Flapper Dresses from 1929

Vintage dresses from the late 1920's show details that have been well developed during the decade. At this time the low waistline has sophisticated draping, and the long torso is embellished with trims to create unique and dramatic designs. These illustrations are from a pattern magazine called "Fashionable Dress" from August 1929. The dresses here are mid-summer styles, using cottons, chiffons and other light textiles. The prints tend to be small, with many "Art Deco" designs.

Both by Maggy Rouff
Left- Yellow bodice with brown lace skirt. Brown velvet jacket with ruffled edges
Right-Printed chiffon with fine tucking at hip

Right- Moyneux, pleated tiers on the skirt, with pleated cap sleeves
Other designs by LeComte
Left, white crepe dress with red velvet coat
Second- red and white checked crepe, with bias trims
Third- white crepe with lavender checks and black banding

This last set was illustrated to show current trends in textile prints, and is shown on mature women to give examples of styles suitable for an older figure.

Throwback Thursday: this post in an update originally posted, March 1, 2012

Color for Flappers: 1928 Color Harmony

How was color theory, or harmony used in vintage fashion? During the flapper era in 1928, this charming booklet was published to show women how to select personal colors based on their hair and skin tones. This booklet has several wonderful color illustrations to show exactly what fashion colors a girl should choose to look her best.

This color wheel is the reverse side of that page shown above. By turning the color wheel, various dress colors appear in that illustration. Here on the back side, basic color theory is shown.

This page is part of a series of color groups that are based on skin tone and hair color grouped into "warm", "cool" and "intermediate" skin tones. Clearly, this publication is based on the hair and color of middle class women from European heritage and lacks the diversity we are familiar with today. However it does give us insight into a new type of color theory that would grow in popularity during the century, with the publication of such personal color theory books as "Color Me Beautiful".

The final illustration shown here comes with the following description:
This page suggests ways in which the principles explained in the Color Dictionary herewith may be applied in planning color schemes for dress.

If your inner Flapper is wondering what to wear next, you can take a cue from this to know that color in fashion was bright, rich and varied by the late 1920's, and women had begun to realize what specific colors for them looked the best!

1920s Flapper: Face powder & Traveling in Style

Flapper on vacation! Traveling this month? This mid-1920's advertisement for face powder captures the luxury of travel on the great ocean liners, or even a ferry boat. The ad states, "In all countries and in all climes- on land and on sea--Bourgois" This is Java face powder by A. Bourjois & Co., New York and Paris.

Traveling in style, her outfit has classic details: deep buttoned cuffs, high buttoned collar and a low slung cloche style hat with a bit of her bob peeking below the brim. Wrapped up against the ocean breeze, only her nose needs a bit of powder.

The Delineator Magazine: July 1925, Flapper Fashions

Finding a magazine from the 1920's with fashions is always fun, and "The Delineator" from July, 1925 is a good one. Most of this issue has fully illustrated pages that are filled with fashions. Published by Butterick patterns, the magazine was designed to promote their home sewing patterns and keep women up to date on fashion trends.

This version of "The Delineator" is a publication posted online, HERE. This format allows for small image browsing, as well as 'click' close-up views of the page. If you love this decade and want to know more about flapper fashion, this is a great resource to have. It is part of a set of other magazines from this month, assembled to create a news stand for the summer of 1925.



"The Delineator" magazine history, HERE

The News Stand for Summer 1925, HERE, Note: many of the magazines are not available for viewing, but the history overview is still posted on the site.

This topic was suggested by a post in The Vintage Traveler

1926 Nice

1926: Lorenzi Poster
Art Deco promenade fashions at their best. Summer brights in blue and red, even a white fur to catch the off shore breeze. Center stage is the flower girl in a captivating striped skirt with floral shawl and black apron.

1920s Flapper Dresses: 18 Flapper styles to help you Dress Like a Flapper

Here are 18 fabulous 1920's flapper styles to help you dress like a flapper.  These 1920 vintage dresses show details that have been well developed during the decade. At this time the low waistline has sophisticated draping, and the long torso is embellished with trims to create unique and dramatic designs.

These illustrations are from a vintage pattern magazine called "Fashionable Dress" from August 1929. The dresses here are mid-summer styles with flippy hemlines, neckline details and low hip sashes.

To make your own, try using cottons, chiffons and other light textiles. The prints tend to be small, with many "Art Deco" designs.

This illustrations also help to show hairstyles, hats, jewelry and accessories that were popular at that time.

Both by Maggy Rouff of Paris
Left- Yellow bodice with brown lace skirt. Brown velvet jacket with ruffled edges
Right-Printed chiffon with fine tucking at hip

Right- Moyneux of Paris, pleated tiers on the skirt, with pleated cap sleeves
Other designs by LeComte of Paris
Left, white crepe dress with red velvet coat
Second- red and white checked crepe, with bias trims
Third- white crepe with lavender checks and black banding

This last set was illustrated to show current trends in textile prints, and is shown on mature women to give examples of styles suitable for an older figure.

1920's Flapper Styles: How to Dress like a Flapper

You might think that current fashion bloggers invented 'street fashion' photos, but that's not so. These photos were taken on the streets of New York to show current fashion trends in 1929.  If you want to dress like a flapper, then here are some great styles to try.

Top-Jacket suits of light weight wool worn with fur stole and cloche hats worn low.  The suits have pleated skirts, note:. Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney is on the right.

Second- Flappers wear silk printed dresses with felt hat and fox stole around the shoulder.  Their low cloche hats each have a pin brooch accent on one side.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

This is part of a series of blog posts on women's fashions from 1929.
Most illustrations come from the magazine "Fashionable Dress", August 1929.

1929 Hairstyles: How to Look like a Flapper

How to look like a 1920s flapper can be a challenge when it comes to hairstyle selection.  Getting that perfect wave and spit curl can be easier if you find the right picture to copy.  Here are some great hairstyle illustrations from 1929. Hairstyles were changing in the summer of 1929. These illustrations appear in an article titled "the Twilight of the Bob: Longer hair ascends into the limelight".

On this topic, the author gives pointers for growing hair longer from the shorter length bob. Length is important, especially in the back. She suggests getting a perm, since fashion was moving in a wavey direction as these drawings show.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

This is the second post in a series on women's fashions from 1929.
Most images appear in a magazine from that year titled "Fashionable Dress"