The Thirties...Fashion and Costume Jewelry...Part 1

The thirties brought glamour and glitz! Tight clinging satin evening gowns worn seductively by Hollywood stars. In Paris, Vionnet became the "architect among dressmakers." Vogue featured Schiaparelli in 1933 whose padded squared-off shoulder styles were daring. Her designs were hits with Anita Loos, Marlene Dietrich, Gloria Swanson, and Lauren Bacall. In Hollywood, Greta Garbo's slouch hat, Katherine Hepburn's loose trousers, Joan Crawford's ankle-strap shoes, and Marlene Dietrich's men's attire influenced fashion all over the world.



Costume jewelry became very popular during the depression. Designers of precious metal jewelry turned to costume jewelry for economic reasons. Materials like plastics, glass, imitation stones, ceramics, enamels, shells, wood, and leather were used to create unique pieces. Miriam Haskell's ultra-feminine designs and Schiaparelli's whimsical creations were popular as well as rhinestone and plastic jewelry from the local five-and-dime. Large rhinestone pins, brooches, and clips were created to accessorize Eisenberg & Sons dresses, which became more popular than the dresses themselves. Hobe used semiprecious stones and sterling silver in floral and Asian motifs. Alfred Philippe the well-known European jewelry designer joined Trifari and created "real-looking" costume jewelry.

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