With prom season just around the corner, I am starting to see some trends happening on my Pinterest boards. The biggest prom theme trend is the 1920s theme. No doubt inspired by The Great Gatsby movie and several TV shows, this year’s new selection of prom dresses has beading and sequins in party-worthy colors. Popular 1920s prom dresses are not the authentic 20s style dresses I usually feature on VintageDancer – instead, they are brighter, more dramatic, sexier, or classic prom gowns. They are the perfect mix of contemporary taste and a 1920s sense of formal glamour.
Let us take a look at ten 1920s prom dresses for 2020.
- This article was written in 2014 but updated in 2020. Scroll down or click here for currently available 1920s gowns.
The Sparkle All Night 1920s Prom Dress
The best selling brand and beaded dress go to Pisarro. They have a full range of long and short beaded dresses that are elegant evening dresses, not cheap flapper dresses. Many colors, short and long sleeves, regular and plus sizes, petite too! They fit like a dream and will last well beyond your special prom night. About $250 on Nordstrom or Amazon.
Lace 1920s Formal Dress
Lace dresses have been the talk of the town this year. Lace 1920s prom dresses are classy and sophisticated. They also can be more affordable than an all beaded gown too. The drop waist sheer lace gown is beautiful and a bargain at less than $50 from Lulus.
The Diamonds are Girl’s Best Friend Evening Dress
The best sparkle of all has to be diamonds, right? Well, that would be a priceless gown, but a silver bead or sequin accented gown has all the sparkle of diamonds at a more affordable price tag. This Boohoo Boutique gown is stunning and very much in the 1920s style. Under $100.
The White is not for Weddings Great Gatsby Prom Dress
A white dress doesn’t have to mean it is a wedding dress. With a hint of Art Deco design, white or ivory dresses have found a new place in 2020 proms. White is the new black! When dressed up with the right accessories, this soft and feminine dress can look 21st century gorgeous. It also comes in other colors and plus sizes. $228.
The Daring Short Flapper 1920s Cocktail Dresses
Flappers were known for causing media scandal when they dressed in “short” dresses in the 1920s. The above the knee dresses of today would not have been seen in the 20s. However, they are on-trend now and just as glamorous as long prom gowns. This sexy little prom dress has a stunning sequin design and sleeves. Comes in regular and plus sizes, and several colors at Unique Vintage. Shop all 1920s plus size prom dresses.
The Romantic 1920s Style Prom Dress
We have fallen in love with the spring line at Needle and Thread. It is soft and romantic, with elaborate embellishment that crosses many decades. This particular drop waist dress is very beautiful with an early 1920s elegance. $729 at Needle and Thread.
Long 1920s Evening Dresses
White there are plenty of colorful 1920s style prom dresses available, I still see the trend for everyone’s favorite formal color: black. Coco Chanel, top designer in the 1920s, is given credit for first making a simple black dress the new trendy style to wear. Black velvet, silk satin, and chiffon were the most common evening fabrics in the 1920s. This long black gown with black sequin detail is so elegant! Available on Amazon for $70 or less.
The Sexy Prom Dress
For even more Great Gatsby scandal, show off more skin! Long bead and sequin fringe is a signature style of 1920s fashion as well as 1970s! Blend the best of ’20s flapper styles with disco 70s for an on-trend prom look this year. $109 at Lulus. This one is almost sold out, but they have many other sequin short dresses.
The Fringe Prom Dress
Fringe? You can’t go wrong with a fringe covered prom dress. It oozes 1920s style, but with the long length it steers away from the flapper costume look. By Phase Eight and under $200, but it is a British brand so allow for shipping time and currency exchange rates.
Trendy Gold Dress
The gold dress is a major prom dress for 2020. Partly because the ’70s was also fond of gold, but also became it is such a unique and festival party color. Perfect for a memorable prom. Find more gold and silver 70s inspired prom dresses here.
What is your favorite 1920s Prom dress?
Look, pin, and share your favorite 1920s style prom dress to Pinterest with #vintagedancer. There are hundreds more dresses to choose from here or below. Pin your favorites and help your fellow prom-goers find the perfect dress this year.
Debbie Sessions has been teaching fashion history and helping people dress for vintage themed events since 2009. She has turned a hobby into VintageDancer.com with hundreds of well researched articles and hand picked links to vintage inspired clothing online. She aims to make dressing accurately (or not) an affordable option for all. Oh, and she dances too.
