Katy Archer
Fashion Writer
With every Christmas comes the usual overload of Christmas television specials: Doctor Who, The Royal Family etc, etc. If there’s any period drama, it’s usually in the form of Poirot, that loveable Belgian who has an eye for murder, but no so much an eye for fashion.
Unlike Poirot, this year I can hardly wait to tuck into the visual feast that will be Downton Abbey. Somebody should give the guys at their costume department a medal to put next to their Emmy award- or maybe that’s enough!
And it looks like the 10 million strong viewers who have been tuning into Downton Abbey every Sunday will be riding the wave of vintage nostalgia into the roaring 20′s, as it doesn’t look like Julian Fellowes will be slowing down anytime soon. Hurrah!!
And, it’s just a hunch, but with the 1920s comes the amazing fashion that will surely become more prominent in high street stores over the coming year. Who could say no to the beautiful cuts and intricate designs? Certainly not me!
- Dress, Lipsy
Dress, LeLuxe
I have been in love with the online vintage store www.leluxeclothing.co.uk for a while now, but with the prices for such beautiful pieces of clothing being so high, I couldn’t justify the expense to myself. Now, I’ve decided, if it’s good enough for the Crawley sisters, it’s darn well good enough for me!
My favourite piece from their collection is ‘The Flame,’ a beautiful harlequin print dress that I know would hide all my lumps and bumps. Leluxe Clothing is currently only dealing in US dollars, but they are planning to launch a UK website for all us Brits who can’t get enough of that flapper style. Don’t worry if you’re looking for a party dress this Christmas without the period price tag match- I found this beauty from Lipsy!
Styles, Colours and Accessories
There are plenty of cheaper alternatives on the high street if you’re looking for 1920s glamour without the hefty price tag. The most important thing to remember when trying to recreate this look is the history behind it. The 1920s was a period of great change, with the world adjusting to life after the First World War. The first full female undergraduate attended Oxford University in the early years of the decade, paving the way for a new emasculated type of femininity.
Top, Topshop
Trousers, Reiss
This emancipation from typical gender roles shortened hemlines, and introduced sportswear and trousers as alternatives to corsets and bodices. A newly found flamboyance and joie de vivie meant that the 1920s went through such a rapid change in attitudes regarding women, mirrored in designs of the clothes.
Fascinator, Accesorize
Luxury was a newly refounded commodity after the war, with furs and jewelry inspired by the art nouveau movement. The colours themselves stayed muted, with nudes, blacks and maroons leading the way. In the later half of the decade, colours became bolder, reflecting the accessories of feathers, jewels and fur.
So, when you see advertisement monopolizing on the growing trend of the 1920s, remember that with these clothes comes the history of women striving to become more then they were. Confidence is key when wearing them, as is class. So lets all flapper up- you’ll look the bees knees!
