1920s

Flappers with sleek bobs, cupid blow lips, long strings of pearls and lots and lots of sass, the roaring twenties were the place to be!

1920s movie poster: Clara Bow in The Wild Party

1920s movie poster: Clara Bow in The Wild Party

A 1920s movie poster for the Clara Bow movie The Wild Party which was released in 1929.  It was Clara Bow’s first talkie (i.e non-silent movie) but the movie was also released as a silent movie for theatres which didn’t have sound equipment.

1920s Chinese wedding dress

1920s Chinese wedding dress

1920s Chinese wedding dress: Chiang Kai-shek and Soong May-ling married on 1st December 1927 in Shanghai. Source and copyright: This image is now in the public domain in China because its term of copyright has expired.

Vintage living: creating a vintage 1920s and ’30s look in your home

Vintage living: creating a vintage 1920s and ’30s look in your home

For several years, now, whenever people think of vintage or retro décor, chances are they’re thinking 1950s, ’60s and ‘70s. Typically, these are the styles – from ’50s polka dots and jukeboxes to ’70s chintz – that have been best catered for by both contemporary designers and shops and markets selling vintage furniture, but all(…)

1920s swimsuits

1920s swimsuits

Girls in their swimsuits photographed in 1920. These female swimmers were photographed at the Tidal Basin in Washington DC. I love the range of different styles these women are wearing, don’t they look great?

Ronald Reagan as a lifeguard, 1920s

Ronald Reagan as a lifeguard, 1920s

I find this photo of Ronald Reagan bizarre in so many ways! As a child I always found it strange that he went from being a matinee idol to being President of the United States, and now I find a photo of him in a swimsuit as a lifeguard. Real life can truly be stranger(…)

Talullah Bankhead in costume, 1920s

Talullah Bankhead in costume, 1920s

American actress and 1930s movie star Talullah Bankhead. This photograph is a publicity photo from the London stage production of “The Dancers” in 1923 before she shot to fame in Hollywood. That costume is just wonderful! Source and copyright:This media file is in the public domain in the United States. Edited with BlogPad Pro

Pin up photo of Ziegfeld Follies girl, 1920

Pin up photo of Ziegfeld Follies girl, 1920

Pin up photo of Ziegfeld Follies girl, Lee Worthing, taken by Alfred Cheney Johnston in 1920. Source and copyright:This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published (or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office) before January 1, 1923. Edited with BlogPad Pro

Clara Bow swimming naked

Clara Bow swimming naked

1920s actress Clara Bow and infamous flapper in a still from the movie “Hula”.  This movie was released in 1927 before the Hayes Code was introduced in 1930 which set down ‘moral censorship guidelines’ for movie making. Edited with BlogPad Pro Source and copyright: This work is in the public domain in that it was(…)

Waist Training: a Visual History of Corsetry

Waist Training: a Visual History of Corsetry

I found myself wondering the other day about waist training and just how corsets and girdles have shaped women and fashions over the last century. The fashion for different body types has definitely changed with the decades, but what underwear was needed to help women achieve this? I hope we’re getting to an age where(…)

Ziegfeld Follies girl Caja Eric

Ziegfeld Follies girl Caja Eric

Portrait of Ziegfeld Follies girl Caja Eric wearing a low cut dress with long pearl drop necklace, 1920s Source and copyright: This work is in the public domain in that it was published in the United States between 1923 and 1977 and without a copyright notice

Vintage ballet costume

Vintage ballet costume

Legendary ballet dancer Anna Pavlova in costume as a bacchante in The Seasons. C. 1900 Source and copyright: This work is in the public domain in Russia according to article 1256 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation.

1920s Follies girl Drucilla Strain

1920s Follies girl Drucilla Strain

A strking portrait of 1920s Ziegfeld Follies girl, Drucilla Strain. Source and copyright: This work is in the public domain in that it was published in the United States between 1923 and 1977 and without a copyright notice.

Young 1920s girl with a big bow in her hair

Young 1920s girl with a big bow in her hair

1920s photo of a young girl reading a book – I love that big bow in her hair! The photographer was Harrison Burgess of South Shields Photographic Society Source: Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums: No known copyright restrictions

Ziegfeld Follies girl by Alfred Cheney Johnston

Ziegfeld Follies girl by Alfred Cheney Johnston

Ziegfeld Follies girl Drucilla Strain photographed by Alfred Cheney Johnston Source and copyright: This media file is in the public domain in the United States. This applies to U.S. works where the copyright has expired, often because its first publication occurred prior to January 1, 1923.