How to be a 1920's Flapper

The Beauty of the 1920's

The 1920s is the decade in which fashion entered the modern era. It was the decade in which women first abandoned the more restricting fashions of past years and began to wear more comfortable clothes (such as short skirts or trousers). The 1920s are characterized by two distinct periods of fashion. In the early part of the decade, change was slow, as many were reluctant to adopt new styles. From 1925, the public passionately embraced the styles associated with the Roaring Twenties. These styles continue to characterize fashion until early in 1932. 

The straight-line chemise topped by the close-fitting cloche hat became the uniform of the day. Women "bobbed", or cut, their hair short to fit under the popular hats, a radical move in the beginning, but standard by the end of the decade. Low-waisted dresses with fullness at the hemline allowed women to literally kick up their heels in new dances like the Charleston. In 1925, "shift" type dresses with no waistline emerged. At the end of the decade, dresses were being worn with straight bodices and collars. Tucks at the bottom of the bodices were popular, as well as knife-pleated skirts with a hem approximately one inch below the knee.

And for the first time in centuries, women's legs were seen with hemlines rising to the knee and dresses becoming more fitted. A more masculine look became popular, including flattened breasts and hips, short hairstyles such as the Bob cut, Eton crop and the Marcel wave. The fashion was bohemian and forthcoming for its age.

Authentic finishing touches to 1920s dress style

Stockings: roll down your stockings to just-below-the-knee. This is a defining look for the true flapper girl of the 1920s. Or you can wear dark colored pantyhose such as: black, brown, or any other fall color.

Scarf: long and skinny with some fringing or a long feather boa to wrap around you. Either is quintessential 1920s flapper style.

Gloves: long satin or velvet well-fitting gloves will complete an authentic flapper look.

String of pearls: the longer, the better  - or wear several beaded strings of different lengths at once. If not pearls then a simple long string of beads will create a similar look. No dainty necklaces here. 

Make-up: define your eyebrows dramatically with a dark eyebrow pencil, lots of kohl eyeliner around the eyes and dark colored eyeshadow (black, brown, gray). Lipstick is a must, draw rosebud lips emphasizing the cupid’s bow (two peaks on your top lip and the bow of your bottom lip) to create the silent moviestar look. Go for dramatic red or a dark shade, this is not a time for glossy peachy-coloured lipstick.

It is very difficult at times to recreate the perfect finger waves the women would do on themselves during the 20's, but a great tool you can use is a 3 barrel waver. It creates great waves that are easy to 'mess' with afterwards. Placing a cloche hat or a headband should give you the finishing touch to your flapper hairstyle.