1920s : Fashions of a Roaring Decade

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Wool and rabbit fur, about 1925-30, Labelled Cripps, Sons & Co, 12-14 & 16 BOLD STREET, LIVERPOOL, Coat of maroon-coloured wool, fully lined with maroon-coloured silk. Loose fitting, fastening in centre front with one large plastic button at low waist level. Deep stand-up collar and cuffs of brindle-coloured rabbit fur.

Many of Emily Tinne's coats and other outdoor garments are made of fur. Real fur was widely used in fashionable dress during the 1920s and 1930s. Unlike today there was no debate about the ethics of using fur in clothing.

Despite having a wide range of expensive fur coats, she hardly ever wore any of them. Her family believe that she bought many of them during the Depression, so that Liverpool's poorly-paid shop assistants could receive the much-needed commission on the sale.

liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

 

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Cotton jersey, about 1925-30. Made by JB Lewis & Sons of Nottingham. Bathing costume of black machine-knitted cotton jersey, with vest-like top section and short legs. Top half of costume is divided diagonally, the left side worked in blue and yellow horizontal stripes.

Fastens with two mother-of-pearl buttons on left shoulder. Belt loops at hip level but belt now missing.

liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

 

[DosViolines]

Beaded chiffon dance dress, c.1926-28

"Flapper" dresses are now a diminishing treasure, with their super fine fabrics and heavy weight surface decorations, both of which causes them to perish—making the better condition examples highly collectible and prized. Amazingly, this dress has survived beautifully!

Fashioned from black silk chiffon, and heavily beaded throughout with hand applied clear & silver glass bugle beads, and round pearls, done in an 'artistic,' large floral garden, comprised of roses, swags, etc. But instead of the usual minute shaped motifs, this design features bold and large!

Possibly the most exceptional feature of the dress would be its dazzling hemline! Comprised of a circle of slits, creating dangling panels of chiffon, all of which are heavily beaded in silver to outline the slits.

Constructed in the classic 20's 'tabard' style cut, which allowed for a wide top, that gracefully molded to the shoulders. Unlined, so could be paired with a vivid underslip to show the detail of the beading.

heavenofgowns

 

[DosViolines]

Vionnet-style/geometric beaded dress, c.1923-25

A rare & important find! Vionnet-style beaded evening dress, c.1923-25. It's an early 'flapper' example, which was produced pre-'Charleston-era,' during the transitional period, which was the movement from the constricted Edwardian fashions. Notice that the cut of the dress is more elongated and straight, rather than in the manner of the later dance/party dresses [post-1926], which were fuller skirted for the purpose of dancing.

It's fully beaded with micro pewter coloured bugle-beads, to a geometric motif—very much in the style that Vionnet decorated her garments in during this period. From 1923 to 1925, with the discovery of King Tut's tomb (1922), this led to a major fashion trend— many garments were styled in the Egyptian manner, such as our dress.

Having geometric stylized beadwork, it has been patterned to give the feel of Hyrogliphics, thus also bears a heavy deco-style influence. The care-free cut of the dress adds to it's own exotica, by almost appearing as though it were a tunic (a traditional piece of Egyptian fashion).

The fabric is sheer, black chiffon, and is unlined (the wearer will be able to pair it with an underslip of choice). There are not any fastenings as it simply slips over the head.

heavenofgowns

 

[DosViolines]

Crystal beaded party dress, c.1928

Dazzling, crystal beaded party dress, dating to the late-1920's. Fashioned from sheer black gauze/muslin, and smuthered in radiating arrays of hand beadwork.

heavenofgowns

 

[DosViolines]

Deco beaded/fringed party dress, c.1927

A classic & rare 1920's party dress! It's a perfect combination of both the deco-style beadwork and the renowned flapper fringe! The dress is fashioned from black silk, and is decorated across the torso-area with micro-beads in shades of silver & grey's, with further paste stones. This exquisite deco design, is further mirrored across the back of the dress.

True deco-stylized garments & textiles are rare treasures, both of which are uncommon in the open market. The intricate beadwork pattern in this dress, is the epitome of marvelous deco fashion! The ethereal hand-beading is a testament to the dress's fine, up-market quality.

Thus, the black silk fringe completes the dress's party perfection! Applied across the shaped, lower waistline, and of a length which extends below the hemline of the dress, allowing it's fluidity to be easily noticed.

There are no fastenings, as it slips over the head, and doesn't require an underslip.

heavenofgowns

 

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Beaded Ballet Costume, 1920s.

whitakerauction.com

 

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Turkish Embroidered Accessories, c. 1920.

whitakerauction.com

 

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Beaded Gold Lace Dress, c. 1925.

whitakerauction.com

 

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Gold Lace & Lame Dress, c. 1925.

whitakerauction.com

 

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Egyptian Revival Beaded Dress, 1920s.

whitakerauction.com

 

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Beaded & Sequined Lilac Dress, 1920s.

whitakerauction.com

 

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Gold & Silver Beaded Dress, 1920s.

whitakerauction.com

 

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Seafoam Green & Gold Beaded Dance Dress, 1920s.

whitakerauction.com

 

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Salmon & Purple Beaded Dress, c. 1922.

whitakerauction.com

 

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Burnt Orange Velvet Dress & Coat, 1920s.

whitakerauction.com

 

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Beaded Silk Dress, Mid 1920s.

whitakerauction.com

 

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Two Embroidered Dresses, 1920s.

whitakerauction.com

 

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Two Beaded Dresses, 1920s.

whitakerauction.com

 

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Gold & Crystal Beaded Dress, 1920s.

whitakerauction.com