The 1920s was a decade filled with all-night partying! Jazz music exploded and people danced the night away in clubs across the globe, doing the Charleston, the Shimmy and the tango. Money was plentiful, and electrifying parties at mansions and ballrooms were always in the mix. Women in the 1920s went all-out for evening. Opulence, decadence, glamour – whichever way you want to say it, 1920s formal had it!
There are many names for 1920′s formal dress. Party dresses, cocktail dresses, prom dresses, and evening dresses. In the 1920′s all after 6 dresses had the same look and feel and went by many different names.
The boyish shape that was so stylish during the decade was still sought after for nighttime, with a flattened bust, dropped waist and a loose-fitting, straight cut – perfect for dancing! Cocktail dresses were almost always sleeveless and daringly short (from below the knee to mid-calf), although women often lengthened their hems a little bit for very formal occasions.
Low Necks and Backs on 1920s Formal Dresses
Popular necklines for evening included a low square cut, scoop or V shape. A style worn often was a really low V (down to the waist) with a straight-cut contrasting panel set inside that gave a square finish to the overall neckline.
Having your back to someone in a crowded room was no excuse to skimp! The backs of dresses were often just as dramatic as the front, with a low-cut scoop or V shape. Shawl-like draping was popular with low-cut backs too. See the pink dress above for a V shawl.
Fabric was sometimes draped and gathered in interesting shapes at the dropped waistline (waist around the mid hip or lower), which was also often decorated with a big sash and bow at the front or on the side. Decorative jewelery such as large clips and pins carried a very Egyption look feel on the dresses. The recent discover of King Tuts tomb made anything Anceint Egypt very fashionable. Asian arts and decorations also were fashionable. The entire art movement of this time was called Art Deco and it played a large roll in fashion.
Even the hems of dresses weren’t neglected on 1920′s formal dresses. Contrasting beading or embroidery around the hem made them something special in and of themselves. Scalloped or uneven ‘scarf’ hems made dresses unique and fringe trim along the bottom gave them some swing! The all fringe, very short “flapper” dresses most people identify with the 1920′s were NOT worn in good company. These dresses appeared on show girls and other ladies of the night in the mid 1920′s. The design and the length was simply to risqué for the average woman.
When choosing a 1920s evening dress, don’t skimp on the fancy! Fabrics were very luxurious – velvet, silk, satin, layers of chiffon and lamé. Gold and silver metallic were eye-catching color choices. Cream, pastels and jewel tones were also common to see. Really, the sky was the limit in terms of color. Even black became acceptable (and wanted) for eveningwear – before the 1920s it was only worn by ladies in mourning. Thanks to Coco Chanel, who introduced the now-famous ‘Little Black Dress’ during the ‘20s, it became an extremely popular color for evening and remains so to this day. It was perfect to show off those gorgeous decorative elements and jewelry!
1920′s Formal Dress Accessories
Women wore layers of long necklaces over their evening dresses, usually strands of fake pearls and beads. Cuff bracelets in gold or silver were often worn with several going up the arm and around the bicep. Motifs of gold snakes, egyptian cats, butterfly’s and dragonflies were especially in demand. Even beaded or feather headbands or turban hats made it into formal wear. Read more about 1920s Accessories here.
1920s Style T Strap Shoes
Silk stockings were a must with those short hems, and shoes had to both look good and be comfortable for dancing. Stockings were usually solid tan or dark nudes. Metallic or patent leather mary-janes were the shoe of choice, and were sometimes decorated with sparkly buckles for added evening appeal. Learn more about and shop for 1920′s Shoes.
1920's Style Evening Dress
Buying 1920′s Evening Dresses can be a challenge. Very few clothing designers have introduced 20′s style dresses to their line. I predict all of this will change in the next few years as more and more TV shows and movies set in the 20′s will influence popular fashion. I have found a few formal 1920s style dresses online that are modern but with enough 1920′s style to make them great choices for proms and other formal occasions. More day or casual party dresses can be found in the 1920′s Womens Clothing shop.
Vintage dresses are very hard to find as well as very fragile to wear. Reproduction 1920′s dress patterns to sew your own dress are a great alternative although again a bit hard to find. My favorite pattern maker for 1920′s dresses is Evadress.com
Need more help? Feel free to leave a comment below or contact me with questions.
NOTE: The beautiful paintings in this article were taken aboard the Norwegian Dawn cruise ship. Artist is unknown.
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