The roaring 20’s are relived in Baz Luhrmann’s adaption of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. The 20’s were a time of endless hope, much like that of Gatsby’s. He was a man who came from a poor farming family in the Midwest and made himself into a rich gentleman of the East. There were many changes happening in the 20s; women were now in the workforce, people who made a few dollars a week before the war were now making $100 a week, silent films were becoming replaced with “talkies” and it was also the beginning of the Harlem Renaissance. There was the infamous Jazz Age as well, or the period in the 20’s when jazz music and dance became popular. The 19th amendment was passed in 1920 allowing women to vote and soon they were pursuing both motherhood and their own careers. Then came the flappers and all of the notions of modern womanhood and fashion were completely changed.
The flappers were the women who were a part of the sexual liberation movement of the generation, they wore short skirts, cut their hair into bobs, and listened to jazz. They disliked socially acceptable behavior and showed it by wearing makeup, smoking, driving cars, and ignoring sexual norms.
The flappers wore the fashions of the decade that completely reflected the new cultures and trends going on in the 20’s. The neckline on the dresses, any neckline plausible was in the 20’s: the strapless, one-shouldered, and V-neck. Every silhouette of a dress like erte, long, and even the beginnings of the bias cut. The robe de style was a huge look for a silhouette dress too. There was also the jersey, shirtmaker, and shift dress; they were all either invented or modernized in this decade. Along with these dresses, sequins and menswear for women made an appearance in the 20’s as well.
The Great Gatsby was released May 10th and with it is coming a renewal of the 20’s inspired dresses, sequins, menswear, and even music. The album for the movie is a compilation of rap, blues, jazz, and swing, along with other allusions to 20’s music. Modern music is added in it and it all ends up working out impeccably well together. A-list singers such as Jay-Z, Beyonce, Andre 3000, and more are all featured in the film’s album.
The fashions of the 20’s are also making an appearance today but with a modern twist; the cover of GQ depicts a modern twist on Gatsby’s haircut, the handkerchief and bowtie combination seen on Nick Carraway is showing up on men everywhere, round-framed glasses, leather riding boots, the sweater cardigan, skinny jeans and boots, the fedora, and even the collar pin (which has been advocated on a Ralph Lauren male model) are all coming back. The fashions and trends of the 20’s aren’t ending after Gatsby’s 143 minutes does, it’s not far off to say that our fashion will be taking a roaring spin into the 20’s with a modern twist.
