The 1922 Collection by Warby Parker

At least a couple times a month, I get someone who comes into the shop asking if I have any 1920s garments.  They tell me they're going to a party and need something to wear, and, of course, don't want to buy a cheap, run-of-the-mill costume made of polyester from a party store.

This is when I , sadly, have to explain that garments from the 20s are so beautifully delicate with craftsmanship so astounding you wouldn't want to just wear them for a party, but rather put them on display like a piece of art in your home, and steer them over to the rack of 60s dresses with drop-waists that mimic the style of the 20s.

The thing is, they're not original 1920s, but the look is the same, repeated forty years later and made fashionable again.  Fashion is like anything else -- history, art, literature -- it tends to repeat the same ideas and images throughout its course.  The best part is, an era of fashion history so celebrated and favored, can be revived and still made pertinent to this day.

This season, the look of the 20s is being seen in modern-day fashion once again.  Drop-waist dresses, fringe, beading, and bobs were all sent down the runways and are all making an appearance in stores around the world as this summers "must haves."

And to finish off the look for all the four-eyed friends like myself, steps in Warby Parker, a mail-order company that specialized in vintage-inspired glasses and sunglasses for every day, with their new 1922 Collection that reminisces of a time when moonshine flowed and dances whirled.

They're offering three pairs in the new collection, all of which are available as sunglasses as well --

The Porter (my personal favorite) - Acetate frames in two colors of tortoise shell (Gimlet on the left and Whiskey on the right) that are more egg-shaped and give off a classically modern feel.

The Duke - A lightweight, stainless steel frame in either silver or gold that is perfectly round and wonderfully antiqued, giving you a studious look.

The Joplin (I love these as sunglasses) - Wide-spaced frames in stainless steel that are something very aesthetically different from any glasses of today, while allowing you to look dapper and professional at the same time.

The best part is, whether you're trying to achieve the Great Gatsby look or you're looking for a classic look to wear in the modern day, any of these frames would represent the image you're trying to achieve and they will far surpass the trends of the season.

Remember, fashion trends may come and go, but timeless pieces, like any of these frames, will forever remain stylish.

(Post created in partnership with Warby Parker)

What a Waist!

The waistline of a dress is your key to solving fit issues.  Many different waistline styles can fit the same person, yet some are meant to stay away from.  Depending on your body type, where the waistline falls can help accentuate your bust, make your torso and legs seem longer, and hide your hips.  However, choosing the wrong cut can do the exact opposite.

Below are the five basic waistline cuts for garments, highlighting what each emphasizes and diminishes and how it will look on you when you wear it, as well as which decade the cut was most prominate in.

Natural Waistline

The waist is the skinniest part of a person's torso, falling just below the belly button between the ribcage and the hips.  If a dress is cut at the natural waistline, it falls right on this line for a person. 

This look is perfect for hourglass figures, as it provides a balance between the bust and the hips.  However, whose midsections are as wide or wider than the hips will want to stay away from this look, as it will just bring attention to the midsection's thickness.

Most popular:  1950s

Drop Waist

A drop waist features a waistline that falls at or below the hips, creating a lengthening effect for the torso.

Perfect for:  Slim, boxy women as it gives the impression of having an hourglass figure.

Stay away:  Long torsos will appear even longer.  Petite girls will look like they have even short legs.

Most popular:  1920s. Repeated in the 60s till today in fashion.

Empire Waist

A gathered waistline that sits just below the bust.  Gives a long, slender look due to the draping of the fabric caused by the gathering.

Perfect for:  Everyone.  Adds curves to smaller framed women.  Hides the hips and stomaches of heavy-set and pearshaped women.  Enhances the bust on all. 

Stay away:  Larger busted women, as it will draw even more attention to your chest.

Most popular:  Jane Eyre times.  And the 1970s.

Basque Waist

Generally starting around the natural waist, this waistline dips about 2-3 inches in the center to create a u-shape or v-shape (also called the v-shaped waist or the Antebellum waist).

Perfect for:  Those with notable curves.  Petite girls as it elongates the torso.

Stay away:  Boxy shaped figures (equal waist to hips) as it will make the wearer look even boxier.  Pear shapes as it will draw attention to the lower belly.

No Waist

A-line silhoutte dresses contain no waistline.  This cut creates a long, slimming look to the wearer as it does not cut the body at any certain point. 

Perfect for:  Boxy, hourglass, petite tall.

Stay away:  Pear shaped (large hips).

Most popular:  1960s.

Sources:

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Causing Controversy - Hemline History

Out of all the components of a garment, the one part that gets the most controversy, throughout history, has always been the hemline. The rise and fall of this line of fabric has caused more stirs and scandals than any other. But why? Mainly, it has to due with women, their perceived role in society, and how the general population perceives that role.

All throughout early history, women wore long dresses that graced the ground and covered any aspect of their legs. Under the long dresses, they typically wore long bloomers, hoops under skirt, and numerous other garments that hindered any chance of the leg to see daylight. Up until World War One, that was considered the norm, until women began to take charge of their lives, rights, and costume.

1920s: The dawn of the decade brought a new right to women, the right to vote, and with this newfound righteousness, women began to dress more comfortably. Dresses became less fitted, more fun, and shorter. Hemlines rose to an all-time low in the later twenties as the carefree, Flapper look took over.

1930s: The stock market crash of the Great Depression that swallowed most of the decade brought hemlines back down, below the knees. Women dressed more conservatively for the times, and their outfits reflected this somberness compared to the lightheartedness of the twenties.

1940s: The second World War brought rations to many things, including fabric and clothing. As women bountifully joined the workplace and, even, the war effort, for the first time, hemlines shortened with this new independence.

1950s: The end of the war, the accessibility of ready-made clothing and credit, and the idea of the "American Dream" brought a new role and glamour to fashion for women in the fifties. A decade divided by ideals and age, skirts became fuller and hemlines dropped once again to below-the-knees, as women put their focus back on the family, and they became tighter and shorter during the later years as the younger generation began to have more of a say in fashion.

1960s: The media and the youth of America began to be the strongest influences during the decade and fashion became the most varied of any decade prior due to the want to cater to the youth of America. Though starting off by mimicking the classic look of Jackie Kennedy, the miniskirt invaded in the middle, and the hippie movement closed it out in the end.  Hemlines went from mid to short to long and, throughout the decade, covered everything in between, as America was torn over the military conflict in Vietnam.

1970s: Though the first decade to be mostly characterized by pants, hems still varied on skirts and dresses depending on the look. Mini, medi, and maxi skirts were worn, and, even with the strong musical influences on the decade of disco and punk, endured the era without one length being more popular than the others.

1980s to present: As history repeats itself, so does fashion, and the media and youth still have control over how the trends are received. Women's role in society is becoming stronger every day, and their influence in fashion has never wavered, though the length of the hem has.

Garment Sources

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