The Great Gatsby Ball – What To Wear

If you were not able to make our Flapper 101 – 104 workshops this spring, you may very well be asking, what in the Sam Hill do I wear to this Gatsby Ball shindig??

Fear not…We will recap!

Ladies:

Evening dresses can be sleeveless, or tank-like.  They usually have shorter skirts, between mid-thigh and the knee.   Some have skirts made with layers of fringe or ruffles, or made entirely of fringe—the better to dance with!   Dresses are often drop-waisted, so the waist sits more around your hips than your actual waistline.

Also, slip dresses can be worn—usually the most accurate kind is a bodice where the material goes straight across the bosom.  Also, Asian influence was very big back then—just slip a kimono over your slip dress and accessorize with a head scarf and pearls.

If you can’t find anything in your local vintage shop, you can make something that passes for ‘20’s wear.  Find a plain tank dress and jazz it up with beads and fringe from your local fabric or craft store.  If it has a long skirt, hem it up, or just replace it with fringe.   If need be, you can always go for a casual look and wear a patterned top with a flouncy short skirt, with rolled down stockings and pearls.

For headwear: tie a scarf or wide ribbon around your head in a wide headband (like a fortune teller).  Or pin a wide ribbon across your forehead into your hair with bobby pins, then accentuate with silk flowers or feathers, glued to hair clips.   You could also don a cloche hat (a bell-shaped hat that fits close to the head) to go with that casual look.

Hair: pin up in pin curls or do finger waves.  Long hair can be curled and pinned up in the back and on sides to resemble a bob, or put in a knot at the nape of the neck, and finger waved or spit curled in the front.

Makeup: smoky and sultry!   Smudge and soften that eyeliner on your above and below lids and use dark eyeshadows like charcoal, purple, and chocolate brown.  Think thin, penciled eyebrows, deep red lipstick, pink blush, and pale powder.

There are also tons of tutorials on YouTube on how to do ’20’s hair and makeup.

Stockings: thigh highs, rolled down to your knees.  Can hold them in place with garters if you wish.

Shoes: T-straps, maryjanes or character shoes (character shoes are made for dancing, and you can find them at any dance accessory stores).

Jewelry: long necklaces that can be twirled in your hand in a flirty way.  Strands of pearls or other beads—you can even make one with ingredients from your local craft store if you can’t find one long enough.  Also beaded or bangled bracelets.

Gentlemen:

Suits!  Vests!  Pinstripes and long, pointy collars work well.   And hats—fedoras, trilby hats, boaters, and newsie caps were most popular at the time.

You could also do the sweater and knickers combo with argyle socks.

Shoes: wingtips

And once again, here are some local vintage shops to check out:

Queen of Hearts & Modern Love

222 Westminster St.

Providence, RI 02903

401.421.1471

 

Rocket to Mars

144 Broadway

Providence, RI 02903

401.274.0905

 

Hall’s on Broadway

145 Broadway

Providence, RI 02903

401.272.0000

 

Foreign Affair

140 Brook St

Providence, RI 02906

401.274.1484

 

RI Antique Mall

345 Fountain St.

Pawtucket, RI 02860

401.475.3400

 

Circa Vintage Wear

73 Cove St.

New Bedford, MA 02744

508.997.9390

 

Here is a list of vintage clothing stores in Rhode Island:

http://www.allvintageclothingdirectory.com/rhode-island/vintage-clothing/s

 

Can’t wait to see YOU at The Great Gatsby Ball!