by Catherine Garvin
Northwest Fashionistas, like Hollywood Glamouristas, love to dress like their favorite character in a movie or novel.
This year, the vintage 1920s Art Deco period is all the rage on fashion runways around the world, including Milan, Paris, London and New York.
Art Deco – a worldwide art, architectural and fashion influence – also brought us writer F. Scott Fitzgerald and his classic American novel The Great Gatsby.
Hollywood is about to release the 2012 film version of The Great Gatsby, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan. The 1974 legendary classic starred Robert Redford and Mia Farrow.
Pacific Northwest style stars can dazzle their way around town in this 1920s vintage style.
Let’s get started.
Where can you find it? Vintage shops can be found almost anywhere these days. My two favorites are the Xtabay Vintage Clothing Boutique on Clinton and Living Threads Boutique on Taylor.
How do you get the look of the mysterious bootlegging millionaire and sophisticated romantic Jay Gatsby? You will need slicked-back hair, high-waisted pants, shawl collar cardigans in emerald, a double-breasted version of the three-piece suit, personalized monogrammed shirts, collar bars, a newsboy cap, a fedora, a straw hat and retro swimmers.
How do you dress like Daisy Buchanan, the tragic wealthy housewife from Kentucky now living in East Egg, Long Island? You will need a ’20s short bob hairstyle, drop waist beaded dress, cloche, fascinators, beaded headpieces, sheer pastel flowy chiffon fabrics, flowery scarves, stockings, long strands of pearls and Mary Jane shoes.
Ready, set, action: Now that we’re dressed the part, let’s jump into our vintage yellow Rolls Royce or blue convertible coupe and cruise the waterfront. What do you think?
Catherine Garvin, fashion writer and playwright, writes about national fashion, Portland style and Portland music for www.examiner.com. Her fashion video series, “How I Found Myself in Vogue,” recreates million-dollar-style for the ambitious woman who dresses to dazzle at home, work and play right from the closet.
