

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#37 Clara Bow smiling while lying down, 1920s

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#38 Clara Bow and Martha Mattox in ‘The Keeper of the Bees’, 1920s

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#39 Clara Bow in ‘The Plastic Age’, 1920s

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#40 Clara Bow in a fur-trimmed robe, circa 1925.

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#41 Clara Bow wearing a checked cap, circa 1926.

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#42 Clara Bow in headscarf and fur-trimmed coat, 1926.

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#43 Clara Bow launching a canoe outside her Malibu home, circa 1926.

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#44 Clara Bow portrait, circa 1926.

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#45 Clara Bow, the ‘It’ girl, portrait, 1926.

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#46 Clara Bow, 1926.

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#47 Clara Bow in a fur-trimmed robe, 1926.

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#48 Clara Bow portrait, 1926.

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#49 Clara Bow sitting on a pile of pillows, 1926.

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#50 Clara Bow in a chiffon, ruffled dress, 1926.

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#51 Clara Bow in ‘Dancing Mothers’1920s

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#52 Clara Bow in a masculine style with sleeveless shirt, tie, and braces, 1927.

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#53 Clara Bow holding her head in her hands, circa 1927.

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#54 Clara Bow modeling for the camera, September 011920s

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#55 Clara Bow on Malibu beach in boxing gloves1920s

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#56 Clara Bow as Rosie O’Reilly in ‘Rough House Rosie’, 1927.

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#57 Clara Bow dressed as a hula dancer in ‘Hula’, 1927.

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#58 Clara Bow in a bathing suit playing a ukulele, 1927.

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#59 Clara Bow in a frilly hat and dress, circa 1928.

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#60 Clara Bow as Mary Preston in ‘Wings’, 1927.

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#61 Clara Bow holding a gold diamond-studded watch from ‘Red Hair’, 1927.

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#62 Clara Bow with a spoonful of pudding, circa 1928.

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#63 Clara Bow in ‘Dangerous Curves’, 1929.

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#64 Clara Bow, 1930s.

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#65 Clara Bow in ‘Her Wedding Night’, 1930.

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#66 Clara Bow, actress and twenties flapper, 1920s

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#67 Clara Bow portrait, Hollywood, 1927.

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