Flapper party help - another update added - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing

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Flapper party help - another update added

anne

Veteran

My work party has a flapper and fedora speakeasy theme. I asked my FB friends if anyone had a dress I could borrow and a friend said I could have this one to keep.
This outfit is unstyled and my hair is a mess. My question is, do you think this fits ok, or do I need to alter?

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Dressing

57 replies

Latest reply was from Janet

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I think the fit is fine—it’s supposed to be straight and a little androgynous. Now you need a fantastic headband or hair piece and long beads.

Chris987

Veteran

Agree with fashion intern. I'd also add a ribbon in silver or whatever color you choose for a headband around the hips, that was a very 1920s look.

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

This dress is perfect! I'd add some elbow length gloves, a headband with some sparkle or bling, and long beads or pearls, and a beaded wrist bag (I see these at Goodwill all the time, but if you can't find one, borrow one from a friend).

I was in a production of Thoroughly Modern Millie earlier this year, and one of my costumes arrived without accessories. I was able to make a very fancy headband for under $10, using a stretch lace headband I found on clearance at CVS or Target, plus a length of beaded fringe ribbon I found at Hancock or JoAnn's fabric.

I don't know how long your hair is, and if you want to get a bobbed 20's look, but I've tried out this faux bob tutorial, and it worked really well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?.....n6vZ18JBoG

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

LOVE THIS DRESS ON YOU.

Killer.

Fun with tall boots and a cardi in Winter.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

LBD, when we were chatting a couple weeks ago, I checked out your blog. (I hope the stalking doesn’t creep you out—I like to know who I’m talking to). You have a tutorial for a dance move that might be fun for the party.

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

YES! I thought was an amazing tutorial, but it was hard!

Joy

Veteran

Yes to the dress. It looks wonderful on you as it is. For me flapper= fringe.

Dianna

Veteran

Wow, this is a fantastic dress and it is great as it is.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Yep awesome dress for this Anne! All the ideas for dressing it up are great.

harmonica

Veteran

Fab dress, Anne! Lucky you. I like the suggestions of a headband and long beads.

Aida

Veteran

Great dress for your event, and just as great for daily wear. Would you wear on very hot days? I would be inclined to leave it swishy and roomy as-is especially if it's good for hotter days; it also looks a bit more dramatic this way

Zibbets

Veteran

I think the dress is perfect! You need shoes with an ankle strap and your date should carry a violin case. What fun!

rachylou

Veteran

This dress is lovely on you! Perfect flapper wear too

lyn67

Veteran

Perfect! And not only for the party, depends on the styling! I say Keep and wear!

citygirldc

(website)

Veteran

Works just fine. Add some long pearls or necklace, gloves, and maybe a headpiece??

anne

Veteran

Thanks everyone. I thought the dress fitted ok too, but the friend who gave it to me kept saying how big it would be on me! It fits well around the shoulders, though not tight around the hips at all.

I was surprise how many of you thought it could work for everyday wear. I have always thought my long torso/ short leg combo made dropped waists unflattering.

Re the fringed dress, I expect to see a lot of them at the party, though this article (was this linked to from YLF?) says they weren't really worn then https://www.racked.com/2017/5/.....ringe-myth.
I would have been happy with anything I was lent though!

I'm going to try to buy some gloves and a headband ( thanks for the suggestions on that) have been offered some pearls to wear and have some of my own too. I think my nude Mary Jane shoes will work.

I'll be checking out LaD's link re hair soon too ( sorry, been hectic)

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

No fringe? Who knew? Then again, my impressions of fashion in this era are based on a dress our mom made for my sister’s fifth grade school program.
Maybe you friend was confusing “loose-fitting” and “big”.

I’m looking forward to more posts about the costume.

MrsK

I like the dress on you too!

Amazon has some great options for headbands. I was a flapper for Halloween and bought this one. It's really beautiful - nice quality.
And I bought some cute shoes from DSW that I can actually wear in everyday life too!

Hope you have a great time!

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

Two things I learned about the 1920s from our costumer (who really launched into an academic lecture to the ladies of the cast):

Authentic 1920s dresses weren't short, like the costumes you see now. They hit at or below the knee. Many of the costumes we wore, looked like what they wore 7-10 years earlier, but with higher hemlines and a looser waist and bust.

They weren't tight, but body-skimming.

We only wore fringe for the speakeasy scene. Fringe was apparently more a clubwear thing back then.

MrsK

Oh, and I've also ordered this pearl necklace from Macy's to wear to the flapper charity event I'm attending in January. If you have enough time to order, they seem like a great option.

anne

Veteran

Mrs K - thanks for the links. I'm in Australia so can't order those specific things, but will be looking out for something similar here. Those shoes are indeed gorgeous and rewearable!

Now, a question,. gloves - black or white?

La P - I've checked out the false bob video now, and will try the technique out tonight.

Fashiontern - I didn't know either until recently, and the history of clothing (one of my childhood obsesssion) was my gateway to being interested in clothes at all! And yes, I think you're right about my friend, although I think she always overestimates her size, too.

Beth Ann

Veteran

This is very flattering, Anne! The drop waist obscures where your own waist resides. I absolutely think you can restyle this for "regular" wear! And this style is amazing for ease of wear and comfort!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I think white gloves Anne, will try to go on the desktop later and select some old pics to show you of my friend and I at the Miss Fisher garden party. But if a very evening look black could be worn.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Have had a hunt through for our past escapades.
Pic 1, Melbourne, Miss Fisher garden party at Rippon Lea 2015 (historic home filmed in the series).
Pic 2, at a talk at the same event, shows lots of women's hair.
Pic 3, me at the door.
Pic 4, Neil and I ready for an Art Deco afternoon tea Feb 2016.
Pics 5-9, old photos from Feb 2014 all at Art Deco Napier.
You can see I have 3 dresses I recycle and mix and match , essentially all the same beads, one cloche hat, one other vintage hat, 2 different feather hairpieces.
I have generally worn white gloves but then my vintage gloves are all white. Have fun choosing. You could Google Art Deco Napier as they have it every year and there are so many good pics to look at. Cheers Jenni

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anne

Veteran

WOW Jenni - you have had fun with your dressing up! Some great outfits there and I love number 5 with your charleston leg moves. (and those great shoes)

I have a few additions to my outfit now. I've been given some long pearls, and our office manager has a whole bunch of accessories of which I've selected a black boa and a black headband.

Should that mean I should go for black gloves? OTOH my shoes are quite light - bone coloured

Plus, there's a makeup artist coming in to give us a quick make up in the right style!!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Oh yes the make-up can be so fun. I just used Google images for that, but a make-up artist will be cool. Personally I like the sound of lighter gloves to go with your nude Mary-Janes, if you could find any. Any chance of a beaded bag?
Black gloves would be fine I'm sure. It's the general image you want

MrsK

I struggled with the faux bob itself, but followed this youtube video right up until where she starts pinning it up, and ended up with Veronica Lake hair -- loved it sooo much.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkYkqF2yPYI

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Jenni NZ, I’m sighing at #3. You look great, and I love that porch. There’s a bit of Art Deco in Florida. It, and art nouveau and Jugendstil are all great, I think. I also love #7 because you created the right impression combining a few keys pieces just right.

If fringe was just for clubs/nightlife, then it sounds like a good choice for a party.

Anne, sounds like the fun is starting long before the official party time, what with all the borrowing and swapping of styles going on. Have fun!

karen13

Veteran

Anne if you can put together a headband like jenni’s #8, that just says flapper to me.

Jenni - what fun pics. I so so so love the black and white lace ups in 6. You have the best shoes.

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