Did you know that dating, as we think of it today, didn’t really exist until the 1920s?
Before The Roaring 20's, marriage was the goal, and most often a necessity. Economic and social expectations made it less about romance and more about stability. Matches were frequently planned long before a young couple was even of marrying age. Romantic feelings were a lucky bonus, but not required - or even expected.
Typically, a young man would be chosen by the girl’s family to court her, or “come calling,” when the time was right. Instead of a text or a phone call, a suitor a left a calling card at the family door, a quiet signal of proper intention. If accepted, he’d be invited in for a supervised visit in the parlor. A stack of cards on a silver tray in the entryway was a sign of active social life.
During the meeting or "date", she might play the piano or dance to entertain her suitor, while her mother set out refreshments and her father engaged the prospective groom in polite conversation. Courtship was formal, supervised, and carefully contained.
In November of 1918 came the end of the First World War - and everything started to shift. 
Women won the right to vote and began working outside the home. Motion pictures exploded in popularity, offering romantic ideals and new ways of imagining love. More people owned cars, making it possible to socialize without a chaperone at dance halls, sporting events, and speakeasies.
The older generation looked on in horror, certain that unchecked promiscuity must be running rampant. And while there was certainly more opportunity for it, the younger generation didn’t abandon all the values they were raised with. Boundaries were changing, but they hadn’t disappeared entirely.
Dating for fun and companionship became more common, and it could even increase one’s social standing. Despite all the talk of sexual liberation, dating in the 1920s still had its limits. As long as a couple was considered “going steady" - kissing, or even light caressing was acceptable. Anything beyond that, however, was risky. A woman’s reputation could be ruined if a relationship didn’t culminate in marriage.
Still, this marked the beginning of something profound.
For the first time, women were making decisions for themselves and about themselves. The simple act of leaving home to go on a date without parental supervision was revolutionary.
Before swiping and situationships, there were calling cards, chaperones.. and preparation was a slow ritual.
If you love the elegance of the Jazz Age, you might enjoy our vintage-inspired soaps and scents - crafted for modern romantics.
Today, we’re free to live how we like, love who we choose, and even do all of it out of order. We live much longer now, and everlasting love has become something we hope for, not something we expect. Things have certainly changed over time - now we've got an app for that. I’m not convinced all of it is for the better, but that’s just my penny’s worth.
Still, love has always made the world go ’round, and however you find it, most of us wouldn’t be here without it. Some things - it seems - will never go out of style.
