A Real 1920s Lady…Woman…Nun?

Can’t call this a flapper dress!

Remember that part in “Chicago” where Roxy doesn’t want to wear the demure dress to court because it’s so frumpy? Yup, that’s this dress in blue.

If it was anywhere near as itchy as this original ’20s home-sewn creation, no wonder she didn’t want to wear it!

I’ve had this dress in my closet for a few months. I bought it for a photo shoot that is yet to happen, and was excited to find an original day dress for a smashing price, in a fabulous condition.

It was cold. – Here you can see the seaming on the skirt. I think that makes all the difference in the design of this dress.

The dress is a lightweight glazed-ish wool with a lace collar. There is some interesting seaming on the front (which is the only way to tell the front from the back), and the seamstress made clever use of the fabric selvedge on the interior. She also decided the sack-like cut of the thing was too much frump for her, so she took it in at the side seams through the bodice to produce a slightly more feminine shape. (I’ve so done that)

In general, though, this dress is demure. I can’t quite explain why I felt so elegant wearing it, especially with the itch factory, but with the whole outfit on, it just felt so right.

Except for the scratchiness. It’s the hair shirt of 1920s frocks. It never lets you forget!

I wore this outfit to Starbucks, to meet my mom for a coffee chat. Now, I wear vintage clothing often, and I’ve worn some even older stuff into my local Sbux, but this dress on that day produced some staring. I think people genuinely thought I belonged to a religious order. I was getting side-eye, and even a few surreptitious phone pictures were taken. That’s definitely a first!

Don’t rain on my Old Lady parade!!

My mom said I looked like a nun that somebody had dumped a bucket of water over, due to the floppy hat. Thanks, Mom.

But you know what? I’d rather stand out than blend in! It’s Old Lady Chic!

I’ll just be lining the devilish thing before I wear it again. ๐Ÿ™‚

20 Comments

  • Laura

    November 9, 2015 at 10:51 PM

    If it's wool, and you're okay with potentially risking the glaze, I've had fantastic results removing the itch-factor from woolens with a good soak in lanolin soap. (I have a favorite if you're interested.)

    Reply
  • Kesia K

    November 9, 2015 at 10:53 PM

    There isn't much occasion to wear pretty flapper dresses for events where I am. We do a lot of farm work! I love seeing and making the more everyday dresses of the 1920s and other decades. Thank you ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Lauren Stowell

      November 9, 2015 at 11:48 PM

      They sure are comfortable and practical. Want to wear vintage but don't fancy underpinnings that day? 1920s all the way ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  • bauhausfrau

    November 9, 2015 at 11:23 PM

    The color is lovely, I donno about the demureness, I almost like it…I think I'd switch out the lace collar for a fox fur one! ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
    • Lauren Stowell

      November 9, 2015 at 11:48 PM

      That's a great idea! The collar is just tacked on, of course. I have mink collars that came off of old coats. I think I'll try it – don't think anybody will fancy me a nun if I'm wearing a fur collar!

      Reply
  • bauhausfrau

    November 9, 2015 at 11:23 PM

    The color is lovely, I donno about the demureness, I almost like it…I think I'd switch out the lace collar for a fox fur one! ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
  • L. R. Stern

    November 10, 2015 at 2:22 AM

    You look great, and your Starbucks story made me giggle! We go out and about in vintage (as late as 20s, but usually 19th century) in Boston pretty regularly…we've been asked what religion we are on more than one occasion ๐Ÿ™‚

    A very nifty find!

    Reply
  • Amoris

    November 10, 2015 at 8:58 AM

    Lovely dress! I especially love the cute lace collar, but I can see why it makes it look more 'religious'. In my experience, every outfit with a skirt that reaches past the knees and/or a hat will make people think you're from some strict church. Oh well, people will stare, better make it worth it ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
  • Cate

    November 10, 2015 at 10:02 AM

    I love the dress, the hat and the shoes and I'd wear this outfit in a heartbeat. People are so quick to judge anything different and, like you, I'd rather be different than follow the crowd.

    Reply
  • Carla

    November 10, 2015 at 2:52 PM

    Yay you blogged about it! It's such a gorgeous dress, I hope you figure a way to make it not itchy, I'm sure lining it would be helpful and fun. And oh man, I remember I got asked 'if I dress like that because my religion makes me' at a flea market. What was I wearing? this outfit here
    Which of course left my friend and I scratching our heads.

    Carla,ย Tiny Angry Crafts

    Reply
  • Unknown

    November 11, 2015 at 2:58 AM

    I love the lace collar. You just need some long red beads and a red feather in your cap to get rid of any nun associations! They were jealous.

    Reply
  • KatieZanne

    November 12, 2015 at 12:04 AM

    I am loving your 1920's style, and like you, I can't stop watching Miss Fisher lately! It makes me want to wear all the shapeless smocks I can get my hands on! I've also been wearing more vintage clothes out lately, but living in Portland, people don't even look twice at me! I love it! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply

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