How to Sew a Flapper Costume
The party invitation reads, "costumes mandatory" and you've been waiting for the chance to turn yourself into a cigarette-carrying flapper with a penchant for the Charleston. It's settled. A short, fringe-covered flapper costume it is. Back in the day, women wanting to show off their liberated lifestyles and great legs couldn't always afford to shop for the perfect outfit. As a result, they did exactly what you'll do to get heads turning when you show up at your event: get out the sewing machine and make a simple but flashy chemise that party goers are sure to declare the cat's meow. This costume doesn't require a pattern because it's a simple, one-piece flapper dress that is held together by a length of elastic threaded into the top hem of the jumper then lavished with horizontal rows of fringe. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Length of elastic measuring your approximate bra measurement (e.g., 38-inch, 40-inch)
- 3 yards of shimmery coat liner fabric (4 yards if you wear a plus size)
- Approximately 15 yards of 6-inch wide fringe
- Straight pins
- Thread
- Feathers, sequins and other trim
Instructions
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Make shoulder straps by cutting 2 12-inch wide strips from the fabric. Fold each in half (lengthwise) to create 6-inch wide by 45-inch (or width of the material) straps. Stitch along the length of the fabric and turn inside. Put aside the two 5-1/2-inch by 22-inch straps.
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Hem the top and bottom of the remaining fabric. Stitching lines needn't be perfect because they will be covered by fringe. Since you will be inserting elastic into the top hem of the shift and feeding it through the hem, be sure to leave enough room so you don't have to struggle with it.
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3
Lay the cloth flat on a table with the top hem up and the bottom hem down. Cut sections of fringe from the bolt and pin them in layers. Start at the hem so the fringe layers overlap from the top down. Before you tack the fringe layers to the fabric, hold the cloth up to be certain the fringe falls toward the bottom hem, then machine stitch in place.
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4
Match up the fringe-trimmed selvages at the back of the shift and pin uniformly together to create a back seam. Carefully sew the seam, making sure none of the fringe rows are trapped. If you are an accomplished seamstress, you might want to install a zipper along the back seam line rather than stitching it closed.
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5
Snip a small hole into the reverse side of the top hem on either side of the back seam. Feed one end of the elastic into one hole (safety pin it in place so it doesn't get lost in the hem!) and pull it through to the other. Adjust the elastic evenly then tack the ends of the elastic to the interior of the dress.
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6
Try on the fringed chemise to be sure it fits. Make adjustments if necessary before pinning the two shoulder straps to the top of the dress in the front and back (cut the straps to fit). Hand or machine stitch the straps in place.
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Decorate your flapper dress with feathers, sequins, faux gems and other trim or just let the fringe tell your story.
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Find lengths of rope pearls (Sparkly, oversized pearl garlands found in Christmas trim departments work perfectly). Drape them loosely around your neck and bodice. A string purse embellished with feathers and sequins tie up the outfit perfectly.
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Looking for a boa to add more 1920s to your get-up? Try the toy store. Boas made for little girl dress-up are easy to find. Stitch two boas together so there's plenty of length to make dramatic exits (and don't forget your rolled-up knee-high stockings and Mary Jane shoes).
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