Though marked by the Depression the 1930s was a time of remarkable

elegance - a more mature version of the 1920s flapper girl grew into a

feminine silhouette and Hollywood sirens like Ginger Rogers, Jean Harlow

and Hedy Lamarr provided escapism and a gorgeous ideal for every

woman to aspire to.

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Daywear was starting towards the trend of tailored suits, knitwear and floral

crepe dresses.

For the evening you could either be a romantic princess in lace, ruffles and

high cap sleeves or the full sex-bomb in a slinky bias cut halter neck evening

dresses, preferably backless.

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Accessories were all important – no woman of style left the house

without hat, gloves, scarf, jewellery, watch, and handbag. Parasols

were starting to go out of favour for practical everyday use.

 

Your dress could be third hand and patched but with accessories, especially jewellery, you were dressed.

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Costume jewellery really came into its own after the Depression as a cheaper option accessible to everyone but it could be designed by the likes of Coco Chanel, Schiaparelli, Miriam Haskell and Trifari. Deco was still the leading look but with more sparkle and weight than the previous decade.

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• Sparkle – and lots of it. Paste, rhinestones, even real diamonds…you’re a film star!

• Dress clips  - worn attached or separately on your dress or to fix a scarf . Even on your hat!

• Matching pearl sets of necklace, bracelet and brooch

• Clip and screw-on earrings – pierced ears wouldn’t come back around till the 50s

• Ornate colourful brooches with birds, flowers and leaves

• Brighter colours, plastic and enamels, natural forms

• Coloured gemstones – heavy bib necklaces

• Long gloves for the evening

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