Big news! I'm so thrilled to be a judge for the womens' fashion at the Jazz Age on the Delaware on July 29th in Philadelphia. Many of you who know me personally probably already know this, as I've been sneaking the information into casual conversation and pretending to be humble about it. "What? Lil' ol' me?" I knew being judgmental would pay off eventually! .....kidding! Get your ticket and more info here: http://www.jazzageonthedelaware.com/ Here are a few of my tips for looking your best for the big even. Plus a few of my personal preferences for dressing from the era that may help you in the judges' tent: I adore the women of the 1920s. They made huge strides for liberating women. They believed they should be equal to men. They wanted to smoke, drink, and have a voice, like men. They even adopted boyish looks. But a short haircut and lack of corset didn't mean they abandoned femininity either. We can thank Coco Chanel for this androgynous "garconne" look. How progressive. Shorter! Lower! Hemlines went up and waistlines went down. But this didn't happen as the clock struck midnight in 1920. I picture that cartoon style. Hemlines suddenly shooting up dramatically and everyone gaping, utterly surprised! In fact, hemlines didn't raise to anywhere near the knee until 1925. But it wasn't common to be above the knee unless you were bathing. Waistlines lowered first from under the bust to between the natural waist and the hips, and then finally down to the hips. The easiest approach? Don't stress out. Try this: Pair a skirt that hits below the knee with a blouse or even a silky or woven sleeveless top UNTUCKED. That blouse should come down over your hips. You can find skirts like this at most thrift stores. Add a long necklace and a parasol if you have them! Round sunglasses weren't just a thing of the '70s either. Hold on to your hat! It's a summertime picnic, so don't forget your hat and parasol! At this point, parasols were meant less for keeping the sun off you, and mostly for fashion. The cloche hat is a famous symbol of the time, but a variety of hats were actually worn. Large brimmed hats almost never go out of vogue. Beaded headbands that sat low on the head were mostly dressier, night time accessories. Instead, opt for a head scarf tied off with a big bow. A few of my personal looks (& my sister whom I style):
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AuthorMarietta is a swing dancer, artist, & horticulturalist from Philadelphia. Archives
July 2018
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