1920s : Fashions of a Roaring Decade

[DosViolines]

Silver Embroidered Chemise Dress
Possibly Paul Poiret, French, circa 1925
Of pumpkin georgette, with rounded neckline, long cuffed sleeves, embroidered at lower half with couched silver metallic worked in horizontal bands of Oriental style flowers, repeated in bands at upper sleeve, the hem sewn with deep pleated brown velvet flounce, silver rope twist cording at top, similar velvet ribbon at dropped waist

doylenewyork

 

[DosViolines]

Tangerine Silk Velvet Chemise Dress
French, early 1920s
Sleeveless, ankle length, with dropped waist defined by wide self belt, the bodice front and skirt sewn with bands and rectangular areas of silver beads in floral pattern, the center front band dipping below waist and ending in circular form, labeled: Adair/The House of France/4.Cite Paradis/Paris/Made In France.

doylenewyork

 

[DosViolines]

Beaded Black Chiffon Chemise Dress
Belgian, mid 1920s
Straight line, sleeveless, with the skirt flaring from hip level, the hem scalloped and dipping lower at each side, of fine stiff gauze sewn allover with clear seed beads and decorated with a concentric pattern emanating from right hip upward in vertical lines to neckline and downward across skirt in scalloped pattern, similar beading at hem, labeled: Hand Made In Belgium and handwritten number.

doylenewyork

 

[DosViolines]

Black and White Beaded Chemise Dress From the Wardrobe of Theda Bara
Circa 1925
Of black georgette with integral silk slip, with low V front and back, the bodice top and skirt covered with tiers of long silver bead fringe, looped on bodice and swinging free on skirt, the torso solidly beaded with white pearlescent and black beads in a dramatic burst pattern centered with elliptical shape worked in rhinestones and square paillettes with a bead tassel dangling from middle, the dress similarly, but not identically, beaded on back, interior tape label: Bara.

The dress belonged to the great silent film star Theda Bara (1889-1955). Bara created the character of the Vamp, the wickedest of women, in her starring role in the movie A Fool There Was, of 1915 and became an instant star. From 1915 to 1919, she starred in scores of films, most box office smashes, including notably Cleopatra in 1917 and Salome in 1918. Her heyday ended in 1919, but she continued to make films into the 1920s, her last Madame Mystery, in 1926, the approximate date of this dress.

doylenewyork

 

[DosViolines]

Black Chiffon Beaded Chemise
American, circa 1925
Sleeveless, with black, orange and pewter floral garland pattern beadwork defining low round neckline and dropped waist and decorating skirt, scalloped hemline

doylenewyork

 

[DosViolines]

Bead Fringed Chemise Dress
American, 1920s
Black net over black satin, with short sheer sleeves, low front and back V, the bodice and entire back panel encrusted with sequins and beads, the skirt front sewn from waist to hem with long bead fringe

doylenewyork

 

[DosViolines]

Blue Lame Evening Coat
French, 1920s
Of gold and electric blue floral pattern lame, with ruched velvet collar and cuffs trimmed with white ermine, button closures at neck and low waist, labeled: Zimmermann/10 Rue des Pyramides/Paris/Depose.

doylenewyork

 

[DosViolines]

Lame and Velvet Cape
French, 1920s
Three-quarter length, dipping lower in back, with voluminous hoodlike brown fur, possibly zibeline, and black velvet collar, single button closure, the cape fashioned in various layers, the exterior of gold lame woven with Art Deco leaf and vine pattern in the style of Raoul Dufy, the pattern cut out in curvilinear shapes from hip level and sewn with velvet inserts, creating drape and flare at bottom, the velvet areas underlayed with chiffon, the layering doubled at center back section, full black velvet lining with pockets.

Oral history attributes the cape to Paul Poiret.

doylenewyork

 

[DosViolines]

Irene Castle
Dress
Black silk crepe, ecru lace, embroidery
Circa 1923, USA

The dancer Irene Castle was known for her romantic and modern style. She parlayed her status as a fashion icon into a successful collaboration with Corticelli Silks, designing and promoting clothes based on her personal taste. This dress combines the functional chic of a little black dress with the charm of a naively rendered floral bouquet. The tiered ruffles and narrow embroidered panel emphasize movement, a consistent theme in Castle’s own wardrobe.

fitnyc.edu

 

[GBArt]

What's weird is how those fashion ideas in the early twenties spread almost instantly around the world. It was the beginning of a new age.

 

[lotusgreen]

i just came across this 1926 fashion show--a little film...:

http://www.youtube.com/swf/l.swf?vi...t=OEgsToPDskKc2rA-vJNSuKweu_WICkHV&fs=1&hl=es

 

[Josephine]

That's such a gem lotusgreen. I loved the tulle dress with roses. And the music

 

[GBArt]

Amazing

 

[DosViolines]

1920s Era Embroidered Silk Chinese Jacket

pastperfectvintage.com

 

[DosViolines]

Sparkling Black and Red Beaded Early 1920s Dress with Purse

This sparkling beaded chiffon dress has deep bands of crystal and red glass beading in Chinese inspired motifs. The modified bishop sleeve cuffs are beaded , too. And this beauty comes with the original black crepe slip and a coordinating black purse with clear and red beads. The neckline and armholes are bound with chiffon. The way the dress was constructed, the sleeves were set in by hand and could be removed to make this even more of an evening dress.

pastperfectvintage.com

 

[DosViolines]

Exotic 1920s Chinese Inspired Beaded Satin Dress

This exotic 1920s evening dress in stain and crepe is decorated with rhinestone and blown glass beads in a Chinese inspired pattern. The bodice has a deep V front and back over an interior slip with a fitted hip band and a layered skirt in stain and crepe. The motifs are set onto the band with rhinestones, gold braid and large blown glass beads.

pastperfectvintage.com

 

[DosViolines]

1920s Art Deco Print Dress in Slate Grey, Red & Black

Art Deco silk matte pongee print dress from the mid 1920s. The dress is the classic 1920s dropped waist style with two gently gathered skirt tiers set on a very fresh royal blue polished cotton base. The armholes and neckline are finished with self binding.

pastperfectvintage.com

 

[DosViolines]

Rust Chiffon 1921 - 22 Beaded Gown

This gown is rust brown silk chiffon ( impossible to photo!) over matching silk satin. The beading is done on net in sequins and glass bugle beads while the sleeves and neckline are edges with faceted jet. The slighy dropped waist combined with the interior silk bodice e liner and wide petersham waistband mark it as a transitional gown from the Teens to the 20s. The sash is black silk moiré ribbon with velvet roses at the waist. The neckline is edged with narrow moiré ribbon. The chiffon skirts are 4 panels that fall in scarf like points.

pastperfectvintage.com

 

[DosViolines]

Lovely Jazz Age ca. 1921 - 22 Sequin and Velvet Dress

This lovely Jazz Age ca. 1921 - 22 dress is encrusted with black and old gold sequins in a zigzag pattern. Stylistically and structurally, this one is a Cusper - on the cusp of the Teens to 20s. The transition is there to see sequins in a geometric pattern, but juxtaposed with lace sleeves. Love it! The back floating panel is silk velvet and the sleeves are a black net lace. The skirt is quite straight, hanging form a slightly dropped waist with a soft blouson bodice. Structurally, it owes a lot to the Teens - there is a wide petersham band with 3 elastic bands per side, loads of hooks and snaps, and an internal bodice with silk net straps. The skirt has a silk liner that has a hem panel of the velvet that peaks out through the front skirt slit.

pastperfectvintage.com

 

[DosViolines]

Gorgeous 1920s Beaded Dress in Black and Blue

The fabric is a black chiffon with great scrolls of black and blue glass rocaille beads down the front, back, and around the hips. Even the sleeve cuffs have beading. The dress is cut in a overdress style, with a chiffon layer with pleated skirt and lots of beading over a straight under dress with beads at the CF. The over layer front edges are caught at the low waist to the slip.

pastperfectvintage.com