1920s Style for 2018

In the midst of summer, I always start daydreaming about my fall wardrobe. I feel more comfortable in layers. 1920s style is creeping into my brain. Not the Halloween Gatsby version, but a more authentic version. I’ve read a little about why women’s fashions changed so drastically.

According to Gale Virtual Reference Library:
The changes in women’s clothes came from new attitudes about life and work. During this decade women won the right to vote and many earned their own money. Women needed stylish clothes that they could wear to work or out during the day. For everyday wear women wore a tailored suit. For more festive occasions women wore clothes that were more comfortable and luxurious than before the war. The tight corsets that squeezed women into unnatural shapes were replaced with loose-fitting outfits and, eventually, by figure-skimming gowns with revealing necklines and open backs.

Below is some of the inspiration I pinned to my 20s Pinterest board. Follow the link to my board for more inspiration and links to sources.

Maybe it’s a reaction to the modest dressing movement but I appreciate how the curves of the body are not accentuated.

What follows is how I want the 1920s style to influence my fall/winter wardrobe. Let’s start at the top.

I just recently got bangs. It was my way of dipping my toe in the water on my way to getting a Louise Brooks haircut.

The Louise Brooks pageboy haircut can easily translate into a simple modern look.

Next up — the cloche. I like the idea of a cloche hat but in reality, everything feels too costumey. I do love the vintage French straw cloche hats below. I like how they would keep the sun out of your eyes and also allow you some privacy. If you find a modern MINIMAL winter cloche hat, please let me know.

In terms of tops, I’ll search for hip length sweaters and boyfriend cardigans over plain white shirts buttoned all the way up. Can you see it? Can you see the minimalist modern version in your mind?

I have one pleated skirt that I got at the swap years ago. I love it but it is summer weight. You can literally see through it. I’d love to find some comfortable knit pleated skirts. Not surprisingly, I’ve posted about sweater skirts in the past. Click here to see the full post.

When thrifting online or in person I’ll keep my eyes out for knee length or tea length pleated knit skirts like this one in the Bemydear boutique on Etsy.

I’ll continue to wear ribbed tights and brogues. I like the look of these cotton Falke tights. I’d also love to invest in a pair of brogues with a little heel like these ones on the Colenimo Instagram feed.

View this post on Instagram

Swinging silk dress hem❤️ I can't wait to show all images soon.. #colenimo #aw16 #lookbookshoot

A post shared by Colenimo (@colenimo) on Feb 16, 2016 at 8:52am PST

Colenimo is a small British boutique brand that I stumbled upon while researching. I love their modern take on vintage style.

Lastly, the cocoon coat. The cocoon coat is like the cloche. It can get costumey real fast. What I want is just that feeling of being enveloped in comfort and warmth with big lapels that I can pop up as a nod to 1920s.

All of the coats below are waaay out of my price range but they each have elements that I will be looking for — oversized, nipped in at the knee, and big lapels that I could pop up for style and warmth.

I already own a JCrew collarless cocoon coat that I bought secondhand. I’m thinking maybe I can add a vintage sheepskin collar to it. Is that too weird?

What do you think? Am I going too far? What are you looking forward to wearing for fall/winter? Let me know in the comments. xo jam

I’ve just realized that New Year’s Eve for 2020 is around the corner and everyone is going to have a 1920s theme. 🙂

Shredding + Rebonding Textiles

This is what I’m curious about lately — shredding and rebonding textiles. It started when I was cleaning my living room rug. I noticed the pad under the rug was made up of bits and pieces of salvaged foam. I’ve always liked the look of this material. It’s classic — like a quilted moving blanket or a cast iron pan. 

One of the problems we face with the fashion industry is the amount of waste. What if we mined that waste and used it as a resource. We could grind up fashion that is no longer wanted and turn it into a new classic textile. Something that is so unique and performs so well that it could not be ignored.

Let’s back up and see how carpet padding is actually made? This type of padding is called rebonded polyurethane. This video shows how scraps of foam are ground into smaller bits. The bits are then bound together with chemicals and steam into something like a giant loaf of bread which can then be cut into usable slices.

Could we do something similar in a more organic way but with textile scraps instead of foam? Textile shredders already exist. What if each of our town dumps had a textile shredder that could grind up textile waste and resell it?

The shredded textile on its own could be useful as filling but let’s take it one step further. Could these textile scraps be rebound into a new iconic fabric? It seems like a solvable problem. In the end, we could end up with a gorgeous terrazzo-like fabric.
Instead of seeing bits of marble or glass we could see bits of jeans or flannel. The material could become a new classic like a herringbone or gingham.
To achieve this terrazzo look we’d need to make the fabric the way felt is made. If you think it sounds complicated just think about how silk is made.

What do you think? It’s crazy, right? I think it’s time. It’s time for a Fashion Revolution.

New Pant Suit

It’s around this time of year that I write my Spring Style Inspiration blog post. Usually, the long winter has me day dreaming about gauzy linens and modern pale pastels. This year is different. This year, all I can think about are pantsuits.

A few days prior to election day I went secondhand shopping for a pantsuit. I wanted to wear one on election day in solidarity with other progressive women. Unfortunately, everything I found was just. not. me. Following election day there were more important things to worry about than a lack of pantsuit options.

For weeks after the election, I was in a fog. It’s still hard to believe what happened. Fortunately, the fog has started to lift. I want to get on with living, loving, working, and laughing. This next stage calls for a new modern pantsuit. I want to feel comfortable, strong, and stylish. I want my feet firmly planted on the ground. I don’t want anything binding or pinching me.

I live by the mantra “secondhand first” so the first thing I did was return to the thrift stores in search of a vintage suit. I got lucky and found a decent basic black suit from the ’90s with the tags still attached. The suit is at the cleaners now. I am having the pants hemmed short.

I’ll wear my black suit with oxfords or loafers. I’m eyeing these Bass loafers with crepe soles. I like wearing a loafer with no socks. One less thing to think about.

In addition to my basic black suit, I’d also like a statement suit. Something that is almost too loud for me. Something that forces me to be present. I like seeing creative women strut their stuff in a statement suit.

Jill Soloway, St. Vincent, Annie Lennox, Beyonce

It’s not like me to buy something new but drastic times call for drastic measures. I bought this gingham suit [below] from Banana Republic. I hope it fits! Instead of wearing orange-red high heels like the blogger [below], I’ll wear orange-red lipstick for a pop of color.

via Art in The Find

It’s good, right!?

via Honey in My Heels

I will continue to keep my eyes peeled for new pantsuit options for women. Follow my New Pant Suit Pinterest board for updates.

 

Coltrane / Zara Pink Suit / Floral Suit from Top Shop / Beige Suit

 

Keep hope alive!
xo jam

UPDATE: I got the Banana Republic gingham suit in the mail. It is awesome. If you like the look you should check it out. The fit was off for me and so I did return it. If I was in a store I would have tried the next size down (in the jacket). The pants fit me but are mid-rise which just makes me feel like I want to pull up my pants all the time. I have a longish torso so when I wear pants like this my blouse always is coming free and I have to keep tucking it back in. I’d rather just get higher waisted pants. I tweeted Everlane a while back. I bought a pair of pants from them that I really like. I’d love a suit jacket to go with them. In the meantime, I’ll wear my secondhand suit and cross my fingers that Everlane comes out with a blazer for women.