Examining 1920s Dresses

[@caragarcia2307]

It's funny how people think only one type of dress is worn during certain decade. We have all different styles and everyone has their own preferences. With everyone making their own dresses during the 1920s I'm surprised there's any consistency at all.

[@charitycalvinarmstead5890]

Although there was a lot of variation, fashion had not fragmented to the degree that it has from the 1970s to the present, and there was generally more agreement on silhouettes and styling. We look at fashion from a very different (postmodern) perspective.

[@BritInvLvr]

So fascinating. I would love to see someone clone these dresses.

[@midwifeymomkempjj258]

Hi Charity! I've been dressing up 1921 to 1925 for a Martin Scorsese movie being filmed in Oklahoma. One of the first things the costuming department told me at fitting was I had to shed the bra and put on basically an undershirt with bra shelf. Then a waist cincher and slip. Finally the dresses, shoes, hats and gloves. One outfit has a shirt waist that ties like the Edwardian ones. It has been a blast! Oh! Most of the clothing and accessories are vintage. Always being told to not put any bags on our shoulders because of the age of the fabric.

[@scottiehall8695]

Has the movie been released?

[@midwifeymomkempjj258]

@@scottiehall8695 it's finally coming out in October. Was shown at Cannes and there was a private viewing in Tulsa OK for the Osage Nation last month.

[@emilydamaris6913]

@@midwifeymomkempjj258 Has the movie been released? x2

[@altaroberts5105]

Love seeing the inside of old dresses. I like that they use the selvedge of fabric. Nowadays people indutriasly cut of the selvedges and waste a lot of fabric. I keep them as you never know when you'll need that extra milimeter or 2

[@carissakirksey6606]

Thank you so much for this up close look!! Especially of the Robe de Style! I'm just about to attempt to sew a Robe de Style, and finding info showing their interior and construction has proven to be a challenge!!

[@charitycalvinarmstead5890]

Oh I’m so glad!! That was one of the major reasons I made this video series for my students. I need to go back and add my 19th Century stuff. I have two 1840s dresses, at least one 1850s, four 1860s, and an unknown quantity of 70s-90s. 😊

[@carissakirksey6606]

@@charitycalvinarmstead5890 I am so grateful that you did! I saw in an old comment reply below that you have another Robe de Style which has built-in panniers; If it is still in your collection, & you ever have the time, I would love a look at how that was constructed as well. Thank you for sharing these beauties (& your other pieces over the decades!) with the world! Like I said before, especially the inside construction of them!

[@amwayconedita]

I love 20's Fashion!!!

[@charitycalvinarmstead5890]

Me too! 😁

[@JeannetteSeward]

Me too!

[@LoriB-vc4el]

this was very helpful and very fascinating I have a 1920 stance and wanted to see how to modify a dress to make it look more authentic. having a little experience handling antiques you might consider wearing rubber gloves so that your oil from your hands does not wear off onto the fabric and make it deteriorate even faster. I know I love to touch fabric too but it's just a thought those are very fragile fibers. my wedding gown was a beautiful white beaded dress with a drop waist and a circle skirt that was sort of handkerchief found and I don't have it anymore and I had a piece that snapped up over the front to fill in the v-line that drop down to the waist and I can't explain it but I've always thought it was a 1920 dress it was so gorgeous.

[@charitycalvinarmstead5890]

Thanks, Lori, glad you found it helpful! Actually I have archival training, and for antique garments, having washed hands prior to handling - and not touching face and hair - is widely-accepted best practice. Rubber gloves are not recommended.

[@homewithjess852]

Thank you for sharing! Those are wonderful period dresses.

[@JY-zq5jk]

Your channel is very educational. I am learning a lot. Thank you very much.

[@charitycalvinarmstead5890]

Glad you’re enjoying it! Thank you.

[@gnviev]

Just found your channel. I’m in love 🥰 thank you so much for all the details.

[@charitycalvinarmstead5890]

Yay! Thank you!

[@deblawson1575]

Just found your channel (yep I subscribed) You did an amazing job on this video. Thanks for sharing God Bless

[@klausi.s.8748]

flabbergasted by that robe de style :O Thank you very much for the video

[@charitycalvinarmstead5890]

Thank you! It's such a fun piece. I picked it up inexpensively at an auction when I was in grad school.

[@poetmaggie1]

Show us the 1930 sewing machine special attachments.

[@babyfacemetin]

Great video 🌺🙂

[@lisascenic]

Really fascinating. As you were showing the U-shaped gussets, I was wondering aloud what purpose they served. Do you have the panniers for the robe de style?

[@charitycalvinarmstead5890]

Not for that one, but I do have another robe de style that I pulled out this week that has built-in panniers. I had meant to include it in this video but didn't remember to. Another video another day, I guess!

[@HattieMcDanielonaMoon]

Your channel is fun

[@charitycalvinarmstead5890]

Thank you!

[@rw4754]

Bakelite beads & buttons can do weird things like melting in storage.

[@rw4754]

The horsehair brain stopped the hem edge kinking. Deployed with satin hems.

[@pityparty9955]

How about some dresses that ordinary women wore? Silk is not available here and the ‘quilting cotton’ that’s available does not drape well. But still I want to use 20s style.

[@ChloeLewis]

I've made some 1920s styles in rayon instead. Rayon existed in the 1920s but I don't know if it was as common, or if rayon lasts better or worse than silk.

[@pityparty9955]

@@ChloeLewis I have developed this philosophy: it’s the 21st century!Whatever fabric I use must be machine washable and dryable. I have not used rayon since the late 90s because the fabrics available shrank horribly. And wrinkled too easily. Plus now I am retired and on a fixed income and cannot afford to deal with delicate fabrics.

[@ChloeLewis]

@@pityparty9955 I've machine washed rayon without shrinking. Machine dried it before sewing, as is my habit, though I mostly line-dry summer dresses. 21st century chemistry!

[@pityparty9955]

@@ChloeLewis It was the 1990s when rayon was popular - culotte suits women were wearing to the office. They wrinkled badly and looked terrible from the back. Anyway the available fabrics were crap. I can’t afford to waste money on unreliable fabrics.

[@charitycalvinarmstead5890]

There are a couple organdy 1920s pieces in the UGA collection. I got organdy very inexpensively from Homesew.com and dyed it. You could also do a cotton voile or lawn. Most of my historic pieces are silk because people saved their nicer clothes.

[@Linda-xz4wt]

Really fun! I love 20's dresses, too bad your camera angle was so high, we can't hardly see anything :(

[@adamas66]

Lovely video with lots of detailed description about the dresses. Shame your voice fades as you turn away to highlight the details of the dresses and your voice is muffled.