Fashion in the Time of the Great Gatsby

Reviewed by Gayle MacGregor – Sewing Machine Girl

Fashion in the Time of the Great Gatsby
By LaLonnie Lehman
(Shire Library, ISBN: 978-0-74781-299-9)

Fashion in The Time of The Great Gatsby, aims to explore 1920s fashion in America as seen through the world of Gatsby’s author- F. Scott Fitzgerald.

The book touches on the changes to society and the consumerism that influenced 20s fashion, from emancipation to both men and women embracing leisure pursuits, sports, jazz music, dancing, silent film and automobiles.

The strength of this book lies in the detail. Every conceivable topic on fashion is covered including women’s day wear, sports wear, evening wear, lounge wear and hosiery to all aspects of menswear including formal wear. A chapter on children’s wear and men’s and women’s accessories is also included.

Richly illustrated, with some extant examples of clothing from the period, along with colour and black and white fashion illustrations.

Written in a dry but informative style, with particular attention to fabrics, the cut of clothes, and the construction techniques used, this book will be of particular interest to costume designers and costume professionals for film and theatre, along with fashion students.

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