Retro looks- and how to recreate them today

In the course of history, 100 years isn’t a particularly long time. But in the course of fashion history, there have been major shifts in technology, politics, culture and social norms, and fashion has reflected that in its ever-changing cycle of trends. From flapper dresses and cloche hats to robes de style and long pearl necklaces of the ’20s we are seeing everywhere not because there are bootleggers or flappers everywhere, but because there is a general sense of opulence that is returning in a way that people dress.

The Number Nineteen

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The Art Deco style of the ’20s was defined by bold, geometric, and often extremely sparkly and sequined looks. Women were celebrating entering the workforce by hitting the dance floor at clubs and spending their paychecks at Chanel, purchasing garments that allowed them to move freely. The shifting status quo was easily seen in the designs of leading fashion designers at the time. In their ateliers, couturiers like Coco Chanel, Paul Poiret, Jean Patou and Jeanne Lanvin created looks that took elements from menswear and refined them into frocks with far more razzle-dazzle. Think blazer dresses and skirt suits. and that exact aesthetic is trending right now, people want a reason to dress all the way up after living in sweatpants for nearly three years.

Ahead, are the trends that characterized the roaring twenties, along with pieces you can buy now to recreate the look today. Happy Scrolling!!

(Pictures used in this post are for the reference only, all copyrights belong to the respective owners of the images. Image sources include but not limited to – google, IG, respective fashion magazines, fashion designers, fashion models and fashion brands)

Chemise –

The undergarment consisted of an unfitted short slip, often made out of satin or silk, which was easy to slip on. Its shape was the only thing simple about it, a chemise in the ’20s featured Chantilly lace, tulle overlays, floral embroideries and ribbons.

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Cocoon Coat –

It was a wrap for coats in the ’20s, enveloped the body in crushed velvet or mink furs, acting like a cocoon (hence the name). Paul Poiret, in particular, showcased pieces that really brought the drama, his coats were all about volume and featured pronounced pelts on the collars, hems and sleeves.

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Flapper Dress –

Of the many fashion trends that came out of the ’20s, it is the flapper dress that continues to reign supreme. The style, named after the women who wore it, is characterized by a straight and loose silhouette with a drop waist that falls right below the knee. It was popularized by designers Coco Chanel and Paul Poiret both of whom sought to bring a masculine sensibility to womenswear. Flapper is also known as “boy” in French. The flapper often featured a pleated or tiered skirt covered in rhinestones, layers of fringe or embroideries with art deco patterns.

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Robe de Style –

A frock that is like the flapper with a drop waist but had a full ankle grazing skirt instead, introduced by Jeanne Lanvin. The style became so popular back in the ’20s that, today practically every member of the Paris couture is showing robes de style.

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Cardigan –

The modern-day cardigan owes its prominence to the pioneering efforts of Coco Chanel, the designer was taken by the simplicity of the knitted waistcoat aristocratic men wore, seeking to bring that sense of ease to the women she dressed. Chanel cut an old sweater herself and sewed a ribbon to the collar, she was simultaneously promoting sportswear and the flapper dress. Her mission was to focus on styles that allowed her clients to move without restrictions.

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Long Pearl Necklace –

Pearls have long been associated with royalty and nobility, it was only the extremely rich who could afford strands made with the rare and precious gems. In the ’20s jewelers were able to recreate pearls artificially, allowing the masses to imbue a sense of regality without breaking the bank.

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Cloche Hat –

Hairstyles in the’20s much like the fashion followed a boyish aesthetic, long locks were cut short and replaced with bobs, while fanciful bonnets were eschewed for a style that was in line with the trend of the decade. Cloche Hat – a bell shaped chapeau that fit the scalp. And since it was the age of glitz and glam, women would often add sparkly brooches to the hat to complete their looks.

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Tennis Dress –

The white sleeveless vests and knee grazing pleated skirts that athlete Suzanne Lenglen wore on and off the court back in the ’20s inspired the masses to follow suit. Her outfits were designed by Jean Patou, the French couturier is widely credited for designing the first tennis skirt, along with knitted swimwear. Also, the first designer to put his initials on clothing.

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Geometric Jewlery –

At the 1925 world’s fair in Paris, the international exhibition of modern decorative and industrial arts made its debut at the Grand Palais, ushering in the Art Deco style. Influenced by the geometric forms and bold colors found in disparate societies across time from ancient Egypt and China, the motif became the pinnacle of modern design in the decade and fashion spread that message far and wide, leading the way on the jewelry front.

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Mary Jane Shoe –

Originally intended for children, a closed toe leather shoe with a low-cut quarter and one strap across the instep. By the 1920s, it adopted the name Mary Jane, along with a higher heel and few more straps and became the preferred footwear for fashion lovers. The style came in different colors and featured a range of fasteners, served as a flirty and practical accessory for a number of occasions.

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