Women’s fashion in the 1930s featured long gowns, modest heeled shoes, and the tailored two piece suit. Flutter sleeves, floral prints, and ruffles shaped 1930s dresses into beautiful and feminine silhouettes. The look was tall and lean with modest necklines and midi tea-length hems. The bias cut gave women gentle curves around the long waist with a slightly flared skirt.
Here are our favorite new 1930s style dresses available online. Each one embraces 30s Art Deco dress fashion with current trends.
Learn more about women’s 1930s dress styles. Use the 1930s menu to complete your outfit with shoes, hats, gloves, and jewelry.
30s Dresses
Plus Sizes | Evening Gowns | Sewing Patterns
1930s style dresses. Shop here.
What dress was popular in the 1930s?
The silhouette of most 1930s dresses was a long, mid shin length skirt with an above the naval waistline, puffy sleeves, belt and a modest high neckline. The 1930s dress lacks a particular name that most other vintage decades have. A midi tea dress is the closest modern term.
Old Hollywood dresses are the name for 1930s evening gowns. Luxurious silk and satin gowns cut on the bias are the epitome of evening fashion, even today.
1938 afternoon or church dresses
What 1930s dress colors and patterns were popular?
A 1930s Art Deco dress was cheerful and happy with its summer whites, pastels, dainty polka dots, narrow stripes and small florals. The current 70s boho trend and romantic 80s dresses is heavily inspired by women’s 1930s dresses.
The later 30s embraced a new knee length hem, an A-line skirt, and patriotic colors like navy blue and red.
More examples of 1930s fashion colors, fabrics and patterns.
1937 summer knit dresses and sets
What to wear with a 1930s dress?
Under the dress a silky long slip will help the dress skim the body. A pair of nylons or short bobby socks in summer is also required.
Shoes should be oxford heels for daywear and strappy T strap pumps for the evenings.
A lovely small hat worn at a angle will frame your 30s hairdo perfectly. The hat should match the gloves (usually white.)
1930s jewelry could be simple pearl or color bead necklace and bracelet or crystals in the evenings.
A purse to hold your phone for all your selfies is very handy too.
1936 light jacket and dress set
Were flapper dresses worn in the 1930s?
The icon 1920s flapper dress covered in beads and sequins died out in the late 1920s. The 20 style dress with hanky hemline, bias cut skirt, ruffles and tiers remained popular in 1930 but was replaced by the new midi tea dress in 1932. New trends did not stop some women from wearing their flapper dresses well into the 1930s. The Great Depression meant people had to spend less on new gowns.
Read 1929 Fashion for Women and Men
Don’t be afraid to ask us if you need any help with your 1930s outfit!