#1930s style

Marlene Dietrich is detained at a train station in Paris in 1933 for violating the ban on women wearing trousers.

Times Square, New Year’s Eve, 1937.

Couple kissing with surgical masks to prevent infection during a flu epidemic, 1937.

“Please Don’t Kiss Me!” A mom asks not to kiss her baby to avoid catching the flu, 1939.

Is there a garden in your future…?

The gentlemen pose in their finery in the Saturday Evening Post, April 12, 1930…

China Cheongsam/Qipao in 1930s&1940s

cChim

Chinese Qipao in 1920s-1930s

Chinese qipao in 1930 s

Chinese qipao in 1930s

Perso worn MF® veg-tan Campus Jacket from 2013.

The journey starts here.

One Dress a Week Challenge

May: Gold & Silver

Death on the Nile (1978) / Mia Farrow as Jacqueline de Bellefort

Anthony Powell designed the costumes for this film, and they look amazing! This dress has such classic art deco lines. I wasn’t entirely sure about the geometric texture in it, but I looked up some authentic vintage 1930s metallic dresses, and patterns like that were not uncommon.

One Dress a Week Challenge

May: Gold & Silver

Death on the Nile / Gal Gadot as Linnet Ridgeway (later Doyle)

Linnet wears this glamorous silver dress for her first appearance, establishing her as a wealthy style icon. The skirt is made of chiffon or some similar material in silver-grey, while the bodice is of silver lame with strips of the same material hanging down over the skirt. The construction of the bodice is quite intricate, with triangular insets just under the bust in front and a low back with a hanging loop of fabric that looks forward to 1940s styles. (For comparison, see the coat that goes with Ginger Rogers’ pink dressfromThe Barkleys of Broadway in 1949.) The “lift” photo shows that this loop swings freely.

There is a matching shoulder cape as well, but we never get a good look at it, as she removes it immediately upon entering the club. Otherwise, she keeps accessories to a minimum: silver pumps, small earrings (pearl?), and a rather nice bracelet (see below).

One Dress a Week Challenge

May: Gold & Silver

Cold Comfort Farm / Kate Beckinsale as Flora Poste

I really love the sheer shouldercape on this dress, with its lacy pattern and the flower design in back. It looks as if the dress might possibly also have a flounced skirt, but since the best full-length view of it is in motion and seen through the bannisters, it’s hard to be sure.

For accessories, Flora has a silver sequined or beaded clutch purse, a delicate watch, and a fancy hair clip.

One Dress a Week Challenge

May: Gold & Silver

Pocketful of Miracles / Hope Lange as Elizabeth “Queenie” Martin

Queenie wears this sparkling showgirl’s outfit for a brief scene at a bash celebrating the end of Prohibition–hence the flying streamers that sometimes get in the way of the camera. It was featured on the movie poster and also used for some publicity shots which ironically give us a better view of the costume than the actual film does.

The material seems to have an interesting sort of fish-scale texture, and the double halter straps add some visual interest. The fringes help to accentuate Queenie’s movements, as do the feathers on her headdress and fan.

This has some interesting similarities to Roxie’s silver showgirl outfit in Chicago, with the textured top and fringe skirt, but I’m sure it’s just because they’re looking back to the same set of 1920s/30s originals. (Costumes for this film are by Edith Head for the women and Walter Plunkett for the men.)

I had thought Hope Lange was related to previous silver-dress-wearer Jessica Lange, but apparently not!