1920s dresses changed from prim and proper to free and spirited during the Prohibition Era. Cloche hats, Art Deco jewelry, beaded headbands, bobbed hair, and long stem cigarette holders adorned the new youth-driven society that created the flapper dress revolution.
Daytime 1920s dresses featured a boyish fit with a drop waist, vertical trim, uneven hems. Formal evening 1920s dress decorations had movement (fringe), structure (draping) or sound (beads). Even traditional 20s shoes became freer with emerging low-heeled Mary Janes and T-strap dancing shoes. Learn the history of 1920s dress fashion here.
Dance in the roaring twenties with this large selection of new 1920s dresses, flapper dresses and 20s plus size dresses from our favorite brands online. A new 1920s style dress is ideal for a vintage themed Great Gatsby party, flapper costume, murder mystery party, or summer tea party.
Use the 1920s menu to complete your outfit with shoes, hats, a headband, shawl, and jewelry.
1920s Style Dresses
Daytime | Evening | Plus Sizes | Flapper Dresses | Costumes
What dresses were popular in the 192s?
The iconic drop waist silhouette of the 1920s began in 1922. With a loose boxy top, a belted drop waist that circled the hips, and a knee length skirt that swayed with every step, the 1920s dress was born.
Popular styles of 1920s dresses took the drop waist shape but played with the cut and shape of the skirt- from a hanky hem, to pleats, to asymmetrical layers the skirt had movement! The 1920s dress top also experimented mid and long daytime sleeves and sleeveless in the evenings.
Decoration was minimal but elegant in its simplicity. Sashes, embroidery, and flowers were more common than beads and sequins , which were very expensive.
Learn more about the many styles of authentic 1920s dresses
1920s Day Dress History
What are flapper dresses called?
Flapper dresses are named after the 1920s flapper girls who wore party dresses to drink, smoke and dance in during a “night on the town.” Flapper dresses were no different than other cocktail, party and evening dresses non-flapper wore yet Hollywood has spread the myth that flapper dresses were covered in beads and sequins, fringe and feathers.
While those did exist for the wealthy, most flapper girls wore drop waist, knee length, loose fitting dresses that were easy to dance the Charleston in and did not require a corset for support.
c. 1925: Louise Brooks standing by the stairway in a formal beaded “flapper” dress.
What was the most popular dress in the 1920s?
The most popular dress in the 1920s, as seen on everyday women as well as movie stars was the longsleeve, round neck, drop waist with thin belt, and plain knee length skirt. They were simple to make at home in a cheap (cotton) or fancy fabric (silk) and could be decorated of left plain. Choosing a nice color or print gave the simple dress its personality. Adding accessories such as jewelry, a hat, scarf, gloves and heeled shoes completed the 1920s look.
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1920s Patterns -Vintage, Reproduction Sewing Patterns
Vintage 1920s Dresses – Where to Buy
Buy a new 1920s dress in the flapper dress, Gatsby party dress, cocktail party dress, daytime tea dress or vintage 20s dress style. Shop 20s dresses from cheap to fabulous online from trusted shops in the USA, UK Europe and AU.
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