Short, bobbed hair was only one of many signature trends of the 1920s.
The Roaring Twenties was the age of bobbed hair, flapper dresses and bootlegging. It was also an age bookmarked between the Great War and the Great Depression. During this era, parties had a Gatsby-style extravagant flair. When it came to dressing for parties, there was a universal svelte look that flaunted a boyish figure that was all the rage. While the cut of dresses was similar, the gowns themselves differed when it came to fabrics and patterns.
Flapper Dress
The typical flapper gown was beaded and adorned with tassels.
The Flapper girl is synonymous with the 1920s. A typical flapper dress reached the calves and was typically made from chiffon or silk, two materials that were readily available during the post-war era. A chic party girl would have tassels and beads dangling on the dress. For those not hampered by budgets, the dresses would also be adorned with feathers and fur. Not unlike day dresses, the nightlife flapper gown had a low waist to show off a girl's slim figure. Popular accessories included fishnet or nylon stockings, waist-length pearl necklaces, boas and elbow-length satin gloves.
Egyptomania
When King Tutankhamen's tomb was unearthed, it kicked of a craze for all things Egyptian.
According to the book "Best Dressed: Fashion from the Birth of Couture to Today" published by the Philadelphia Museum of Art, once King Tutankhamen's tomb was discovered in 1922, "Tutmania" became all the rage. All things Egyptian were in vogue, which was especially true in fashion. Party dresses made by such designers as Gustave Beer were stitched with hieroglyphic shapes. Popular colors included touches of turquoise and sea green that mimicked the aqua color of scarab beetles. Beading was also common, especially in patterns such as blazing suns and cartouche squares and rectangles.
Draped Dress
New York City socialite Mabel Brady Garvan popularized the draped, sheer gown style.
Similar to modern day, celebrities helped inspire 1920s fashion. New York City social butterfly Mabel Brady Garvan was one such celebrity who helped popularize a diaphanous look for evenings out on the town. In 1921 she sat down for a family portrait wearing a Grecian style gown that had a bodice of gold lame, layered with bands of cotton-candy pink, yellow and light blue fabric. There was a short, transparent underskirt with a sheer, champagne colored long skirt draping over it. The dress was especially loved for its georgette fabric that was meant to be tossed over one shoulder and draped over the arm.
Pastel Gowns
Layered tulle skirts were a popular party look during the Roaring Twenties.
Sisters Elizabeth and Ann Stetson were the granddaughters of the founder of the Stetson hat company. When Ann had her coming-out party in 1927, it was a popular soiree. The sisters sported pale blue and rose colored gowns. According to the Philadelphia Museum of Art exhibit in 1998 called "Best Dressed: 250 Years of Style", the sisters sparked a pastel trend with layered skirts. Their gowns had skirts with petal-like layers made of tulle that were fluffed outwards courtesy of boned underskirts. The bodices had wrap-around, overlapping fabric in a V-neck cut. In keeping with trends of the era, the waists were low and the tops were sleeveless to flaunt a lean look.
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