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Great Gatsby redux: The 1920s flapper look makes a 21st century comeback
- Annina Stefanelli, left, and Lindley Arnoldy dress in 1920s fashion inprepartion for "The Green Gatsby" event Thursday night, which they areco-chairing.Photo by Dionne Christiansen
- Annina wears a Tracy Reese tulle era dress $2,600, Agave peep toes$350, Silvered Stretched headband $270. All from BHLDN.Photo by Lindley Arnoldy
- Lindley wears a James Coviello Decorum Dress exclusive for BHLDN $850, silverstretch headband $270, satin elbow-length gloves $150 and bow topped slingbacks $310, all from BHLDN.Photo by Annina Stefanelli
- Annina wears an Anna Sui spliced chiffon dress $220, feather bolero $350, softfocus cloche $200, all from BHLDNPhoto by Lindley Arnoldy
- Lindley wears an Endless silhouette dress $400 and headwrap $488, both fromBHLDN.Photo by Annina Stefanelli
- The duo strike a pose.Photo by Dionne Christiansen
From Woody Allen’s highest grossing film, Midnight in Paris, to the inspiration behind fashion’s biggest spring 2012 ready-to-wear collections, the 1920s are making a comeback. Houston’s Urban Green takes on the trend with its fall soiree, "The Green Gatsby," benefitting Hermann Park Conservancy, Thursday night at Miller Outdoor Theatre.
Sequins, feathers, and shapeless silhouettes defined the carefree post-war decade. Known as the jazz age, the roaring music and booze-filled era is associated with a glamorous style that influences many of today’s trends. Fashion houses from Ralph Lauren to Gucci have debuted an array of fringe-filled, feather-adorned and shapeless silhouettes in their collections.
The era's leading ladies, like the fictional Daisy Buchanan in Gatsby and singer Josephine Baker, took the lead by raising hemlines, chopping their hair into cropped bobs, and rejecting the corset with shapeless silhouettes.
The carefree decade of feminine rebellion explains the anti body-conscious silhouettes the era’s tastemakers sported. Leading ladies, like the fictional Daisy Buchanan in Gatsby and singer Josephine Baker, took the lead by raising hemlines, chopping their hair into cropped bobs and rejecting the corset with loose silhouettes. You can’t blame them because there is no way one could dance the Charleston in a binding number.
As CultureMap fashion contributors and co-chairs of "The Green Gatsby" event, we went in search of flapper garb to wear to the party. We found it at BHLDN in Highland Village. Stepping into the store, the first in the nation for a new bridal concept from the owners of Anthropologie, is like taking a stride back in time. Glamour abounds, from the elaborate white swan fixtures in the windows to the gorgeous party dresses and separates on hangers.
In our search for the perfect Roaring '20s garb, we had our eyes out for dropwaist dresses, sequins, feathers, little cloche style hats and beaded flapper style headbands. On a quest to mirror the best of the jazz age, we selected embellished frocks, feathered adornments and Charleston dance-friendly silhouettes.
When styling Lindley, we aimed to channel the glamour and extravagance that defined the decade, choosing embellished floor-length gowns with elbow-length gloves. For her first look, we paired a stunning soft pink decorum maxi with satin gloves and a beaded silver headpiece. For a dramatic touch, we added an ostrich feather bolero.
For her second look, we reached for a long, dramatic silvery gray maxi dress paired with the same gloves. To make the look a bit modern, we accented it with a jeweled turban. We used a pair of bow topped sling backs for both looks.
For Annina, we envisioned a '20s style maven on the go. Her first look paired a sweet floral number with a round brim cloche hat, lace-up shoes and a pink feather bolero.
For her next look, we went with a short pleated dress, the perfect pair of long pearls, a plumed feather headpiece and pair of soft blue heels topped with a bow.
What could possibly be more '20s than sipping champagne from a vintage style coupe? We used these amazing vintage glasses from BHLDN’s décor room.
Annina Stefanelli writes the fashion and style blog, Cinched at the Waist. Lindley Arnoldy writes the fashion and style blog, The Flip Side.