Today Lady Carolyn invited me to participate in a presentation on 1920s fashion coming up at Reno’s National Automobile Museum at the end of March. How could I resist!
I have a decent selection of 1920s dresses…unless, of course, we’re talking about evening attire, of which I have none. No flapper dresses, which is pretty lame when I love the 20s so much.
This presents the perfect opportunity, though, to work that 1990s beaded slip dress I snagged for $15 at a thrift store into a beaded flapper frock worthy of the Charleston. Here’s the plan (or three):
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| Which one do you think? |
The neckline decoration is coming straight off the dress as-is, but the question is what to do with the rest of the dress. I would like to use as much of the remaining vermicularly beaded fabric as I can, but I will have to supplement the re-fashion with some additional fabric, either black crepe, some kind of skirt material like metallic drapey-netty-stuff, or fringe.
Fringe almost seems too cliche, though, doesn’t it? …despite it being totally period accurate, like on this dress:
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| The Frock |
I looked at a large cross-section of flapper dresses, but feel quite limited in how to use that heavily beaded neckline and also balance it on the lower half. Here are the two other inspo pieces:
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| Met |
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| Callot Soeurs |
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| Don’t I wish I could afford one of these reproductions from LeLuxe! |
37 Comments
Skye
February 8, 2012 at 5:10 PMI really like the first one. It looks the most 'balanced'. The colour of the bottom works well with the top. (But I'm no specialist in any way!)
Cassidy
February 8, 2012 at 5:33 PMI would go with number two or three, just because I think you don't see enough beading on 1920s costumes in general. Three would have a good balance of beading above and below.
Lauren R
February 9, 2012 at 12:47 AMCassidy, you are SO right. The originals I've been looking at are literally caked with beads
Cassidy
February 9, 2012 at 2:10 AMYes! I thought Midnight in Paris did a really good job with having heavily beaded evening dresses, I thought.
Erin T./Emelote of Calais
February 8, 2012 at 5:35 PMI have to say it…I LOVE #2…but #3 is also very nice. I love fringe, and it is so part of the 20s. Good luck on deciding what you want to do!
Nuranar
February 8, 2012 at 5:44 PMI love the paneled skirt – #3! I think it will do a good job with seeing more beading, too.
Ellen Widstrand
February 8, 2012 at 6:28 PMI love all of them, but I think you should go for the 1st or the 2nd! 🙂
MrsC (Maryanne)
February 8, 2012 at 6:37 PMI love the last one. It is different, entirely authentic, classy, and uses most of the original dress too 🙂
KittyKatt
February 12, 2012 at 3:28 AMI have to agree. Chainette fringe, if done right (as in your example photo) is okay, but is usually overdone as a choice for many 20s costumes. It kind of screams: "I couldn't afford a proper beaded dress, and my pattern came from the pattern books at the fabric store, and I'm doing a musical of Guys and Dolls at my local community theater." Your mileage may, of course, vary.
Anonymous
February 8, 2012 at 8:28 PMI think I like #1 the best, #2 is nice too, especially with the sparkly beaded fabric on the top. The curvy waist thing on #3 looks a bit odd but I like the panels.
Lauren R
February 9, 2012 at 12:47 AMThat curvy waist might end up being unflattering. Maybe it's too much…straight or scalloped might be better, I agree
Alexa
February 8, 2012 at 9:00 PM1 or 2. I actually like fringe 🙂
modernmorland
February 8, 2012 at 9:01 PMLove everything about #3!
Anne Elizabeth
February 8, 2012 at 9:02 PMThree!
Unknown
February 8, 2012 at 9:04 PMone or 3!
Kizzandra
February 8, 2012 at 9:20 PMLove the 3 – spot on for period, good use of recycled fabric which means you can splurge on beads and all that handwork will really personalize.
On the downside, it is not as fast as the others. End of march is really quite close.
If you have to go for one of the others for speed then I like 2. I take your point about cliche, and raise you an Iconic. Even the mundanes will recognise your 20's verve.
Don't like 1 at all.
Lauren R
February 9, 2012 at 12:46 AMYou have a very good point there. May my disinclination towards fringe has to do with the strong inclination in the 1960s for fringe, and also that every Halloween Flapper Costume out there has fringe on it. It would have to be done just right 😀
Caroline
February 8, 2012 at 9:31 PMI love 3! Number 1 is good too, but I'm just not a fan of fringe.
Nereida
February 8, 2012 at 9:55 PMI love number 2 but number 3 is also a good option. I can't wait to see the dress finished
Nereida
Lauren
February 8, 2012 at 10:16 PMStyle #1 😀
Valerie
February 8, 2012 at 10:19 PMNumber 2
Creative Kiwi
February 8, 2012 at 10:42 PMHi,
I would chose the third example but with a sheer(chiffon)underskirt in a pale Beige or Pink at the dropped waist. The paneling reads more 20's than the other two examples (in my opinion)
Linda
Lauren R
February 9, 2012 at 12:45 AMIt will definitely need a slip under it. Something in a bright color would be really fun – love the idea of pink 🙂
Debbie @ VintageDancer.com
February 8, 2012 at 10:59 PM#1 would be awesome with the right fabric (which I am sure you can find.) If you do #3 we'll almost be twins (that's my same Leluxe dress 🙂
Lauren R
February 9, 2012 at 12:45 AMI LOVE your LeLuxe. I wish I had one. The panels are so cool! Don't worry, you will always eclipse my humble hand-made version 🙂
Laurie
February 8, 2012 at 11:09 PMThey're all pretty but I would go with number two!
Anonymous
February 9, 2012 at 12:41 AMIf you are dancing go with the fringe!
Anonymous
February 9, 2012 at 12:41 AM#2 would look best if you incorporated gold/silver into the lower two-thirds of the dress. Having the color just at the top makes it look out of place and too heavy. The period beaded gowns I've handled incorporate the beading over the entire gown, and if there's more than one color, it is used throughout.
Lauren R
February 9, 2012 at 12:44 AMTough call! So far, #3 is in the lead, but not by much. I do like the paneling on it, although it will require more hand work. … time to go shopping!
Carol
February 9, 2012 at 1:10 AMI love #3…it will move as you move, not hang there like a curtain! I've done costume pieces with this kind of skirt and they turn out really well, although mine were not fancy, nor beaded. Be sure to let us see what you do!
danaealexandra
February 9, 2012 at 3:01 AMdesign 2! <3
Beth
February 9, 2012 at 3:27 AMThe fringe would work so long as you don't use cheap stuff, do layer it close together, and do the scallops/zig-zags. Cheap fringe widely spaced in straight lines is what looks like Halloween.
That said, #1 is my favorite. I'm imagining the skirt from the Callot Soeurs dress on that version.
Sharon
February 9, 2012 at 5:11 AMFringe on a flapper-dress has become such a cliche, please do *anything* else. I respectfully suggest you consider a "robe de style", it's a wonderful 20's fashion that is sadly ignored these days.
http://storage.canalblog.com/30/70/577050/37410359.jpg
Wylde Hills
February 9, 2012 at 4:02 PMPutting in my vote for number 3!
Steph
February 9, 2012 at 4:53 PMI'd go with your third option, definitely. The beaded skirt tabs scream flapper, but they're less typical than fringe. Sharon's Robe de Style idea is spectacular! They're such a unique 20s style, and there were so many ways to create the panniers and use them in the design.
Jenny
February 10, 2012 at 6:10 AMNumber 3. I like the narrow panels. Very chic 🙂
Maternity Evening Wear
February 10, 2012 at 9:52 AMSuperb dresses shared here. I like all of them. All are of latest fashion and very comfortable. I am highly obliged to be here by getting it.