The Perfect Red

(the lovely Rita Hayworth wearing with ideally red lips)

I've been looking for the perfect red lipstick for a long time; the ideal "classic" '40s red, not the pinkish red that is sometimes recommended (that's more '50s). I found a great one made by Revlon, "Mulled Wine," but it has recently been discontinued, so I'm on the search for another!

Recently I found this advice on a makeup site: "ivory skin

tones should save red lipstick for only those special occasions calling for some extra drama. " I followed that advice for too long and was really timid about trying to wear red on my lips. The truth is, red looks great with ivory skin; it adds a color and classiness that can't be beaten.

Could any of my readers possibly help me by recommending some great red colors? :D

Some Other Time?

...So.

I had the party; it was lots of fun! There was a password to get into the party (as it was speakeasy themed): "hotsy-totsy!" Everybody did great in remembering it. We laughed a lot while trying to make up sentences with the 1920s slang dictionary I found online, and we drank gin and tonics and ate cookies, and tried to dance the Charleston. I regret that I did not take more photos, but the few that I did take, I will try to post soon. This is the only photo I have, of me, taken by a friend:



I made the headband myself (see the post on how to make a flapper headband to find out how!); I'm wearing a strand of plain plastic "pearls," knotted, with vintage pearl earrings (also fake!), and a second-hand bracelet that must weigh three pounds. The dress I bought a while back at a sidewalk sale, only $5! It was beaded and sequined, and felt more '20s than I expected.

Sometime I will continue on my '20s posts, but I had to return all my resources to the library, so I haven't a whole lot right now.

I'm planning to do my next post on matte lipstick, as I tried it a few months ago and really liked it. Matte was in during the '40s. Exciting!

So Much to Blog--Not Enough Time!

I have been away too long!

Good news: Postponed the '20s party, so I thought I would have more time to post all the fashion pictures I wanted to.

More good news (though not so good for blogging!): Started a writing group, a new book, and working on a book I want to have published within the next couple of years. Then stomach flu, or something like it (that was not good news). Oh my!

Lots to catch up on! The party is one week from now, and there is so much I want to blog about when it comes to 1920s fashion:

-The popularity of sunbathing! (After all, it is summer!)

-Long strands of beads, and easy way to flapper-ize your look.

-Oriental influence on clothing.

-Men's fashion!

Hopefully I can get something done this week!

Ancient Egyptian Influence

With the discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922 by Howard Carter, styles of ancient Egypt swept over the fashion world. Women not only rimmed their eyes with kohl (eye pencils became available later), but hints of Egypt were suffused in evening and day wear, as well. I looked through some books about 20th century fashion, and found some examples of its influence on fashion for the rest of the decade:

From a book entitled In Vogue, by Georgina Howell, which includes photos from over 60 years of British Vogue. Left to right, top, designs by Jenny, Doucet, Drecoll. Bottom left, Cathleen Nesbitt in an Egyptian brocade gown "with a Nile green georgette underskirt." Bottom right, a blouse with hieroglyphic-inspired patterns.

An advertisement from October 1929, British Vogue.

A scarab brooch; German silver and cloissone.

Egyptian-inspired accessories: combs, compact, cigarette case, pendant.

This flowing, pleated gown seemed Egyptian-inspired to me, but I was wrong. Actually, it's supposed to be Greek-inspired. This is a blue-gray satin gown by Mariano Fortuny. Anyhow, it's ancient-inspired!

Something Shocking

Hosiery of the 1920s

Here is a cute 1925 song about a man who has lost his flapper girlfriend:

"Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqYJjA4aYXM

I feel I should make a note before I continue with my '20s posts: Not all women of the 1920s were flappers. The flapper style is what we think of most readily when speaking of women's fashion of the decade, but flapper fashion was a "sub-style," if you will, and not all women chose to wear as short skirts, or as flashy, flamboyant clothing, as the flapper.

As the song by Cole Porter says, "In olden days a glimpse of stocking / Was looked on as something shocking." But with the shorter hemlines of the 1920s, women began to show off their hosiery in ways never before. Different colors became available, some were patterned or embroidered.

Society girl Miss Kitty Lee, of Baltimore, Maryland, with her boyfriend's portrait on her stockings.


An advertisement from the Saturday Evening Post, 1928. The colors include "Tea-time," (gray-beige), "RoseMorn" (deep nude, "for both day and evening"), "Honey Beige" (golden), "Boulevard" (brown with a hint of gray-- "a favorite for wear with winter's furs"), "Spanish Brown" (golden-bronze). There is a glimpse of a few different skirt styles of the period.

A postcard by Donald McGill. The caption read, "That frock's so short you can see your garters!" I love the appalled look of the male, and the amused expression on the woman's face. The object of many flapper women of the era was, of course, to shock! In the mid-twenties, skirts became shorter (they still covered the knee!), so it was a bit difficult to hide stocking tops.

Sources:

Fashions of a Decade: The 1920s by Jacqueline Herald

Decades of Beauty: The Changing Image of Women 1890s-1990s by Kate Mulvey & Melissa Richards

1920s Speakeasy Party

Clara Bow, the 1920s "it" girl

I am pretty certain I am going to have a 1920s Speakeasy party in July. I have this green beaded dress that I have never worn which might be just right for it, though it is a bit scandalous by '20s standards (it's backless). I also dressed as a flapper for Halloween years ago, and I still have my homemade feathered headband to go with that (see my last post on how to make your own). To get me in the mood for the party, and to help out my guests with what to wear (and anyone else out there who may be attending a similar party), my posts throughout the next few weeks will be focused on 1920s fashion.

I thought it would be funny to buy thigh-high black nylons and keep a little flask in the top of the stockings. Ha ha! I'm also considering the addition of some black fringe for the hemline of my dress, and I should look around for a gaudy bracelet or two.

I'm pretty excited. Being speakeasy themed, it will be a cocktail party. A friend had an idea for some people dressed as police to do a "raid" on our speakeasy sometime during the party. Cute! I read about using an old-style bathtub as a punch bowl, that sounded funny, but a little difficult. I hope I'll be able to afford some good "hooch" for this gathering!

Here is a link for a 1920s slang dictionary that I got a good laugh out of.

Make Your Own Flapper Headband!

Want a 1920s look for a flapper costume or theme party? Following are simple instructions on how to create a glistening, stylish headband that will catch everyone's eye.

Items you will need:

-Measuring tape.
-Length of stretch sequin band, of your choice of color and width.
-Large feathers, such as peacock or ostrich. You can aim to match them or contrast them with the sequin band you chose.
-Needle and thread, and pins to hold the sequin band in place while you sew.

(All of the above should be available at your local sewing supply store or arts and crafts shop.)

Directions:

1. With the measuring tape, measure the circumference of your head, across your forehead and just above the ears.

2. Cut a length of the stretch sequin band to the size of your head.

3. Pin the sequin band, end-to-end; try to hide the ends by folding them in a bit when you pin them.

4. Sew the ends of the sequin band where you pinned them.

5. Remove all pins, and try on the band to make sure it fits your head.

6. Decide where you want to place the feathers on your band; on the side, or the front. Sew them on carefully, taking care not to bend or break them.

7. Enjoy your new creation! You can add glue-on or sew-on jewels, if desired, to accent your new headpiece.

Hope this is comprehensive and helpful! Photos of my own headband to come!