What to Wear at Napier - 
Art Deco Clothing Inspiration

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Ladies in 1920s style drop waisted dresses at the Masonic Hotel, NapierThese ladies made their own dresses!

Click on the photos to see in Gallery View

Wondering what to wear when you go to Napier?  We've put together some lovely photos of gorgeous outfits we saw at the Art Deco Festival. 

The main thing is to get a great hat and accessories, then you can jazz up virtually any dress to make it fit into the 1920s or 1930s style. Keep reading for more ideas and inspiration.  

The ladies above made their own dresses in the typical 1920s drop-waisted style.  You might find one in a vintage shop or charity store.  I had one in the 1980s which would have been great if I'd still got it!

Girl in 1920s Sailor Dress and Brogues with Granddad in Braces.Drop waisted Sailor Dress with Brogues.

1920s Drop-Waisted Dresses were much in evidence

Girls wearing Blue and red 1920s style dresses with Mary JanesDrop waisted dresses and Mary Janes

These two beautiful girls were part of the Dancers Showcase and looked stunning in these colourful dresses with typical Mary Jane style shoes. 

Dresses in the 1920s were tube shaped and could be quite short and frequently sleeveless to show off as much of the boyish flapper body as possible.

Group in vintage Art Deco costumes with 1920s car in backgroundSoldiers on leave and gentlemen in top hats accompany the ladies

Little round sunglasses were an innovation of the 1920s with metal or tortoiseshell coloured frames. 


1930s Art Deco Clothing - Inspiration from Napier

Couple in 1930s Art Deco CostumesHats got smaller in the 1930s

In the 1930s for ladies dresses became more shapely again rather than straight up and down, hence the empire line and more flowing skirt.  Hem lines got longer too.  The daring attitudes of the twenties had been rather tempered by the austerity of the Depression era. 


Shop for your costumes for the Napier Art Deco Festival

Unique vintage has a glorious selection of beaded flapper dresses and accessories and ships worldwide. 


Shop at Etsy for 1920s Clothing

Get Inspiration for Flapper Dresses

Get Inspiration for Cloche Hats

Get Inspiration for Art Deco Jewelry

More photos of clothing ideas from Art Deco Napier 2016

Lady and Man in 1920s CostumesCloche, beads and gloves, Boater and waistcoat! Accessories make the outfits.
Lady in Navy Blue and White Dress, Cloche Hat and BeadsLovely Long Flapper Beads with Dark Cloche
Couple in Art Deco costume at the Masonic Hotel NapierLooking Stylish at the Masonic Hotel, Napier
Lady taking photograph of woman with parasol on beachParasols were popular accessories in the 1920s and 30s

Learn more about 1920s Fashion

Learn more about 1930s Fashion



Etsy has a surprisingly good range of Art Deco furniture, interior decor, art and prints, 1920s and 1930s fashion, accessories, jewellery and Bakelite.  Click the banner to explore.  



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