Back from The Lake Tahoe Gatsby Festival, 2011

Sunday – picnic at the Pope Mansion, replete with vintage cars, great music, and wonderful costumes to oggle.

The Lake Tahoe Gatsby is a lovely, miniature-version of the Oakland Gatsby.  It’s a free wander-in sort of affair right on the beach at the Pope Mansion, an old historic residence now belonging to the State of California, but once the Summer destination of the well-to-do Pope family and their guests, escaping busy San Francisco for some fresh mountain air.
The theme was 1920s, with afternoon attire being the appropriate dress.  …but I made a 1920s style bathing suit (and you can too, here’s how), and actually went swimming in it, which was interesting, to say the least.
More photos ….
Mom in front of one of the beautiful cars parked up on the lawn at the Pope Mansion.
Debbie always looks snazzy in vintage 🙂
The bathing suit in all its glory.  I didn’t change into my other dress like I’d planned – wearing this thing was too much fun 🙂
Debbie and Oscar, the perfect vintage couple.
Mom in her reproduction plaid 20s house dress, made from an original pattern.  And she has great shoes I want to steal.

The swimming …. the Lake wasn’t all THAT cold (har har).  The suit did find in the water, but did get a little looser all around after it dried out HOURS later.
Yay.  Fun.
And that’s all the 1920s Summer Fun we’ll be having this year.  Oscar, Debbie, Mom and I are all quite enchanted with the Jazz Age, though, and are dreaming up speakeasy parties and other 20s-themed get-togethers :-).  Can’t resist!

6 Comments

  • Samantha

    August 16, 2011 at 1:11 AM

    soooooooo jealous of all the 20s fun!!! your tutorial for the bathing suit is fabulous! i think i will definitely have to make one before too long… along with other 20s dresses!

  • Caroline

    August 16, 2011 at 3:23 PM

    I've already made 3 20s evening gowns and I can't resist! I threw a 20s party last year based on the Bright Young People, it was jolly good fun! (-;
    Next up daywear! or swimwear! or a suit! or pajamas! (It's all so fabulous!)

  • Lauren Hairston

    August 16, 2011 at 11:19 PM

    Looks like a great time! I wish we had a Gatsby festival here.

    I want to have 20s-themed croquet parties as soon as we get some cooler weather. Let me know if you're ever in Wichita–you're welcome to join us!

  • Lauren R

    August 17, 2011 at 7:04 AM

    Picnics, parties, croquet games, speakeasies, I'm for it all! I've been drooling over some extant, beaded 20s gowns, SO beautiful. I think this is a hard decade for us because we think of it as frumpy, but some of the gowns are so elegant when paired with the right shoes, headgear, etc. I suppose it's true of all eras, but unlike some other eras, the clothes are SO comfortable to wear!

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