1920's

[JcM528491]

It's been a while, sorry, work and college are killing me! Anywho, I am president of my college's Student Government, and we decided to throw a spring fling dance thing sometime around April, and had three categories: '20's, '50's, and 80's, and we had the students vote on them, and to nearly everyone's surprise, the '20's won out which I was hoping for! So I'm going to be going as a sort of middle class teen (wool pants, suspenders, vest, flat cap). For one thing I'm tired of seeing '20's summed up in dances as zoot suit and spats, and for another thing, this is a great chance to get some more costuming practice in! I will keep you updated on it

P.S. I had no idea what to do for the Fifties, but for the eighties I was going to go as either Robocop, Marty McFly, or the Terminator!

more P.S. This is kind of my idea for the look of my twenties suit:

owner of this photo reserves all rights
found on Google images

 

[Gatekeeper]

That's not really a 1920's middle class look. Appearing half-dressed (without jacket) and the newsboy cap gives more a working class impression. A full suit or at least a jacket was more or less mandatory back then. For a teen costume, a varsity sweater or similar might be an idea. Also, Oxford bags or plusfours.

(For the fifties teen look, the above would work fine. Just switch to peg trousers. Then, there's always the obvious greaser alternative...)

 

[JcM528491]

Not to be rude, but the line can get quite blurred, and I admit, it is a more poor example, here are a few better ones for the look I'm going for:

 

[Gatekeeper]

OK, I see. I got hung up on "middleclass teen", hence my suggestions. You're apparently going for a gangster look, which is a cool look indeed, and probably looks more 1920's to the general public.

 

[Darth Mule]

Gatekeeper is more or less right. It wasn't common to appear in public without some sort of top jacket on. It was more common with younger people, particularly working class. But most of the time when you see that in film, it's for a stylized and anachronistic look like that of, and I would check this out if that's the direction you want to go, Newsies. Just for the record, I'm A-OK with anachronism!

https://www.google.com/search?q=new...=632#facrc=0;newsies costume&imgdii=_&imgrc=_

I did my trial run of my 20s getup at DCon this year. Built a suit for an upcoming Boardwalk Empire group. The hat is totally wrong, but I'm really happy with the suit.

 

[JcM528491]

See, what I'm trying to avoid is the "general gangster look" with the zoot suit and such. I like the look, but like I said, I don't want the stereotypical look that people always wear to dances and Halloween parties. That's why I'm going for such a casual look.

- - - Updated - - -

and at Darth Mule, that's a badass suit!

 

[Darth Mule]

Just FYI. A zoot suit refers to a particular cut of suit introduced in the 40s that was kind of a response to fabric rationing for the war. 20s suits are much slimmer in the shoulders and pants.

 

[JcM528491]

I know my history, that's why it's part of my double major, but like I said, I don't wanna do the stereotyped gangster look, because apparently the gangster "zoot suit" is a very commonly accepted 20's look:

1920's Costumes

1920s Costumes - Flapper & Gangster Costumes - Party City

Gangster Swangster 1920's Adult Costume


Don't get me wrong, it's a good look, I just don't like generic costumes, and I like things that aren't the most usually done.

 

[Gatekeeper]

Those Rubies or whatever costumes are horrible. And yeah, apparently they mixed generic pinstriped mobster outfits with zoot suits, thus misrepresenting almost half a century of U.S. history. Only thing that maybe sucks more are those why-bother costumes. Like a Robin Hood outfit that says "Robin Hood" on the chest.

 

[JcM528491]

I know, and even though it may have been a little rude(my apologies for that) that was my point, I absolutely LOATH store bought "why-bothers" like the Indiana Jones beauty of a horrid costume that had the logo on EVERYTHING!! The hat, jacket, pants, shirt, whip handle, and I think even tongue of the shoes...
Indiana Jones Deluxe Adult Costume New Std XL | eBay

Every Halloween I can remember I always wanted my costume to be authentic rather than bought pre-assembled.

 

[Rick H]

A bit before my time but I found the following site. May be helpfull.
The Suit: 1920s Mens Fashion History
The conservative suit was for the British and for older business men in American. The rest of the men, mostly young men and middle class American’s, preferred a totally new style that was even more casual and more flashy then their fathers look. They acquired the “cake eaters” name when these new young kids frequented tea dances where tea cakes were served.

The style began at Oxford University and other Ivy league schools in Britain. Well to do young American students brought back the style to the USA where it was eagerly adopted by the majority of men. The Ivy league look was of a slimmer fitting, single breasted jacket with slightly narrower notch lapels (2.75 inches), a longer jacket (30.5 inches), 2-3 buttons fasted high on the sternum and large patch pockets placed low on the front sides. Materials were still very heavy wool or worsted wool weighing in around 15 oz to the yard. By the mid 20′s the trend was for lighter shades of tan, grey, blue gray, gray blue with striped cheviot pattern being the most popular. The British loved their tweed suits, the American’s not so much. Diagonal tweed suits had a short lived trend with lighter shades called “ice cream suits.” Light tans, creams, blues, and pinks in pinstripes were made into 3 pieces suits and sport coats.

 

[Darth Mule]

I know my history, that's why it's part of my double major, but like I said, I don't wanna do the stereotyped gangster look, because apparently the gangster "zoot suit" is a very commonly accepted 20's look:

1920's Costumes

1920s Costumes - Flapper & Gangster Costumes - Party City

Gangster Swangster 1920's Adult Costume


Don't get me wrong, it's a good look, I just don't like generic costumes, and I like things that aren't the most usually done.

Apparently fashion history isn't one of your double majors. Costume and fashion history IS part of my costume design degree, of which I have two of. A zoot suit has a very distinctive look. Far different from that of the 1920s suits. I'm afraid throwing up a party city link isn't going to win your argument either.

Let me assist with visuals.

1920s (not true historical, but the suits in this show are copied from 1920s patterns and even had the fabric woven to match real samples of 1920s suits):



Zoot Suit:


See the difference?

 

[Gatekeeper]

Costume and fashion history IS part of my costume design degree,of which I have two of.

Figured so after reading your replies. Costume and fashion history's part of my degree too, art history major though. Specialized in 17th century, particular interest in mens' fashion circa 1900-1940.
So, yeah - zoot suits are different beasts altogether. Referring to 20's suits as zoot suits makes as much sense as calling Elvis' white, spangled stage attire a 'tuxedo'.

And socio-economic factors played a huge part in determining what clothes people wore 90 years ago.

 

[Darth Mule]

Figured so after reading your replies. Costume and fashion history's part of my degree too, art history major though. Specialized in 17th century, particular interest in mens' fashion circa 1900-1940.
So, yeah - zoot suits are different beasts altogether. Referring to 20's suits as zoot suits makes as much sense as calling Elvis' white, spangled stage attire a 'tuxedo'.

And socio-economic factors played a huge part in determining what clothes people wore 90 years ago.

Nice! Though I'm sorry to say that you clearly don't know what you're talking about. I did a google image search for 20s men's costume and the first two images are clearly zoot suits! :facepalm
It's right here on my party city flier!

Seriously though. Nice to meet a fellow historian!

 

[JcM528491]

Apparently fashion history isn't one of your double majors. Costume and fashion history IS part of my costume design degree, of which I have two of. A zoot suit has a very distinctive look. Far different from that of the 1920s suits. I'm afraid throwing up a party city link isn't going to win your argument either.

Let me assist with visuals.

1920s (not true historical, but the suits in this show are copied from 1920s patterns and even had the fabric woven to match real samples of 1920s suits):

View attachment 287914

Zoot Suit:
View attachment 287916

See the difference?

If you hadn't taken everything I said out of context then maybe there wouldn't be an argument, I was agreeing with you, I know the zoot suit isn't a 20's look, what I AM saying is that it seems to be the generally accepted look for the 20's by the public and major costume outlets. Like so: Dress Up like the Roaring Twenties - How To - Yahoo Voices - voices.yahoo.com

in the men's section it says: "It can be more difficult to find a man's costume, but most local costume shops will have appropriate suits. Sombre, well-taylored pinstripe suits can be worn, as well as bold zoot suits. Pockets should be finished off with a gold chain."

So like I was saying I don't want the stereotyped look, I want a more authentic look, sorry to make you believe there was an argument to win, but there isn't. Have a good day.