How-To: Build a 1920s inspired Great Gatsby look!

With my birthday coming up in a little more than two weeks, and having decided on a vintage themed party, it is time to put my vintage thinking headband on! Last year I had fun dressing up as a 1940s inspired Pin Up girl, and this year I have decided to go a little further back in time.....yes my darlings....we will be roaring in a 1920s glitzy Great Gatsby affair!

The 1920s has been a favourite decade of mine for quite some time.....admittedly the decadence of the glittering heavily beaded long gowns, the extravagantly flirty ostrich feathers and the shiny Art Deco gem-stoned pieces might have something to do with it! It was true that the roaring 20s was a rebirth period for many because of the survival of WW1, so living every new day as free, happy and extravagant as possible became the ideal dream. With more women embracing liberation by replacing restrictive corsets with loose flowing dresses that revealed more flesh than ever before, a period embracing individuality, creativity, indulgence and freedom is reflected in the fashion of the time. Even with the Great Depression looming towards the end of the 1920s, which is not too far off from our current woos of constant recession, going out was still a very glamorous occasion requiring prior planning and detailed preparation.....that continued into the 1930s with sexy silver screen sirens leading the fashion of the day. In other words, there is really no excuse for me not to dress up, and if like me you have been through a decade or two with some fashion evidence left over in your wardrobe....dressing up to the 20s need not be a costly affair at all!

Whether you have the very lucky budget to build a 1920s authentic vintage outfit from scratch, or want to build a 1920s inspired look from what you already have in your wardrobe, I hope I will be able to offer you some helpful inspiration to get the look you desire! So let's start off with some visual flavour from a video of the Boardwalk Empire's costume designers putting together a 1920s look:

Glam-ing up with some accessories.....
Accessories can be a great way to personalise your 1920s look with a more authentic and individualistic touch.....highlighting your favourite details from the 20s and accentuating your best features to work with the look, especially when SS12 has filled the high street shops with the Great Gatsby influence!

a. Cloche hats.....to frame and protect those beautiful Marcel Waves!
As the short classic bob and Eton Crop started to take life, the finger waves (also known as Marcel Waves) was highly fashionable and added a feminine touch to the boyish look. Even ladies who kept their long hair wore the Marcel Waves over their ears and neatly pulled their hair into a chignon at the nape of the neck. So the cloche hat became an accessory as well as a practical way to keep their hairdos looking pretty!
[To find out more about or how to create the Marcel Wave hairdo click here: label/Marcel-Wave]

River Island: Camel Bow detail Cloche Hat

http://www.riverisland.com/Online/women/sale/accessories/camel-bow-detail-cloche-hat-609523


b.Art Deco inspired jewellery.....to glitz up your outfit!
When art started mingling with fashion and architecture, they became influences that formed a lifestyle.

New Look: Sun Ray Art Deco Earrings

http://www.newlook.com/shop/womens/jewellery-hair-accessories/sun-ray-art-deco-earrings


c. Turbans or heabands.....to make a 20s headline!
Ornate headdresses such as sequined headbands or gem-stoned turbans became fashionable, as did most things with an Eastern or Oriental influence such as the kimono.

New Look: Metalic Feather Turban Headband

http://www.newlook.com/shop/womens/jewellery-and-hair-accessories/metallic-feather-turban-headband


d. Pearls for an illuminating touch.....

Source: Asos.com/Ottoman-Hands 

Source: ASOS 

e. Feathers.....to keep you flapping on the dance floor!

Source: Asos.com/Johnny-Loves-Rosie 

Source: ASOS-Feather-Clutch 

Source: VOGUE (Downton Abbey: Edwardian Inspiration)
Photo Link: media.vogue.com/2012/01/downton-abbey  

Measuring up the Dress.....

a. From Midi to Maxi......Roaring the 20s in the 1920s way!
The short skirt 'Flapper Girl' look is often thought of as the iconic 20s look, but in fact the shortest hemline came just below the knees for one fleeting year between 1926 to 1927, and there are more variety of looks than it is often realised. Dresses were often loose fitting, long, A-lined and had a dropped waistline around the hip or bum, giving the impression of a rather boyish and youthful look. The dropped waist also became a feature that was often highlighted  in day dresses with a matching sash tied near the hips and secured with a pretty broach. Evening dresses in the late 20s often had elaborate and flaring asymmetrical, waterfall or handkerchief ruffled hem which originates from the Victorian era. Other materials like lace, sheer chiffon, fringes, tassels, beads, sequins, embroidery, scallop detail, pleats and feathers were used to make a dress more luxurious and glamorous. Therefore the original 1920s hemline, or length of the dresses, were often somewhere around the calf muscle below the knee (Midi) or somewhere near the ankles (Maxi) as floor length biased cut evening dresses started being introduced.

www.wallis.co.uk/EGMD

ASOS: Lace Dress with Short Sleeves

www.asos.com/ASOS-Lace-Dress-With-Short-Sleeves

ASOS: Backless Slip Dress

http://www.asos.com/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2023258

Source: ASOS 

Source: Asos.com/Jarlo-Lace-Swing-Midi-Dress 

"Ziegfeld Girl" Photo Source: vi.sualize.us/ziegfeld_girls 

[To find out more about the legendary "Ziegfeld Girls" of the roaring 1920s, please click here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ziegfeld_girl]

b. Cutting it from Midi to Mini.....the 60s revival of the 1920s!
The vintage trend started becoming popular in the 1970s, when people started wearing second hand and collected Art Deco 30s pieces, but some vintage details were given an exaggerated spin. The modern 'Flapper Girl' look is something of a spin on the 60s short Mini skirt, where hemlines rose much higher above the knee and often rode quite high on the thigh area, though dress shapes remained loose and simple in a shift style.

ASOS: Chiffon Dress with Crochet Trim (dropped waist detail)

http://www.asos.com/ASOS/ASOS-Chiffon-Dress-With-Crochet-Trim/Prod/Peachblush

ASOS: Yumi Beaded/Embellished Dress in Cream

http://www.asos.com/Yumi/Yumi-Embellished-Dress/Prod/Cream

ASOS: Yumi Beaded/Embellished Dress in Nude

http://www.asos.com/Yumi/Yumi-Beaded-Dress/Nude

So whether you darlings opt for the authentic Midi 20s or the flirty Mini 20s, I hope you will have fun creating your 1920s inspired Great Gatsby look! Still to come is Part Two of my Vienna mini-adventure......and also more vintage inspired looks that will be useful for a vintage party! Hopefully it will start becoming a little warmer and sunnier now that we are in the month of May......have a fabulous mid-week my darlings!

*For more of blog posts and inspiration on the 1920s, please click on the link (below):
 www.walkinginmay.com/1920s

Until the next time,

May xx

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