CONVERTING HATERS INTO HATTERS
CONVERTING HATERS INTO HATTERS
In the 1920s, the world was changing - especially for women. With the men having been away to fight in the WW1, women had taken over men's jobs, and in many countries received the right to vote. In 1918 the Spanish Flu Pandemic infected a third of the world’s population and killed at least 20 million. Countries did not go into lockdown, as the pandemic was immediately after the war (many say consequence of the WW1 trenches), and people had already been cooped up for three years, still the threat of the Spanish Flu kept people abstentious, and risk averse - they stayed at home. Sound familiar? BUT, after the Spanish Flu pandemic, came the Roaring 20's - The bounce-back, the decade of decadence, enjoyment and hedonism.
Modern women smoked, wore knee-length dresses and went dancing to the new 'jazz' music. No longer corseted, bound by convention or whalebone ‘stays’, there was a spirit of freedom in the air. Clothes were designed to move, to flutter, and to flirt gorgeously. These were clothes ‘for women on the move’, as Vogue put it.
Now in the 2020's the world has gone through a change again. Back at war, with another silent enemy - Covid-19, and after the pandemic of these early 2020's, we will all be chomping at the bit to go and party again like we've never partied before. The 'Roaring 20's' will return, to celebrate, and mark the return from this decades battle.
An Art Deco 1920s Themed Party is one of my favourites to dress up for. It’s fun, incredibly glamorous and of course the Great Gatsby era. The era of the famous 'Flapper' Girls.
As with most era themes, you may not have been lucky enough to have lived in the era, so here are my tips on how to dress as a party girl Jay Gatsby would have wanted at his famous glittering soirees.
Beaded or glittering headpieces are a must to pull the 1920s look together. The most popular being headbands that you tie around the head and forehead bands that wrap around the forehead. These should also feature several jewels, beads, sequins or feathers (usually ostrich or peacock). Ornate hair combs, and skull caps were also popular 1920s headwear.
Optional extras on the accessories could include a super long ciagarette holder, a pair of long - at least to just below elbow - lace or fringed evening gloves, and an ostrich feather fan.
The Flapper Headpieces illustrated above are just a few available from a large selection at Dress-2-impress.com. Prices between £43.00-£89.00.
Dresses were sleeveless, shapeless, long or short slip gowns accented with hundreds of beads, sequins, fringes, and ostrich or peacock feathers.
Black, Navy, Gold or Rich jewel tone embellishments, added to the simplest of gowns, made the ladies look and feel expensive. Add to that the vital headpiece or headband, long pearl necklaces, and gold arm bangles and you are all set to party like a silent movie star.
For more inspiration, style advice, and a whopping OVER 80 Dresses currently available to buy online (from uber expensive luxury, to shoestring budget) do be sure to read my Blog Spot on the Best Flapper Girls Dresses.
For more accessories ideas, with a whole host of Headwear, Jewellery, Bags and Shoes options currently available online do be sure to read my Blog Spot on The Best Flapper Girls Accessories.
For your Shoes and Handbag, you can go all on bling, tassles and feathers too. Mary Jane Dancing Shoes dressed with sequin or crystals. Medium heeled shoes only, with a chunk of a heel, not stilettos of course. Your clutch or drawstring bag/purse should also be dripping with crystals and beads (with an optional long chain shoulder strap).
This post includes affiliate links - suggestions of items I've hunted out on the Internet for you. If you see anything you like, click the links and decide to buy the suggestion, then the retailer will give me a little commission (maybe even enough to buy a Prosecco) to thank me.
The Beaded Headband in this outfit arrangement is: Dress-2-Impress.com Click Here.
Dress: Adrianna Papell Click for Dress (UK) or from in the (USA).
Art Deco Earrings: Amazon Click for Earrings.
Bag: Amazon Click for Bag.
Eyeshadow: Guerlain Click for Eyeshadow (UK).
Lipstick: Clinique Click for Lipstick (UK).
Nail Polish: Essie. Click for Nail Polish.
Shoes: SJP Click for Shoes (UK).
Dress is: Aidan Mattox. Click for Dress.
Peacock Headband: Etsy. Click for Headband.
Earrings: Amazon Click for Earrings.
Cuff Bracelet: AbsoluteVintageMc. Click for Bracelet (International).
Feather Bag: Fashionable Brat. Click for Bag (International).
Necklace: Zivyes. Click for Necklace.
Eyeshadow: Nars. Click for Eyeshadow.
Perfume: Chanel. Click for Perfume.
Nail Polish: ILNP. Click for Nail Polish.
Shoes: Manolo Blahnik. Click Shoes.
The Beaded Chain, Red Feather Flapper Headband in this outfit arrangement is available from the www.dress-2-impress.com shop. Click Here.
The Dress is: Etsy. Click to see Etsy Red Flapper Girls Dress.
The Art Deco Earrings: Etsy. Click to see Ety Art Deco Drop Earrings.
The Art Deco Cuff Bracelet: Etsy. Click to see Etsy Art Deco Cuff Bracelet.
The Red Crystal Clutch Bag: Etsy. Click to see Etsy Bag.
Perfume: Coty L'Aimant. Click for Perfume.
The Shoes are: Melady. Click to see Shoes.
The Beaded Chain, Blue Feather Flapper Headband in this outfit is available from Etsy. Click Here for Blue Crystal Headband.
The Blue Sequin Dress is: Amazon. Click to see Blue Flapper Girls Dress.
Drop Earrings: TopShop. Click to see Earrings.
The Art Deco Cuff Bracelet: Etsy. Click to see Etsy Art Deco Cuff Bracelet.
The Vintage Theme Beaded Clutch Bag: Amazon. Click to see Amazon Bag.
The Shoes are: Sam Edelman. Click to see Navy Velvet Shoes.
In the early 1920s dresses were still long, but by the mid 20s the short, slinky, flapper look was the trend. Loose fitting slip dresses usually without sleeves. Exposing cleavage was still taboo so do keep to a modest neckline. Bare backs were totally acceptable though, so add your sass showing your back, not your cleavage. Eveningwear flapper dresses were covered in beads or beaded fringe. These add weight that provides movement to your dress while dancing the Charleston.
Select a Round neckline, low back, loose waist and hip, thigh length and with lots of weight in tassles, beads and sequins.
It should not hug your curves. You will probably need to buy up a size. If buying Vintage, then the sizing has changed (we are bigger now ladies). If buying new repro, then buy a size up to be sure they hang loose for a true 1920's fit.
One of the largest selection of 1920's Theme Flapper Dresses I've found, Made today but 100% true to style of the 1920's, are from Etsy shop "GatsbyLady", with over 800 Dresses, including large ranges for Tall Frames, Petite and Plus sizes. Visit the "GatsbyLady" Shop, on Etsy
The headpiece illustrated with this outfit is available to buy from the www.dress-2-impress.com online shop. Click Here for Flapper Headbands.
Dress: Ebay. Click for Dress.
Earrings: Etsy. Click for Earrings.
Cuff Bracelet: Etsy. Click for Bracelet.
Nail Varnish: Nails Inc. Click for Nail Varnish.
Beaded Clutch: Etsy. Click for Bag.
Shoes: Ajvani. Click to Shoes.
Peacock Headband: Etsy. Click for Headband.
Dress: Adrianna Papell Click for Dress (UK) or for in the USA.
Art Deco Earrings: Ever Faith Click for Earrings.
Bag: Bonjanvye Click for Bag.
Eyeshadow: Clinique Click for Eyeshadow (UK).
Blue Mascara: Guerlain Click for Mascara (UK).
Nail Polish: Essie. Click for Nail Polish.
Shoes: John Lewis Click for Shoes (UK)
The Beaded Headband in this outfit arrangement is: Dress-2-Impress.com Click Here.
Dress: Aidan Mattox. Click for Dress.
Art Deco Earrings: Madri. Click for Earrings.
Bag: Amazon. Click for Bag.
Perfume: Judith Lieber. Click for Perfume.
Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo. Click for Shoes.
The Beaded Chain, Crystal, Peacock and Ostrich Feather Flapper Headband in this outfit arrangement is available from the www.dress-2-impress.com shop. Click Here.
Dress is: Mac Duggal. Click for Dress.
Earrings: Nadri Click for Earrings.
Beaded Bag: Amazon. Click for Bag.
Nail Polish: ILNP. Click for Nail Polish.
Perfume: Chanel. Click for Perfume.
Shoes: Manolo Blahnik. Click Shoes.
Think of Flapper Girls "all grown up", and settled down! The shoes are flatter, and the dresses are Long Line Slip Dresses - Grown up Sophisticated Opulance.
Shoes are easy to dance in, the fabrics are more luxurious like velvet, the jewels / crystals more expensive, and shoulders wrapped in Faux Fur (would have been real Fur in the 20's but NO,No,No now, no matter how authentic to the 20's you are trying to be).
If looking for Quality 1920's Inspired Dresses on Amazon instead of the dozens of cheap "Fancy Dress" options you find there, then you need look through the following options / brands:
Pisarro Nights (Amazon USA) or for Pisarro Nights (Amazon UK)
or Adrianna Papell (Amazon USA) and for Adrianna Papell (Amazon UK)
or Aidan Mattox (Amazon USA) and for Aidan Mattox (Amazon UK).
The Headband is: Dress-2-Impress Click for Headband (International).
Dress is: Adrianna Papell. Click for Dress (UK).
Earrings: Sweetv. Click for Earrings (International).
Faux Fur Wrap: Kivie. Click for Faux Fur Wrap (UK).
Lipstick: Guerlain. Click for Lipstick (UK).
Pearl Bag: Hongci. Click for Bag (International).
Nail Varnish: Nars. Click for Nail Varnish (UK).
Shoes: Roland Cartier. Click Shoes (UK).
The Headband is: Dress-2-Impress Click for Headband (International).
Dress is: Adrianna Papell. Click for Dress (USA).
Earrings: Vonssy. Click for Earrings (USA).
Feather Cape: Ebay. Click for Cape.
Eyeliner Pen: Rodial. Click for Eyeliner (UK).
Eyeshadow Palette: Christian Dior. Click for Eyeshadow (USA).
Feather Bag: Etsy. Click for Bag.
Perfume: Guerlain. Click for Perfume (USA).
Shoes: Crystal Shoe Co. Click Shoes (International).
The Headband is: Dress-2-Impress Click for Headband (International).
Dress is: Adrianna Papell. Click for Dress (UK). or for in the USA Dress.
Earrings: Ever Faith. Click for Earrings.
Lipstick: Guerlain. Click for Lipstick (UK).
Nail Polish: Essie. Click for Nail Polish.
Feather Bag: Etsy. Click for Bag.
Perfume: Chanel. Click for Perfume (UK).
Shoes: Reiss. Click Shoes (International).
Dress: Aqua. Click for Dress.
Vintage Inspired Fascinator: Etsy. Click for Fascinator.
Faux Fur Wrap: Decahome. Click for Faux Fur Wrap.
Pearl Necklace: Kathy Classic. Click for Necklace.
Earrings: Nadri. Click for Earrings.
Pearl Bracelet: Zking. Click for Bracelet.
Bag: Keland. Click for Bag.
Perfume: Chanel No. 5. Click for Perfume.
Shoes: Marion Parke. Click for Shoes.
Match your perfume to your 20's outfits, be authentic to the era and smell of the Jazz Age. The 20’s were glory days for perfume. Many of the enduring ‘classics’ of today were actually created in the 1920s. Working women had a new self-confidence, and they wanted to express it through perfume, as well as the flapper dresses (and cigarette-smoking…)
In 1921, a very clever designer and businesswoman created a scent that revolutionised the way women smell. Chanel (originally a Milliner) wanted to launch a scent for the new, modern woman she embodied. Almost 100 years later, Chanel No. 5 is still the world’s most iconic fragrance.
In 1925 another blockbuster was launched - Jacques Guerlain’s Shalimar. Shalimar is one of the best selling fragrances ever.
Lanvin Arpege is another famous perfume of the era, still considered one of the worlds most prestigious perfumes. Jeanne Lanvin was a contemporary of Chanel’s, also originally a milliner, both opened their Paris stores in the same decade. Originally made in 1927, Arpege was reformulated in the 1990s, but is still very close to the original.
Molinard Habanita. Created for the en vogue smoking ladies of the 20's. Habanita's has a unique story, as flapper girls put it on cigarettes to surround themselves with clouds of fragrant smoke. In 1921 it still wasn't the case that every girl smoked. This in itself tells you a lot about the sort of girl who used Habanita.
François Coty L'Aimant - For the Flapper Girl on a tight budget. Cheap but with the same top notes of Lanvin Arpege and Chanel No. 5, it's a fragrance authentic to the decade. If just buying to wear for one party, you can buy it in a small 15ml bottle.
The Beaded Chain, Crystal, Peacock and Ostrich Feather Flapper Headband in this outfit arrangement is available from the www.dress-2-impress.com shop. Click Here.
Dress is: Parker Black. Click for Dress.
Earrings: Kendra Scott. Click for Earrings.
Velvet Bag: House of Harlow. Click for Bag.
Perfume: Chanel No. 5. Click for Perfume.
Eyeshadow: YSL. Click for Eyeshadow.
Shoes: Malone Souliers. Click Shoes.
The Gold Rhinestone Chain, Swarovski Crystal, Peacock Feather Navy and Gold Flapper Headband in this outfit arrangement is available from the www.dress-2-impress.com shop. Click Here.
Dress: Amazon. Click for Dress (USA).
Faux Fur Bolero: Etsy. Click for Faux Fur Bolero.
Art Deco Earrings: Amazon. Click for Earrings (USA). Click to Earrings (UK).
Bracelet: Amazon. Click for Bracelet (USA).
Bag: Etsy. Click for Bag.
Perfume: Lanvin Arpege. Click for Perfume.
Shoes: Amazon. Click to Shoes (USA). Click to Shoes (UK).
Below is a gallery of other accessories you could consider for a Great Gatsby Halloween, Birthday, New Years Eve, or Christmas Party. 1920s Fashion Party accessories.
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