Top 10 List for Early 30s Style

[retrogirl1941]

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...

Well this picture is the 1940s eqivilant of the boa'd flapper you were refering to. When I do this impression I overdres myslef while still staying within style limits.

Me with appropriately paired fishnets.

Samantha

 

[Lauren]

I have to disagree with the whole fishnet debate. Women did wear them- but they were most popular in the 20's. To say no one at all wore them in the 30's isn't correct, unless you're saying no one of fashion wore them. Then you would be mostly correct. There were the popular acresses who did, I'm sure lol. I see no problem if that's the role you're playing, but I think the most important question is, what role ARE you playing? Are you portraying a broad social circle or a specific demographic? After all, there were different social groups, trends, and age specific clothing just like today (though some would disagree that's in effect today... but that's another topic).

The broad generalizations are not always valid in any case.

MOST women had skirts hidding mid-calf.
MOST women wore their hair up and around their nape of their neck if they were respectable.
MOST women weren't wearing slacks
MOST women wore hats out of doors (and more of the clochey style than the pill box style)
MOST women wore heels, at least 1 inch ones and no higher than 3.5", and MOST shoes had louis heels, unless they were sports or matronly shoes
MOST clothing was made of cotton, rayon, silk, wool, and linen.
ALL women's clothing didn't have zippers in it until you neared the mid-30's.

The waistline hit the natural waist starting the very late 20's in FASHION. It didn't always hit mainstream right then. In Britain the waistlines were still lower until into the early 30's in the average woman's wardrobe.

Prints were generally geometric deco shapes, florals, stripes, plaids, or solids.

Sportswear was for the beach and the country.

And that's all I can think of at the moment.

 

[miserabelle]

I've definitely seen pictures of 1920s women wearing fishnets with opaque knee highs over the top of them, so if she flashed you a bit of leg then you'd see fishnet, but usually the most that you'd see was the knee high.

Most of the photos I've seen have been just nude seamed stockings though xx

 

[Lauren]

The fishnets then were different than fishnets now. If you've ever seen the real things (they're getting rarer and rarer these days) you'll find the weave a lot narrower than modern fishnets. At least they kind you see most gals wearing. The most acceptable tones were the same tans and beiges that stockings were in. I'm curious... does anyone have any old fishnet ads? 30's or earlier? Or does anyone recollect if there's one in the fishnet thread?

 

[retrogirl1941]

The fishnets then were different than fishnets now. If you've ever seen the real things (they're getting rarer and rarer these days) you'll find the weave a lot narrower than modern fishnets. At least they kind you see most gals wearing. The most acceptable tones were the same tans and beiges that stockings were in. I'm curious... does anyone have any old fishnet ads? 30's or earlier? Or does anyone recollect if there's one in the fishnet thread?

I tried to post a fishnet thread but it got moved to the seamed stockings thread. I do own a pair of originals and they are consdierabley smaller sized net than now. I have to subsitute for my impression b/c I ripped my vintage pair. (walking to whipping post and whats for the crack of the whip) Ok you ladies can now punish me!lol

samantha

 

[texasgirl]

Wow! Thanks so much for all the helpful info! I've been moving the last 2 days so I just saw all the repsonses! Thanks, I'll read through everything and get back with what I figure out!

 

[Vintage Betty]

I just spent an hour looking though old fashion magazines and catalogs, and didn't find any reference to fishnet stockings. I'd be interested in any information anyone finds also.

Vintage Betty

 

[Idledame]

This is certainly a good time to be doing 1930 era plays. I was at the mall yesterday and there are lots of mid calf length skirts, and even chiffon dresses with fluttery sleeves and a tulip hem which was almost an exact 1930 replica except out of polyester of course.

 

[Helen Troy]

And the shoes.... thick heels, round toes and mary jane styles are in again!

 

[texasgirl]

Thanks so much for all the suggestions! I've just read through everything, and it has definitely helped!

Well, I can't get together before hand because I am in Texas and they are all in Iowa-lol. So we are kinda relying on this handout to help the volunteers. I will probably not see the outfits until about an hour before the show. Last year, there was only one thing that really stood out. When we got the pictures back, I saw one of the men had on tennis shoes with his suit!!! I didn't even see him until later and it still bugs me when I see the pictures. We were so busy getting the show together, but this year I will check everyone!!!

I do have a lot of extra hats/gloves/accessories that I will be bringing with me.

The volunteers will mainly be portraying customers at the bank, bank tellers, ladies shopping along the square and a couple who worked at the pharmacy.

Also, I want to include some pictures of easy hair ideas and clothes suggestions from modern stores- that was a great idea!

As far as fishnets, I did wear them last year. I know I read somewhere they were worn. But I didn't care for the way they photographed, so I think I'll stick with my seamed hose.

So here's the list I have so far:
Do
• Dress: length- mid-calf
• Skirt/sweater combo- skirt length= mid-calf
• Hose- Nude (with seam if possible) or cotton tights
• Shoes- T-strap/Lace-up/Mary Jane w/thick heels
• Gloves
• Long dark wool coat (if wearing one)
• Hat- cloche or small brimmed or beret
• Minimal make-up and red/pink lips
• Hair- tightly curled/finger waves; If long, pinned-up or bun at the nape of the neck

Don’ts
• No flapper/ fringe type dresses; no evening wear
• No spring/floral/floaty-type dresses
• No full skirts
• No pants
• No pill box hats, i.e. 50s style
• No low-cut tops
• No straw hats

Things to remember:
• It’s March 1934, so wear winter clothes.
• Check your closet- you probably have clothes that will work.
• Check Goodwill and Salvation Army.
• I will be bringing several hats and various accessories, so focus on the clothes first.

 

[Helen Troy]

Great list, you've really got your priorities straight!

For hair, I think that I thingy like this really helps for long hair. It's almost an instant 30s/40s hairdo! Works well for beginners.