The sophisticated glam of the “Flapper Dress”

[Kazimiera]

They wore skirts in which they could dance the Charleston – the sophisticated glam of the “Flapper Dress”

Source: http://www.thevintagenews.com/2016/0...flapper-dress/



In addition to their irreverent behavior, flappers were known for their style, which largely emerged as a result of French fashions, especially those pioneered by Coco Chanel, the effect on dress of the rapid spread of American jazz, and the popularization of dancing that accompanied it.

Called garçonne in French (“boy” with a feminine suffix), flapper style made girls look young and boyish: short hair, flattened breasts, and straight waists accentuated it. Scroll down for a cool Flapper video

By at least 1913, the association between slim adolescence and a certain characteristic look became fixed in the public’s mind. Lillian Nordica, commenting on New York fashions that year, referred to “a thin little flapper of a girl donning a skirt in which she can hardly take a step, extinguishing all but her little white teeth with a dumpy bucket of a hat, and tripping down Fifth Avenue.”

Flapper dresses were straight and loose, leaving the arms bare (sometimes no straps at all) and dropping the waistline to the hips. Silk or rayon stockings were held up by garters. Skirts rose to just below the knee by 1927, allowing flashes of leg to be seen when a girl danced or walked through a breeze, although the way they danced made any long loose skirt flap up to show their legs.

To enhance the view, some flappers applied rouge to their knees.Popular dress styles included the Robe de style. High heels also came into vogue at the time, reaching 2–3 inches (5–8 cm) high. Favored shoe styles were Mary Janes and T-straps in classic black, gold, silver, or nude shades.


Fashion images donated by The Rose Archive at Shenkar College.


Fashion images donated by The Rose Archive at Shenkar College.






Gloria Swanson.


Lilyan Tashman wearing a beaded Canton crepe gown.


Norma Talmadge.


Pink sleeveless Delphos gown by Mariano Fortuny, 1920s.


Young woman standing in striped dress, exterior, 1925. Ladder seen to left.

Although the appearance typically associated now with flappers (straight waists, short hair and a hemline above the knee) did not fully emerge until about 1926, there was an early association in the public mind between unconventional appearance, outrageous behavior, and the word “flapper”. A report in The Times of a 1915 Christmas entertainment for troops stationed in France described a soldier in drag burlesquing feminine flirtatiousness while wearing “short skirts, a hat of Parisian type and flapper-like hair”.

[Kazimiera]

Source: http://www.thevintagenews.com/2016/0...apper-dresses/



If you follow us frequently by now you surely must have noticed our “mild” obsession with flappers, what they wore, and their influence on creating the modern woman. The flapper style ruled in the 1920s, the style pushed all boundaries and allowed the woman after centuries of crinoline, bloomers and incredibly uncomfortable clothes to feel both comfortable and feminine; on top of all, they looked gorgeous.

In case you are as fascinated by the decadent Flapper’s style as we are, there are pretty good news: The Kent State University Museum current exhibition, entitled “Flapper Style: Fashions of the 1920s” displays the quintessential elements of the flapper appearance. Although the exhibition displays a wide array of the Flapper’s style, we particularly choose these typical beaded flapper’s dresses.


American, ca. 1920-1929. Dress decorated with beads and pearls with a zig-zag hem.


American, ca. 1925. Cream silk crepe with gold and ivory beading.

The tubular dresses of the ‘teens had evolved into a similar silhouette that now sported shorter skirts with pleats, gathers, or slits to allow motion.The flapper dress was functional and flattened the bust line rather than accentuating it.


American, ca. 1925-1926. Green silk chiffon, lace, beaded silk satin, pearl and diamond embroidery.

We love this style so much, because, maybe for the first time in fashion history, women were wearing what they actually want and the woman was dictating the fashion to adapt to her lifestyle. I personally think if it wasn’t for the flappers and their fashion revolution, maybe we would still be wearing crinolines and hoop skirts.


American, ca. 1925-1928. Cream silk satin, crystal and silver bugle beads in a floral pattern, inset chiffon at center back with bow trim.


American, Peggy Hoyt, ca. 1921. Aquamarine silk, chiffon, Luneville embroidery in gold and silver beads, copper thread. Deep stand collar of fox fur.


English, ca. 1925. Black chiffon sleeveless dress with all-over design of white beads, silver sequins and silver glass beads.


French, Paul Poiret, ca. 1925. Pale green silk chiffon, all over geometric design in silver, gold and clear beads.