1920 Flapper Dresses: How to Dress Like a 1920’s Flapper Girl
The roaring 1920 Flapper Dresses will forever be remembered as the decade of flappers. “Bright Young Things” dressed up in their flapper dress for a night on the town at a dance hall or in an illegal speakeasy. What did flappers wear? Free of the moral and physical constraints of the previous decades, flapper costumes were loose but glamorous. During the day flappers dressed in drop-waist dresses with a small belt or wide sash to accent the hip line instead of the waist. Flat chests further enhanced the boyish flapper outfit. The evening brought out knee-length and longer fringe beading and sequin flapper dresses with rhinestone and feather headbands creating a fun and feminine flapper outfit.
The short fringe flapper dress costume as we know it today is not accurate to the decade. It was a style developed in the late ’50s early ’60s that used the short shift dress of the decade as its base. The first The Great Gatsby movie premiered in 1974, influencing some dazzling disco fashions of the decade.
The flapper style revived again in the 1980s with long fringe dresses and sequin-covered gowns. It is back today, thanks in part to the 2013 The Great Gatsby movie.
How did flappers dress in the 1920s? The flapper revolution started in the early twenties when dresses were still long. The short, slinky, flapper look was in full style by 1925. Flapper dresses were loose fitting slip-overs with short or long sleeves. A belt often accented the low waist (called a drop waist). Long pleats, pintucks, collars, and neckties exaggerated the long and lean fashion. The flapper costume (the term costume meant outfit in the ’20s) was meant for the young and thin, although mature women could also wear the style with ease with the help of some slimming lingerie. Look here for daytime flapper costume.
Flapper evening dresses were designed to show as much skin as was morally acceptable. Exposing cleavage was still taboo, and for that matter even having a sizable chest was not in fashion (tape ’em down, girls). Bare backs were popular along with uneven “hanky” hemlines that exposed thighs while sitting down. Many flapper dresses were covered in beads or beaded fringe. The movement of fringe or tiers of fabric made dresses swish and jingle while Dancing the Charleston. Dresses that made a sound as they moved attracted the attention that a flapper desired.
For your authentic flapper costume, choose a dress made of a light material like chiffon, silk/satin, or crepe. Be sure to wear a matching slip if the dress is sheer. Elaborate beading will make the dress stand out but also expensive, so if budget is a concern, find a plain dress and jazz it up with sparkling accessories. Your dress should be knee-length or longer for authenticity (but can be shorter for a 1920s inspired look). It should fit loose, meaning you may need to buy a size up. It should not hug your curves.
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FAIRY COUPLE Women’s Flapper Dresses V Neck Slip Dress Fringed Sequin 1920s Cocktail Dress Costume Beige S
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FAIRY COUPLE Women’s Gatsby Evening Dress 1920s Maxi Long Sequined V-Neck Formal Evening Prom Dress L Champagne Black
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Fancy Clothing Women’s 1920s Gatsby Inspired Sequin Beads Long Fringe Flapper Dress w/Accessories Set (Small, Style08-Black&Green)
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FEPITO 1920s V Neck Sequin Beaded Fringed Dress with 20s Accessories Set
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Flapper Dresses for Women 1920s Gatsby V Neck Elegant Long Fringe Dress Sleeveless Sequin Beaded Dress for Prom Party
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Flapper Dresses for Women 1920s Gatsby Vintage V Neck Long Fringe Dress Sleeveless Sequin Beaded Prom Party Dress E-Black
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Forum Novelties womens Roaring 20’s Flapper Dress and Headband Adult Sized Costumes, Black, X-Small Small US
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FUNDAISY 1920s Flapper Dress Sequin Beaded Dress Roaring 20s Gatsby Party Costumes w/ 20s Accessories Set
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FUNDAISY 1920s Great Gatsby Flapper Dresses Roaring 20s Vintage Sequin Evening Gowns w/Accessories Set
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FUNDAISY Women’s Flapper Dresses 1920s Sequin Fringed Paisley Costumes w/ 20s Accessories Set
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FUNDAISY Womens Vintage Lace Fringed Gatsby 1920s Cocktail Dress with 20s Accessories Set (S, Black Red)
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Gionforsy 1920s Flapper Dress Sequins Gatsby Dress Roaring 20s Costume Accessories Set (Black Blue, XX-Large)
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ishleytop Women’s Black Fringe Dress – Stylish Tassel Dress with Western-Inspired Design (as1, Alpha, m, Regular, Regular, Black)
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Jar of Love Wedding Guest Dresses Long Sleeve Sweaters for Women Maternity Dress Clothes Sweater Halloween Casual Homecoming Dresses for Teens,Wine Red Burgundy,S
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kayamiya Women’s 1920s Flapper Dresses V Neck Beaded Tassels Gatsby Party Dress XXL Black
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kayamiya Women’s 1920s Gatsby Dresses V Neck Inspired Sequins Cocktail Flapper Dress S Black
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kayamiya Women’s Flapper Dresses 1920s Sequins Art Deco Gatsby Cocktail Dress with Sleeve L Blue
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kayamiya Women’s Flapper Dresses 1920s Sequins Art Deco Gatsby Cocktail Dress with Sleeve XXL Purple
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kayamiya Women’s1920s Gatsby Dresses V Neck Inspired Sequins Cocktail Flapper Dress XL Black
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KorhLeoh 1920s Flapper Accessories Gatsby Costume Accessories Set, Headband Bracelet Pearl Necklace Gloves Plastic Holder Earrings
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Leadtex Women’s 1920s Fringed Flapper Costume,Gangster Lady Costume,Great Gatsby Dresses with Feather Headband,Beaded Necklace Black 12-14
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LELOVEFU Women’s 1920s Sequins Flapper Gatsby Cocktail Dress with 20s Headband Accessories Set
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