Trend Alert: The Roaring 20s Roars Back into Fashion

The fashion industry adores fashion revivals. And we have seen styles from decades past dynamically resurface; continue to be at the forefront for several seasons, while other style references disappear as quickly as they re-emerge. The color blocking trend that was such a prevalent component of the mod 60s—remember Yves Saint Laurent’s Mondrian collection—has had a lasting influence for the past few seasons, while the 1960s bohemian, hippy revival was not as successful.

For spring/summer 2012 designers looked to the Gatsby/flapper girl style of the 1920s. Though this trend had a mild resurgence in 2008, the current affection with the Roaring 20s may have a deeper saturation in the industry. Unlike the 2008 homage of drop- waisted frocks and fringed Charleston dresses, which coincidentally only lasted one season, the present incarnation merely borrows certain elements from that era and mixes those elements with early 1930s Hollywood Glamour influences, sequins, tribal and floral prints, and lace embellishments. Marry these influences with a sequined headband, a cloche hat and sorbet colors and you will have a look that conjures up images of a festive, Great Gatsby Long Island‒soiree without feeling weighted down by the past.

This trend also carries over to fall/winter 2012 collections evidenced in the rich, taffeta and sequined crush velvets of Venexiana’s glamorous fall/winter collection, and Tadashi Shoji’s nod to the Golden Age of Shanghai in his fall/winter 2012 outing. Both Shoji and Katie Stern of Venexiana for fall/winter 2012 expertly combine the 1920s aesthetic with the diaphanous fabric trend of lace, silk chiffon, organza, and tulle, while keeping their collections fresh and fashion forward.

Perhaps, this continued fascination with all things 1920s is due to the soon-to-be-released remake of “The Great Gatsby,” or maybe fashion designers just like time travel. Regardless of the motivation, influences from the Roaring Twenties are making a roaring comeback, and its le jazz hot!! Daisy Buchanan would be oh so happy!!

—William Gooch