Costume ideas from the ultimate 1920s style figures
Celebrity culture truly emerged in the 1920s with the popularity of cinema movies, cabaret stage shows and live music. Just like today people obsessed over what the stars were wearing.
The freewheeling cultural period saw a significant fashion metamorphosis, with women daring to bare their legs, ditching corsets for relaxed waistlines and showing that tailored pants and sailor suits looked even better on them.
Here are some memorable women of screen and stage who became style icons.
Dolores del Rio
A silent film sensation, Delores del Rio stood out in the 1920s fashion era with her statement red lipstick and heavy brows over the then-fashionable pencil thin type. The Mexican-born actress’s alluring looks and the home country flair she peppered into 1920s fashion trends made her a style icon. Delores put her personal spin on the flapper dress, loved anything with ruffles and glamourised her native poncho for the evening. Demure pendant earrings and bold lips with a flapper dress like this one embody the divine Delores’ 1920s style.
Josephine Baker
Josephine Baker was a famed dancer, American Civil Rights activist, and the first African-American to star in a major motion picture. Her penchant for flesh-baring stage costumes included her topless in a skirt made from bananas.
We’re able to offer some of Ms Baker’s more classic, offstage styles, like a white floor-length ball gown. Baker often went with the more is less approach with accessories, wearing exotic feathered headdresses (use more than one to recreate Josephine-level drama) and surrounded herself with feather boas. In the day time, she opted for turbands and cloche hats to go with her more androgynous attire, which you can DIY from your wardrobe to embody the other style side of this icon.
Foundation wasn’t a thing yet, only powder, so don’t over apply your base. A matte finish is a must.
Coco Chanel
Coco Chanel was a revolutionary for women’s fashion. Along with wearing chic black dresses, in the early 1920s, she switched play on traditionally male attire and created the Chanel Suit. The first of its kind, it enabled women to see how men's styling can work for them and formed some early workings for dismantling gender stereotypes. Yas queen.
Coco was well aware of her influence when she said, "I don't do fashion. I am fashion." Wow. With the feminine side of Chanel’s influence, Coco’s trendsetting spirit can be found in our tasselled and tittilating soft pink and black dress featuring a drop waist, velvet detail and chic pearl brooch.
Dark matte grey eyeshadow all over your lid up to the brow bone wasn’t considered OTT. Line your upper and lower lash lines with a pencil eyeliner (no liquid invented yet sorry). Apply layers of jet black mascara or some falsies (they were around then!)
Marlene Dietrich
German-born actress Marlene Deitrich was known for rocking a tuxedo and top hat with attitude as much as she could a ball gown with class. With her blonde bob perfectly styled, she was seen stepping out in pants, suspenders and button-up shirts as often as she did in glamourous evening gowns, drenched in diamonds and wrapped in fur. Walking the red carpet would have seen her dazzling in a gown like this for sure. Hemlines might have been hiking up, but 1920s fashion leaders like Dietrich put their pins in patterned hosiery.
Colleen Moore
Colleen Moore was one of the women who inspired others to lop their locks into an edgy bob. The silent movie star is a renowned as a 1920s fashion trailblazer (and one of the highest paid actresses. Go girl.) Rock a chic flapper dress but break out of the ordinary with a top hat to accessorise the way Moore would. Colleen wasn’t about bling and kept things somewhat understated compared to the other 1920s style icons on this list. This contrasting, satin look drop waist dress speaks to that perfectly.
Powder blush in berry or orange shades was generously applied to the apples of the cheeks only and blended a touch so to leave a noticeable circular shape. Exaggerate your cupids bow and fill your lips with a seductive red lipstick.
Joan Crawford
Labelled the flapper to eulogize by The Great Gatsby writer himself F. Scott Fitzgerald, when he stated that Joan is, "doubtless the best example of the flapper." Joan performed in New York clubs and shows during the early 1920s before moving to acting. She was faithful to the feminine and classic ways of 1920s style. You can live up to her flapper infamy with our dress suggestions and flirty yet poised curls that spoke to the Hollywood glamour of the era.
These fine women are just a handful of the fashion icons formed in this era. Shop the entire range of 1920s costumes and accessories. Enjoy some of our perks like free express shipping on orders over $30 and Afterpay payment option.