DRESSED IN HOLIDAY STYLE

December 8th, 2006

 “City sidewalks, busy side walks”* as the song says “are dressed in holiday style”, but just as we decorate our homes, trim the turkeys, decorate the Christmas trees and light the Hanukkah candles we also dress ourselves in holiday style. Our best comes out of our closets for the holiday office parties, the neighborhood open houses and New Years Eve.

In the decade that was the twenties, better know as the “Flapper Era” our grandmothers and great-grandmothers dressed in a style the likes that had never been seen before! They were after all the rebellious daughters of the uptight, corseted, prim and prudish Victorian woman. Almost androgynous in appearance the flapper reveled in decadent flowing freedom of the new designs. Her knees were seen for the first time with the new hem-line; where as her Mother wouldn’t have shown her ankles. What could be more rebellious than a red velvet dress baring her arms as well as her knees? Well, the only thing I can think of is more than just a touch of gold lame!

Let’s dance at the Christmas ball in this exquisite example of the ultimate dress to “Charleston”** in. Any flapper would be proud to ring in the New Year while dancing to “Whangdoodle” (Jazz band music) in this showstopper!

Our model, Violet has had her hair shingled just like the popular silent movie star Louise Brooks. She flaunts her new found freedom with every wave of her cigarette’s long holder. Her fingernails are lacquered talons.

Delicious strawberry red silk velvet falls off the shoulders in a simple chemise style. Simplistic fashion was a modern concept in 1920, a revolutionary idea. Incredibly this dress still has its original sales tag and label attached signifying that the dress was sold at the Rae Samoff Store on 140 Newberry Street in Boston, Massachusetts. Dramatic not only in color, it seems to follow the influence of Erte as all eyes are drawn to the gold metallic passementerie on the left front shoulder. Violet’s mid calf length dress begins draping at the sides “to provide ease of motion”. Underneath a four piece “dance set” comprised of a bandeau, tap pant style step-ins and two garters were most likely worn, no boned corset underneath this beauty! Draping is created by vertical shirring on either side of the center back. The U shaped back décolleté dips scandalously. Two 14” panels are gathered and attached at the “new waist” (hip). They are diagonally cut to form a two piece V-shaped train lined in gold lame falling below the front hemline and making for an unforgettable exit.

Violet compliments her ensemble with a petite Whiting and Davis mesh purse just large enough to hold her embroidered hankie and her filled dance card. Her lacquered toes are encased in silk stockings in the shocking translucent “nude look”. They are either rolled down or topped by ornamental flat garters also referred to as “jazz garters”. Gold lame T-strap shoes complete her avant-garde ensemble. In fashion lame is “all the mode” and just perfect for dancing the night away. She’s bee’s knee and the Cat’s meow! Violet certainly knows how to dress in holiday style! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the girl with the vintage heart... Lorraine Loomis-Konig