10.11.2010

1920s Halloween Costumes

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So I'm not a huge fan of Halloween. I do like the holiday, but don't get super excited for it. I suppose it has to do with the fact that if I want to dress up, I do, not matter the time of year. And I just get really sick of seeing all the cheap, skanky, pre-coordinated costumes at stores, in those little baggies. No imagination. No quality. It's like fast food in clothing form.

Anyway, the only time I really love Halloween, is when I see some vintage costumes, and decorations, specifically from the 1920s. They had the craziest, most imaginative, stunning costumes I've ever seen, even something so cliche as a witch, looks original.

I was searching for ideas for my own costume, and came across the third photo, with the spiderweb costume. And now I am going to be a spiderweb. I was going to go totally 1920s, with an actual black 1920s dress I have stored away, but instead I will wear that sequin leotard I found last week. And I'll just have to make the rest! Although since seeing that crazy picture of the two spiderweb girls and their amazing headdresses, my costume seems much less elaborate now ;)

Set 2, 3, and 4, from Rhiannonmar's photostream

Set 5 from Carbonated's photostream

40 comments:

Mici Mathonka said...

beautiful pics,I really like peter pan costume and that orient ones!

Miss Tami Lee said...

Eeek I love love love Halloween! I must find a hat like those girls are wearing for my harlequin costume I'm putting together. I really love the peacock one as well!

I can't wait to see your version of a spider, that sounds too cute.

garofit said...

these are wonderful indeed! make me excited about a celebration i don't normally get into - it's not part of my culture, and because of the "fast food" element about it that you mention, i've never been tempted to look more into it. but this is Halloween with class, if still ott!

Rebeccak said...

You're right! these costumes are incredible. The drawings themselves are works of art. Thank you for sharing these!

Melissa Righero said...

I'm loving the peacock one!

poet said...

These are beautiful and very inspiring indeed! I absolutely agree - the overabundance of skimpy cheap costumes is really annoying. If I celebrate Halloween (this year I won't), I usually make my own Halloween costumes from stuff I already have. Looking forward to seeing your costume!

Cheers,
poet

Unknown said...

I agree with all your other readers, if you want to buy a ready to wear costume you have to be super slim and want to wear a really sexy version of which ever costume you wear. Out of all the ones you have posted I think the butterfly one is my favourite but I also think the little black cat from the witch's costume is very cute aswell

Katiuscia said...

love the Arabian Nights costume, thanks for sharing!
love *K*

Charlotte said...

Oh my! The Spirit of St. Louis costume in the first page is just adorable. I love the Buccaneer outfits too. And Cleopatra... Heck, I love them all!

xx Charlotte
Tuppence Ha'penny Vintage

@Angpang said...

These are wonderful. I love vintage and halloween so this is a great find for me. Think the Arabian Nights ones appeal most.

Casey said...

Your spider web costume is going to be so cute!!! :) I can't wait to see the results.

I generally haven't done much for Halloween the past few years, although this is mostly due to the fact that I hate how tacky the whole thing has gotten. Like you, I am much more drawn to the aesthetic of the 20s Halloween decorations/costumes--there is just something so adorable and quaint about them. ;) I really love the Magpie and Valentine costumes in these pictures--so cute! If only I had some place to wear a costume this year... ;)

♥ Casey | blog

Victoria / Justice Pirate said...

oh my gosh, these are so so cute. I especially would love to wear the buccaneer ones, season of spring, moth or butterfly, the one under that which I can't see what it is because it is cut off, and the spirit of st. louis is just so adorable.

Anonymous said...

The Seasons page is lovely! I'm beyond the dressing up phase as all my energy now goes into costuming the little one!

Jennilee said...

Those are all spectacular costumes!

In the grand scheme of things, Halloween is one of my least favorite holidays.

I'm sure you will, but you must post pictures! I'm sure you will be fabulous!

Cedar said...

That magpie costume is fantastic! I have no plans to dress for Halloween this year, but maybe I will save the idea for next year.

Jenni said...

These pictures are amazing! I love the Peter Pan costumes. You'll make a great spiderweb!

hannah, heart city said...

i just love these! the spider web girls <3! and i was peter pan for halloween as a kid, my mom made the costume, it was pretty cute. i think i know what i'm going to be this year, but i want to keep it a surprise!

Autumn Luciano said...

I LOVE 1920s halloween stuff. I've actually been planning on doing something similar this year. Something black with cut out pumpkins and other creatures on it. Not sure how it will turn out yet, but I am very excited about it! Good luck with yours, can't wait to see it.

Alejandra Ramos said...

Oh my gosh!! I am SO in love with those costumes and this post. I always love to go vintage with my Halloween costumes...these are incredible.

Lainie said...

Great finds, and i love the spiderweb costume idea! I have always loved Halloween-and spend hours finding items to make up my costumes. I have a trunk full of items that i've amassed over the years to put together costumes-i would NEVER buy any of the junk that was out there now! So much more fun to be different (haha)

Anonymous said...

I am a terribly lame halloween dresser. I usually go for creepy rather than elaborate. Only one time in secondary school I was the only girl not a princess, (I dream of) Jeannie or Madonna (LOL, triangular bee stings!). Instead I stuffed lots of pillows under my clothes and wore a sash proclaiming me "world's best cake eater"

As soon as I saw them those spider girls were my favourite :) Can't wait to see your rendition!

Sarah said...

I love the Spirit of St. Louis. Guess it was the Lady Gaga/Sarah Palin/Kate Gosselin costume of its day.

alabee said...

THANK YOU! i now know what im going to be for halloween! the lovely little peacock girl in the secind picture :) cant wait to see your costume!

Zohar said...

OH MY GOODNESS! Those are so beautiful! Especially the seasons and and the animals. And I love how it's all made in two hours (as if :) ) very inspirational.

Flossy and Dossy said...

I love these!! thanks so much for posting them.

Georgia Kent said...

I totally agree with you about the store costumes... they suck! I am so enthralled with the standard fashions of the 30s, 40s and 50s that I never even thought to look at what they wore for halloween. You've found some very neat stuff... I look forward to seeing the finished product:) BTW I read your blog everyday...its fabulous!

Sarah with an "h" said...

This is so cool! I know what you mean about the cheap, skanky, packaged up costumes. It's rather disappointing. Halloween used to be different--more creative, more innocent...

But these are awesome. I love all of the ones in the Arabian Nights set and the summer costume in the Seasons set. Very cool. :) And the spider web costume is totally cool. Very imaginitive. :P I'm sure yours will look amazing.

:o)Sarah
www.restlessromantic.blogspot.com

Justyna said...

these are so incredibly fabulous! love these ideas, so inspiring!

bisous!

Justyna

Barbara von Enger said...

How charming and full of history this post is too. I would so enjoy wearing the Buccaneer piece;-)

Desiree said...

these are charming! i love the spirit of st. louis!

my costume will be vintage-inspired. im really excited.

C said...

I love these images! It's so hard to find photos of costumes in the 20's but these are awesome! Also I commented on the comment you left on my blog :)

Unknown said...

love it- fast food clothing/costumes! very accurate

Andi B. Goode said...

Thanks for sharing these! They're great. I don't get over-excited about Halloween though I do like it but I guess it's really just not that big in Australia. I think I'm going as Little Lulu - I usually like to be spooky but I can't think of anything else this year. Hehe.
-Andi x

Unknown said...

Oh, darling, this post is amazing! I really enjoy looking at the old pix and suggested ideas for Halloween.:-))) I can nt wait to see what you will choose for your vry fabulous self!:-)))

classiquenouveau said...

you are really queen of American vintage

Watkins35 said...

wow, these are all gorgeous, thanks for sharing such a fascinating glimpse. x

iamronel said...

those are crazy loved it

ronelmarin.net said...

awesome darling

Bionica said...

you've got a cool style
I think that the web costume
will be very interesting and totally original

-Bionica

the fabled needle (jen) said...

i can only imagine how much fun a 1920s costume party was! i love the spiderweb idea.