The Roaring 20’s also known as The Jazz Age epitomized an era of hard partying and a big change in attitude. This young generation wanted nothing to do with the stuffy Victorian era morals and behavior. Post WW1 opulence, elegance, ambition and leisure time would be the maxim of the day. Booze flowed freely, everyone smoked and fashion, cars, art deco and jazz music reflected the new attitudes and freedoms. The dandy was born and men’s hats became a defining statement. Women worn shorter, less form fitting dresses, bare arms, layers of jewelry, highly beaded dresses, luxurious fabrics and furs and everyone partied hard. The motorcar was essential. The Ford Model T was the most popular, the Buick, Stutz, Whippet, Pierce Arrow, Hudson, Essex, Franklin, Durant, Peerless, Marmon, Chrysler, and Dodge also rolled off the assembly lines allowing easy travel to far away places or around town or the neighborhood.

F. Scott Fitzgerald

The young American, F. Scott Fitzgerald, had just returned from active duty when, at the age of 24, his first novel This Side of Paradise brought him celebrity status. He would go on to become one of America’s greatest novelists. Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda would become some of the great influencers of the age. Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby in 1924, a romantic tragedy, a tale of obsession that would define The Jazz Age. Published in 1925 but it was not until the late 1950’s that the novel became labeled as one of the Greatest American novels ever written for its depiction of the Roaring Twenties. His own life and that of Zelda disintegrated after 1925 into addiction and despair.

2013 Great Gatsby Movie Adaptation:

Director Baz Luhrmann had the 500 men’s costumes worn in this 2013 adaptation of The Great Gatsby designed by Academy Award winner Catherine Martin. She created the costumes from the Brooks Brothers archives. Brooks Brothers had extensive archives that detailed the fashions of the time including the archival Books Brothers Little Book A Gentleman’s Guide to Suitable Dress. Martin says, “‘Brooks brothers was singled out by Fitzgerald as ‘representative of the ultimate purveyor of fine clothing to the American man of distinction.’” All the women’s costumes, furs, shoes and jewelry were created by Prada and Miu Miu.

The Art Deco era was exemplified in geometric patterns, opulence, glitter, with clothing and jewelry to suit every occasion. Men’s straw boaters became an accessory that continues to be popular, the 3 piece suit with matching vest, stripes, large jewelry pieces, multiple long strands of pearls, sequined and beaded ‘flapper’ dresses.