All posts tagged: Art Deco

Art Deco Weekend roundup

Last week I posted the tiniest bit about my wardrobe for Art Deco Weekend 2012, but I didn’t really tell you much about what it was about. Napier holds an annual Art Deco weekend because an earthquake (and resultant fire) on Feb 3 1931 devastated the city, killing 256 people in the greater Hawkes Bay area, and necessitating the rebuilding of the entire downtown business district. All the rebuilding was done in the Art Deco and Spanish Mission style. So every year Napier holds a festival to celebrate it’s Art Deco heritage, and commemorate the earthquake. Or so goes the official line. Sadly, my impression was that the festival was really just an excuse to sell stuff, wear silly clothes with only the barest veneer of historicism, and drink too much. There were a few tours about architecture, and a 20 minute ceremony about the earthquake, but I found the lack of history and recognition of why the event was held vastly disappointing. Also, the whole event puts a huge emphasis on the 1920s. The …

Rate the Dress: Deco stripes in 1923

Published by The Dreamstress

Last week your reactions to the 1860s girl’s pink & white striped party frock were quite divided. Most of you said something along the lines of “cutest dress ever!” or “I would have felt like a princess in it”. Some of you, however, had horrible experiences with being forced to wear frilly dresses as a kid, and you didn’t like it for that reason. Those in favour of pretty princess dresses pulled it in at a 8.4 out of 10. This week, lets leave any chance of saccharine behind and look at a dress inspired by my time at Art Deco Weekend. This frock from the Met incorporates clever angles and curves and pleats and stripes, all while maintaining a sleek silhouette – very Art Deco. When I polled you about your least favourite fashion eras the 1920s won (lost?) by a landslide. So this dress is a real risk. Will it fall foul of your dislike of the 20s? Or will you like the simple, comfortable, easy-wear, restrained but colourful, Art Deco inspired shift …

Art Deco wardrobe planning

Published by The Dreamstress

This year, for the first time ever, I’m going to Napier’s Art Deco Weekend. I’ve tried to go in the past, but things have come up. But this year, unless something happens in the next 5 days, it’s actually happening! Three days of 30s clothes and dancing! Being crazy and ambitious I’m planning a specific wardrobe. It’s based around the idea of what a well-off girl from Hawaii would have taken for a trip to Napier to visit family in early 1933*. So all my clothes will be from the very end of the 1920s and the early 30s. I’m going with a red, white & blue theme, to organise my design and keep my accessories down. I’ve got a pinterest board with inspiration. But don’t think it will be all patriotic and nautical red, white & blue! Here is my fabric pile: I’m hoping to make two evening dresses, one out of white lace with black lace that looks like this: With this: And one of blue lace in a cut very similar to …