All things 1920’s… when more was more!

Nicknamed “The Great American Novel,” The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald, is a classic novel written in 1925 that was adapted into a movie with Leonardo Di Caprio as the male protagonist in 2013. Ever since then, the fashions and outfits from the decadent and glamorous 1920s period have been a popular choice for the most coveted themed parties and events.

The film most definitely reflects the roaring twenties - a time when free spirit was de rigueur, creating the flapper lifestyle. Flappers were a young generation of Western women who rebelled against conventional dress and behaviour. A flapper girl wore short dresses, had bob hair, and listened to jazz, which wasn't considered the norm back then. It was an age of dramatic social and political change. For the first time, more Americans lived in cities than on farms. The nation’s total wealth more than doubled between 1920 and 1929, and this economic surge swept many Americans into an affluent but unfamiliar consumerism. Many were uncomfortable with this new, urban, sometimes racy culture, wherein everyone shopped for the same fashion, listened to the same music, and did the same dances.

Thanks to the Great Gatsby era, we witnessed the 1920s kaleidoscopic display of pearls, feathers and sequins splashed across TV screens and magazines. Essentially, the more sparkle, the better! Each ensemble was often finished off with a long cigarette holder, a pinned wavy bob, and a large brooch for an extra edge of glitz and glam.

The film’s wardrobes certainly reflect the decadence of the decade. When it comes to dressing in the elegant 1920s style, basically, more is more! Great Gatsby fashion gives you the opportunity to get glammed up in the most beautiful drop waist dresses, shiny strappy shoes, and art deco accessories. The youthful and athletic silhouettes devoid of corsetry, have a lingering appeal to modern eyes. The lavish period of eveningwear, beaded dresses, and headpieces are a visual feast. Socially, it was a very exciting and revolutionary decade, replete with glittering glamorous style. The fashion focus is to bring out your inner maximalist, reminiscent of the flapper girl and free spirit of the roaring era and still maintain your modern flair - and that's what makes it so much fun, even today. Especially if you a flapper at heart…

- Neena Maini Malhotra