The fabrics of the 1920’s

The 1920’s is a time in history that I absolutely marvel at for the use of fabrics! If you look closely at the designs, the shapes and cuts of the dresses are actually quite plain, I mean the 1920’s are known for the boxy drop waist shape right!

In my opinion, it is the fabrics they used that really bring the dresses to life!

Let’s look at The One Hour Dress for example. It was designed by Mary Brooks Picken in 1924 as part of her work at The women’s Institute, which was a very successful correspondence course in dressmaking from 1916 through to the 1930’s.

This dress is basically rectangles with extra fullness at the hips! So simple right!

And if you look closely the style of dress dominated the 1920’s! It is basically just different versions of the same thing over and over.

So, what is it then that makes these simple dresses of the 1920’s so glamourous? The fabric!

The right fabric choice is everything, and the ladies of the 1920’s knew it!

By day the fabrics were kept simple and easy wear, like cottons and linens and sometimes silk.

But, when the sun wen down and the Charleston dance songs came on, is when the fabrics really shine… literally!

The biggest difference between a day dress and evening dress was the fabric. The evening gowns are just perfection with the exquisite laces used and they relied heavily on beautiful glass beads to give that much needed weight to the fabric, so it ‘flapped’ around while dancing!

With a simple dress like this, it is all about the weight of the fabric used and the embellishments used to give it life!

Many people have come to me in the past with requests to make 1920’s reproductions for their bridal gown, and I love these kinds of requests!

When considering making a 1920’s reproduction, particularly for bridal gowns, I think very hard about the fabric to use. I always look for quality, and a feel of luxury to achieve the right look.

It can be very hard to find these gorgeous laces and glorious beaded fabrics these days, but site like Tissura do have some wonderful choices! I've found they have a range of pre- beaded fabric (to save you the trouble!) and some of the most exquisite laces I have seen. There are so many options to get that classic 1920’s evening look it’s hard to pick only a few! But here are some of the laces I picked for a 1920’s bridal look in mind.

As a bonus these boarded laces work perfect in a rectangle shape like these 1920’s styles as you can use it for the hem of the dress!

I can get lost looking at these glamorous fabrics all day!  Off to look at more now!

Until next time...


Evelyn  xx