The original IT girl, Clara Bow

We’ve all been there: an unexpected hair cut pushes you to explore a style you haven’t considered before! When I received this question, I loved it so much that I decided to get a “professional’s” opinion: when it comes to all things 20s and 30s, my friend Shien is as close to being an expert as you can get!

In a fit of boredom, I chopped off all my hair last week– and in the process, I accidentally gave myself a flapper-esque bob. I love my new ‘do, and I think it would be perfect for a 20′s chic getup. The problem is this: walking around in a flapper dress and a feathered headdress every day isn’t really an option, and the only items I seem to have in my closet are skinny jeans and camis. Is there any way that I could update my wardrobe to get a cool, vintage vibe, without looking like I’m off to a Halloween party?
-Cimone

Dear Cimone,

The 1920s bob is a great look, and chic retro attire suitable for daily wear isn’t necessarily expensive or difficult to acquire. Flappers in the 20s didn’t wear their fringe dresses and feathered headdresses all day and night, after all, and an eBay search for “1920s daydress” will yield many promising results. As much as I love vintage clothing, however, the truly beautiful and well-preserved vintage pieces can be quite costly and it may be difficult to find a unique piece you like in your size. To expand your search options, there exist a number of contemporary clothing companies that offer vintage reproduction or vintage inspired clothing such as Pin Up Girl Clothing and Babygirl Boutique. Although you’ll find more reproduction vintage boutiques online specializing in 1940-50s style fashion, the vintage glamour afforded by this style will nevertheless charmingly compliment your new retro hairstyle.  If you are specifically interested in 1920s fashion, I highly recommend Leluxe Clothing, which specializes in quality reproductions of Art Deco evening and daywear.

The good news is, your bob already makes a retro statement on its own, so even contemporary fashion with a romantic look can evoke vintage chic if paired with the right shoes and accessories, such as classic pumps, floral fascinators, and vintage or vintage style jewelry (ie, pearl necklaces and earrings, brooches, etc). Finally, never forget the transformative properties of makeup to enhance your outfit! The trend of the time was to wear lipstick of the reddest red, for which you can rely on Lime Crime’s Retrofuturist, carefully applied to accentuate your shapely cupid’s bow. The bottom lip should be extended in length but minimized in width for the vixenish, ready-to-be-kissed effect. Dramatic smokey eye makeup was in, with thin, high arched and downward sloping eyebrows painted over pale skin, neatly powdered and rouged at the cheekbones. Makeup can be downplayed for more casual occasions, applying a simple cat-eye look on the eyes in lieu of the full smokey eye, but a good red lipstick can be relied upon for all occasions.


Candice

For more retro fashion inspiration, look into attending some vintage lifestyle events going on in your city. Swing dance events usually attract a number of vintage fashion enthusiasts, and with the burlesque and cabaret revival that has been taking place in the past decade, it’s easy to meet up with other vintage style aficionados for tips and inspiration. Vintage magazines and online forums like Zelda and The Fedora Lounge also offer a wealth of style tips for the modern flapper. You’ll soon find that there is a vibrant community of vintage culture enthusiasts who, like you, love the vintage look and have incorporated it into their daily look!

Yours truly,

Shien
Dances of Vice