kayamiya Short Sleeves Knee Length Fringe Hem 1920s Dress

After World War I ended, the 1920s began and ushered in the era of jazz, Prohibition, gangsters and flappers. In essence, the U.S. was experiencing an exciting period of prosperity that led to decadence.

This led to new and glamorous trends in fashion and the introduction of the opulent, risqué flapper dress. Women were able to express their personalities in new ways, with bold, geometric patterns, sparkly sequins and, of course, plenty of fringe.

Roaring 1920s dresses were popularized in novels, photographs and movies and soon spread into popular culture. The basic flapper style is straight and loose, with a drop waist that can be as low as just beneath the knees. Back then these dress hems came to the mid-calf, and this was seen as daring because women’s dresses used to all cover the legs completely, ending down at the ground. Old-fashioned dresses covered the arms, as well.

Today’s flapper dresses (aka 1920s dresses) can be mini, midi or anywhere in between, but they definitely show off the legs! You’ll also find sleeveless and short-sleeves to put your toned arms on display. These little sleeves are often made with sequins and fringe.

Some flapper dresses are made with two pieces, with a slip and coordinating mesh overlay decorated with the requisite sequins and fringe. Designers often sell these dresses, and those can be priced well over $1,000, but you can find beautiful ones for well under $100, so there’s no need to shell out a huge amount for a dazzling flapper dress.

• You can accessorize your 1920s flapper dress with a headband, pair of elbow-length gloves, a long knotted pearl necklace, pear bracelets and dancing shoes.
• Art deco jewelry and feathers are also part of the flapper style, and these can make your outfit look more authentic.
• Don’t forget your hair and makeup to bring the 1920s vibe to life! Flappers usually wore their hair cropped short, or you can slick yours back and put it in a bun. Accent your eyes with plenty of eyeliner and use a deep red lipstick.
• Vintage-style flapper dresses are usually covered with sequins and fringes, so they either have to be hand-washed or dry cleaned; check before laundering.