Thursday 19 December 2019

Flapping

Thank goodness our local museum is currently running a fascinating exhibition about how our town fared after the end of the Great War and there's not a bauble in sight! Its main focus is upon the many changes that were ushered in by the 1920s, but my focus was upon the stylish and beautiful fashions that the flappers wore. If you were to ask me if I had a favourite decade it would be this one every time.

Morning dresses....a little diaphanous affair to see you through to lunchtime...


An anytime of day dress even if the detailing does look like you've got a pair of custard yellow briefs around you midriff!


Quick change into a little afternoon tea number.



And then slip into your salmon pink watered silk cocktail one for your early evening quaffing.....the diamante extras just add that little extra je ne sais quoi.




Perhaps one of these rather gorgeous accessories takes your fancy as you're preparing for either a little intimate soiree with chums or an evening of energetic dancing...the Charleston, the Breakaway or the Black Bottom were all the rage in the Roaring Twenties.







So if it's a night of painting the town red you're after we've got this black velvet one with the closeup of the exquisite beading.....



Or this one may be more to your taste with its strings of glass bugle beads in gold and black. I feel it only fair though to warn you that it is extremely heavy to wear.


Now you might be wondering how I know that this last one is heavy....in the early 1990s it belonged to me. Pre children and in the days of plenty of disposable income I bought this on a whim because I had always hankered after owning one. What I didn't factor in though was just how fragile it had become so in my wardrobe it hang and there it stayed. For several months while I was expecting I volunteered at the museum where I learnt about keeping clothes in acid free tissue and in temperature controlled conditions. At that point I donated the dress as I felt it could be preserved better and enjoyed by many others. This is the first time I've seen it in over 20 years...it was like catching up with an old friend and yes I was so surprised that I was literally flapping with delight!

Arilx

3 comments:

  1. I much prefer the fashions of yesteryear rather than the awful ensembles they churn out today.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'd love that exhibition although I can't unsee those yellow knickers.
    That's a lovely thought to donate that amazing dress to the museum. xx

    ReplyDelete
  3. How brilliant to see your dress again after all those years.
    They had more patience back then for all that beading!

    ReplyDelete

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