Jazz Costume Ideas
Between the world wars and before the Great Depression came the Roaring Twenties--the Jazz era. The stock market soared, the music was lively and the clothes were like nothing ever seen before. Men wore looser, more comfortable suits in brighter colors and fabrics, a trend that eventually led to the Zoot suit. Women showed more skin than ever as hemlines climbed as high as the knees with the flapper look. Prohibition and the speakeasies brought on gangsters and the Bonnie and Clyde look. Through it all there was the smooth sound of jazz, in the background and on center stage at the latest hotspot.
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Flapper
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Start with a straight shapeless dress with short sleeves or no sleeves, and add fringe to the skirt or all the way up. You'll also need a small, close fitting hat. Add a feather to the front or a jazzy hat band with a big bow. Wear dark stockings and flat clunky shoes. Your accessories will make the outfit. Things like a feather boa, bangle bracelets and a long string of pearls tied in a knot are very jazzy. Wear your hair in a short bob.
Zoot Suit
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Get an over-sized, double-breasted suit from the thrift store--look for stripes, plaids and bright colors. Look for fedoras, vests, ties, shirts and shoes in contrasting colors. Coordinate colors, like a navy and white-striped suit with a navy shirt, a white tie and navy shoes; a yellow and black suit with a yellow shirt, black tie and shoes; or a white suit with a black shirt, white tie, and black and white shoes. Add a carnation to the lapel.
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Evening Wear
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Create a dressier look for a night out on the town by using a rich fabric to form the same basic straight, sleeveless style as the flapper dress. Don't add any fringe and make the hemline a little longer than the knee. Add more pizazz to the hat and more flash to the jewelry. Dress up your guy in a black or white suit jacket with a bow tie. This is also the outfit for Jazz Era musicians.
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References
- Photo Credit band image by pdesign from Fotolia.com
