Top 10 List for Early 30s Style

[texasgirl]

As some of you know, I do early 30s reenacting. One of the shows we do is in Mason City, Iowa. Last year was the first year for the show, and it went really great. We are reenacting a Dillinger bank robbery that occurred there in March of 1934.

Anyway, we use a lot of townsfolk in the show as part of the hostages. Last year I gave the head of the show some copies of dresses/hats/shoes out of the Sears book and a 1935 Montgomery Wards catalog to give them an idea of what to wear. Some did great, others so-so. I'm talking about people who know nothing about vintage clothes.

So this year I am going to write up a top 10 list of what they should look for when getting an outfit together. I am just in charge of the ladies outfits.

So what criteria should I include on the list? I was thinking so far-

- hem length- mid-calf
- nude hose (with seam if possible)
- gloves
- shoes- lace up/t-strap/mary jane styles
- hat- cloche, or small brimmed- no pill box hats
- no low cut, evening wear type dresses

What other criteria should I include? Any help would be most appreciated!!! Thanks!!!

 

[LizzieMaine]

No cliched "flapper" outfits -- no fringe, etc.

Broad-collared heavy coats if some of the scenes will be happening outside.

Remember to represent a mix of social and economic classes -- not everyone would be dressed to the nines for a trip into town. There ought to be a few ladies in simple cotton day dresses, cotton stockings, low, sensible shoes, and little to no makeup. Think of the images in WPA-type photos.

 

[Miss 1929]

Lipstick!

And no hair hanging down below the collar! Unless they are either under thirteen years old or playing the town hoor.

 

[retrogirl1941]

Heres my 1934 repro housedress.

Samantha

 

[Lauren]

Depends on the class you're portraying, as Lizzie Maine said. Women in the dustbowl or out in the west wouldn't necessarily be wearing clothes that were pictured even in Sears catalogs. Best bet is to base it on clothes from the late 20's, as a lot of people in the early 30's wore those styles right on up till 34 or so.

Cotton, rayon, and wool. Three basic staples for clothes, and not all women could afford rayon since it was a "luxury" fabric since it was relatively new (I think introduced in 1911ish and used alternative to silk, especially for brighter deco prints that were popular). Daydresses were cotton and linen. Winter was wools. And no one looked as preened and polished as the movies unless they were of the fortunate few who escaped the stock market crash because of other investments.

 

[Snookie]

What a fun thread! I think we should have this topic for every 1/2 decade!

The early 30's had so much variety, it's hard to know whether to suggest many options, or to limit it!

I'd suggest skirt/blouse or skirt/sweater combos, I think that's easier than a dress to pull together from the average closet/Goodwill. A large black coat is also easy, if the weather's cool.

For skirts, you might also emphasize the slim hips. I bet many people automatically think fuller 50's skirts when they think of "old times".

In addition to nude hose, fishnets were available, at least in both black and nude. Some younger women who might be reluctant to wear hose might be willing to wear fishnets. Depending on the time of year, thicker tights could be appropriate, too.

Add brown/black/white leather oxfords to your list of shoes. Very sensible. How about spectators? No spike heels, no open toes.

To echo Miss 1929, women with longer hair/those who don't want to bother with hairstyling could tuck it under a hat. If your scene is at a bank, most women should be wearing a hat anyway, right?

Accessories can go a long long way. Scarves were worn in a zillion different ways (and can fill in a low neckline), brooches were popular, gloves and hats you mentioned. Collars could also be added, very appropriate. Belts were also regaining popularity, as the waistline was reclaimed.

Maybe encourage patterns? Plaids and Polka dots?

I'd avoid anything sleeveless, and certainly no bare shoulders.

I see no reason why polyester, nylon and silk should be discouraged. You're doing costumes for a large crowd, so if it looks good, go for it. Silhouette is the most important thing. Obviously, skin-tight spandex items won't work.

Finally, if you can, you might also give them examples of modern clothes that can be easily slipped into the right look. I bet you can find a bunch right here. People might do better if they see how to pair a Newport News skirt with a Target blouse. I think those old drawings hold much mystery, modern photos or garments make it more accessible.

Have fun and post pictures!

 

[retrogirl1941]

fishnets......

I was under the impression that fishnets were worn by loose women(30's-40's). IT was'nt until the 70's-80's that fishnets became accpetable hosiery for everyday women.My 2 cents.

Samantha

 

[dollydaydream]

Samantha, I still love that dress

 

[Helen Troy]

I've done this! I have written several costume compendias for LARPS, and I even made and P.G.Woodehouse-inspired LARP where I struggled with the same as you do now.

My first tip: Remember that you will never get a "correct" decade. Not even if all of the participants were experts on 30s fashion. Our version will allways be an illusion, seen through our own eyes, painted with our own tastes and opinions.

With that in mind, you must choose what illusion you want to make, and follow that. Never try to get every little detail "correct", as there is no right answer. Try to get everything right according to your vision. Focus on what's important for that.

It seems like you are after an illusion that is pretty realistic, but with limited resourses from the participants. So I think you should focus only on the big picture, like it seems like you have done in your list.

I would also include:

-Hair: Long hair MUST be put up! In a bun or such, no pony tails!
-Hair: The bun/roll should be placed at the nape of the neck, not high on the crown.
-Shoes: Only thick heels for the ladies. No stilettoes!
-Shoes: No pointy or overly squear toes. Think round!

 

[Helen Troy]

In addition to the 10points list, I've found it usefull to also include a list of what I'd love to see and what I would rather not see. For example:

I/we would love to see:
-Seamed stockings.
-Gloves.
-Wawy/curly hair.

I/we would rather not see:
-Stilettoes
-Crinolines and really full skirts.
-Loose, long hair.

 

[miserabelle]

You could give them some movie references to follow, they'd have something to look at that way so they'd understand how the whole look pulls together. Just a thought! xx

 

[Snookie]

I was under the impression that fishnets were worn by loose women(30's-40's). IT was'nt until the 70's-80's that fishnets became accpetable hosiery for everyday women.My 2 cents.

Samantha

I don't agree that only loose women wore fishnets/lace stockings prior to Mary Quant in the 60s, although they certainly gained popularity in the 60s/80s. Patterns and lace on stockings have been around for centuries. I do agree that performers and women who wanted attention would have gravitated toward the style, as they're flashier than normal stockings.

I'm not saying that every woman in the crowd should wear fishnets, that would be crazy. I made the suggestion in the event that some young woman, who's reluctant to wear any stockings and might even think the whole thing is dowdy, might be more excited about wearing fishnets - she might relate to that better.

 

[Vintage Betty]

I really like the suggestions so far, but would like to single out Helen Troy's post.

Having done quite a bit of costuming and re-enacting, nothing is more discouraging than being told by a so-called "expert" that your costume is wrong after you've tried for weeks to put it together. I can't tell you how many times I was disappointed, made to sit out on the sidelines and told I was wrong because I didn't get it "exactly right".

I would like to support the suggestions of posting a list that people could follow with their modern clothing so they can go into the right direction. Maybe someone can bring along some extra gloves and scarves, furs, etc to dress up the ladies a bit.

You are wonderful for taking this on! I loved your photos of the last event and look forward to seeing the next photos with breathless anticipation ~

Vintage Betty

 

[Miss 1929]

Or have a tea party

where they can come with their proposed outfits for vetting. That way, if their dress is not right, they can see one that is that someone else brought. It is much easier for newbies to understand stuff in real life as opposed to on line or in pictures.

And you could also encourage them to bring hair and makeup stuff and do makeovers together!

Two of my girlfriends and I produced a "How To Gatsby" event for the Art Deco Society a couple of years ago, where we had lectures, demonstrations, makeovers, and vendors selling appropriate stuff all in one big room. It was also a money maker!

I would say if you are doing 20s, up until about 27 at the latest, you could do patterned/fishnet stockings. But NO ONE was still wearing them in the 30s! The ideal was nude and seamed (nude seam,not black or cheesy bright colors). If they can't get seamed stockings, they can fake it by drawing the line on their legs first with a brown eyebrow pencil. Yes, some very poor or very old-fashioned women were still wearing opaque stockings, but fishnets? Please. Fishnets always bring to mind the dreaded "Untouchables" fringed flapper (someday I will post a link to our video on this subject, "Burn the Boa" - I need to digitize it).

And don't forget to vet them the day-of for modern sunglasses and wristwatches.

 

[Idledame]

I think one problem would be that almost all the women we see in old catalogs and movies are young thin women. Quite often, ordinary people don't have the sillouette we expect even if they are wearing the right clothes. I know it was a shock to me the first time I saw pictures of my old, heavy, great aunts in the 20's and 30's. To be perfectly honest, the clothes were not very flattering at all on them. Maybe you could encourage your actors to find and share photos of relatives from the era to show what ordinary people looked like. It also makes an emotional connection if they can try to dress like a relative dressed in the era.

 

[Helen Troy]

or maybe a tea party where they can come with their proposed outfits for vetting. That way, if their dress is not right, they can see one that is that someone else brought. It is much easier for newbies to understand stuff in real life as opposed to on line or in pictures.

And you could also encourage them to bring hair and makeup stuff and do makeovers together!

I've done that prior to LARPS, with succsess. I've also done organised thrift store shopping trips where I help picking out clothes, and the participants loved that.

Having done quite a bit of costuming and re-enacting, nothing is more discouraging than being told by a so-called "expert" that your costume is wrong after you've tried for weeks to put it together. I can't tell you how many times I was disappointed, made to sit out on the sidelines and told I was wrong because I didn't get it "exactly right".

That's the worst! Get the big lines right, and you've done good. Effort should allways count to, no matter what the result is!I love everybody who tries.
Off course, sometimes I know a lot about an area and then I can get annoyed by some small, insignificant detail if I jugde it to be "wrong." But then I know that this is the price to pay for beeing a vintage style nerd. And next time, It will be me doing "mistakes" in reenacting an area I don't know that well.

Another point in the "correct vs. good illusion"debate, is that a detail can be utterly correct and still ruin the illusion.

For example, before I visited the Fedora Lounge I didn't know about the fashion for brightly coloured nail polish in the 40s. If I had seen emerald green nails on a LARP set in the 40s, I would have reacted to it as something really anacronistic. It would have ruined some of the illusion, and it would have irritaded me.

Now, I know that the green and yellow nail polish can be described as "correct," as there really was thing back in the 40s. So, if I put on yellow nails polish for a 40s LARP, it might look good and it would be "correct." But would it be the right thing to do when every other participant would not know about the nails beeing "historically correct", and would get a little bit of their illusion ruined because of the nails? I would like to shout "NO" to that!

P.S. Sorry for my sloppy english this days. In a couple of days I have more time, and be able to take more care and re-establish my relationship to Merriam Webster.

 

[Miss 1929]

I've done that prior to LARPS, with succsess. I've also done organised thrift store shopping trips where I help picking out clothes, and the participants loved that.

That's the worst! Get the big lines right, and you've done good. Effort should allways count to, no matter what the result is!I love everybody who tries.
Off course, sometimes I know a lot about an area and then I can get annoyed by some small, insignificant detail if I jugde it to be "wrong." But then I know that this is the price to pay for beeing a vintage style nerd. And next time, It will be me doing "mistakes" in reenacting an area I don't know that well.

And we do tend to get wrapped up in our rightness - I always have to make a little speech to our volunteers reminding them that we all started out, and if we want to overcome the impression that we are clique-ey, we have to reach out to the people who have put the effort into dressing at all.

Another point in the "correct vs. good illusion"debate, is that a detail can be utterly correct and still ruin the illusion.

For example, before I visited the Fedora Lounge I didn't know about the fashion for brightly coloured nail polish in the 40s. If I had seen emerald green nails on a LARP set in the 40s, I would have reacted to it as something really anacronistic. It would have ruined some of the illusion, and it would have irritaded me.

Now, I know that the green and yellow nail polish can be described as "correct," as there really was thing back in the 40s. So, if I put on yellow nails polish for a 40s LARP, it might look good and it would be "correct." But would it be the right thing to do when every other participant would not know about the nails beeing "historically correct", and would get a little bit of their illusion ruined because of the nails? I would like to shout "NO" to that!

I totally agree. It may have been done, but it won't seem so to the un- and slightly-initiated.

P.S. Sorry for my sloppy english this days. In a couple of days I have more time, and be able to take more care and re-establish my relationship to Merriam Webster.

You bigamist you! Both Merriam AND Webster! Naughty girl.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I totally agree. It may have been done, but it won't seem so to the un- and slightly-initiated.

And it's also important to keep in mind that even if some quirky-for-the-period look -- green nails, visible tattoos, fishnets, whatever -- might have had an actual historical presence, that doesn't mean it was something you'd see every day. In doing reenactments, one has to think first of the specific character you're presenting -- and whether that character would fit into this specific time and place. You might see green nails on a college campus in 1944, for example, but you would never see them on a middle-aged Iowa housewife of the same era. In any era, the outre fashions were outre exactly because so few people were wearing them.

 

[retrogirl1941]

Thank you for the responses ladys!
Snookie- I was not saying that everyone should wear them. I was just asking b/c thats what I have always seen.

Miss 1929- They did have fishnets in the late 30's and into the 40's(look through old catalogs), but I have only heard refrences to them when talking about loose women. Which is why they never get pulled out for me except when thats what I am playing.

Samantha

 

[Miss 1929]

. Miss 1929- They did have fishnets in the late 30's and into the 40's(look through old catalogs), but I have only heard refrences to them when talking about loose women. Which is why they never get pulled out for me except when thats what I am playing.

Samantha

And that's a fun role to play too!
I just get so tired of seeing them with the wrong outfits. We always get at least one fringed-dress feather-headband fishnets and boa nightmare at our Gatsby picnic - it's a PICNIC! I just shudder and look the other way and drink another glass of champers. But if they get in my face, I try to be nice...