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Writer's pictureginaelisebradbury

Updated: May 18, 2023

A look at the significance and power of #1930sglamour


I've recently watched the second series of Netflix's 'Next In Fashion'. Both series are incredibly inspiring if you are a lover of creativity. In terms of originality, I think the person who deserved to win did (I won't say who because nobody likes spoilers). On a separate note, one thing that stood out to me is the 1930's influence evident in some of Bao Tranchi's designs. I'm a sucker for all things vintage glamour, but in my opinion 1930's style and glamour is unequalled.



Carole Lombard wearing a metallic, cinched waist dress in the 1930's.
Carole Lombard wearing a metallic, cinched waist dress in the 1930s. (susanapplegate.tumblr.com)

For me the most outstanding pieces in 1930's fashion are the Hollywood style, floor length gowns. Some key characteristics include the use of bias cut materials, cinched waistlines and #metallic materials including sequins, liquid satins and silks. 1930's cinched waistlines were at great odds with the looser fit of 1920's dresses a decade before. The 1920s saw women make a stance against repression with sartorial changes including bobbed hair, and dresses with a looser fit and higher hem line. The loose fit of 1920's dresses can be seen as a rebellion against the corset. Therefore, the return of cinched waistlines in the 1930s can be seen as an embracing of the feminine shape, but without the restriction and pain of the corset. For me, 1930's dresses exude a sense of power; the sense of a woman saying, 'Yes this is my shape. It's natural, it's beautiful just the way it is and I'm not afraid to show it.'







American actress Grace La Rue wearing a corset in 1900.
American actress Grace La Rue wearing a corset in 1900. (susanaaikin.org)

A mid 1920's dress with the typically loose-fitting shape of the era.
A mid 1920's dress with the typically loose-fitting shape of the era. (augusta-auction.com)

The original platium blonde, Jean Harlow, wearing a gown with frills in the 1930's.
The original platinum-blonde, Jean Harlow, wearing a gown with ruffles in the 1930s. (marieclaire.com)

Whilst dresses of the 1920s were beautiful, rebellious and groundbreaking, 1930's dresses typically included more details. Some examples of these many details are puffed sleeves, ruffles, flounces, bows, trains, cowl necklines, backless designs, trims and frills. I love the ruffles on this dress worn by Jean Harlow (image shown on the left). Jean Harlow really personifies 1930's fashion; she didn't hold back and wasn't too afraid to look striking. Her platinum hair is an example of her daring style. The term 'platinum-blonde' was actually created in reference to Jean Harlow and it has been reported that she went through a painful process weekly to achieve her never-before-done look. (Taylor Orci. theatlantic.com, 2013) Her hair stylist reportedly mixed Clorox bleach with ammonia to dye her hair with. A process that will have caused the breathing in of fumes, and may even have contributed to her tragic death from acute kidney failure at the young age of 26. (Taylor Orci. theatlantic.com, 2013)


Some of my other favourite style icons of the 1930s include the actresses Joan Crawford, Anna May Wong, Dolores Del Rio, Carol Lombard, Ginger Rogers and Greta Garbo.


An absolutely stunning still of Joan Crawford wearing a dramatic monochrome Adrian gown in the 1932 movie ' Letty Lynton'.
An absolutely stunning still of Joan Crawford wearing a dramatic monochrome Adrian gown in the 1932 movie 'Letty Lynton'. (irenebrination.com)

Dolores Del Rio in the 1930's wearing a gown designed by Orry-Kelly.
Dolores Del Rio in the 1930s wearing a glittering gown designed by Orry-Kelly. (hometownstohollywood.com)

Anna May Wong pictured in 1938 for the movie 'Dangerous to Know' wearing a tight fitting dress designed by Edith Head. The dress has a bold print, hood and long matching scarf that can be worn around the waist or neck.
Anna May Wong pictured in 1938 for the movie 'Dangerous to Know'. She is wearing a tight-fitting dress designed by Edith Head. The dress has a bold print, hood, and long matching scarf that can be worn around the waist or neck. (twixnmix.tumblr.com)

A 1931 still of Greta Garbo wearing a silk gown with a cowl neck in the movie  'Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise)'
A 1931 still of Greta Garbo wearing a silk gown with a cowl neck in the movie 'Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise)'. (fineartamerica.com)

The pairing of elegant, dramatic capes with dresses was popular in 1930's Hollywood style. The below image shows an example of style icon Ginger Rogers wearing a large, silky cape that almost mimics a pair of wings. The use of silky material and dramatic lighting in black and white photography creates a glowing effect and it looks incredibly beautiful. The greater the amount of metallic and/or silky material the greater the effect. In the picture below, Rogers looks glowing and angelic.


Ginger Rogers wearing a dramatic cape in the 1930's.
Ginger Rogers wearing a dramatic cape and gown combo in the 1930s. (marieclaire.com)

Another incredible image of Rogers wearing a metallic dress and cape combo in the 1935 movie Roberta.
Another incredible image of Rogers wearing a metallic dress and cape combo in the 1935 movie 'Roberta'. I always wonder with black and white images of a metallic dress if it was silver or gold. The fringing on this dress almost looks like dripping gold. (whatcindywrotenext.wordpress.com)

Another iconic gown worn by Ginger Rogers is the one adorned with ostrich feathers in the 1935 movie 'Top Hat'. I don't personally like that real ostrich feathers were used to make this dress but the design is exquisite. The dress was designed by the costume designer Bernard Newman. Rogers wears the dress during a romantic dance sequence to the song 'Cheek to Cheek'. The sequence is definitely worth watching on YouTube to see the beautiful dancing, but also to admire the flowing movement of the gown. This particular dress famously caused a rift between Rogers and her dancing partner Fred Astaire. Always a perfectionist, during filming, Astaire was concerned that the light-coloured feathers were floating from the dress and onto his smart, dark suit. He later described the incident as being like "a chicken being attacked by a coyote". (Laurie Brookins. screenchic.com, 2020) Knowing how beautifully the material moved, Rogers showed strength and refused to change her outfit for the scene. When discussing the fact that no one on set took her side during the disagreement she stated:


“That was all right with me. I’d had to stand alone before. At least my mother was there to support me in the confrontation with the entire front office, plus Fred Astaire and Mark Sandrich. My 105 pounds couldn’t have gotten me through the first round without her.” (Laurie Brookins. screenchic.com, 2020)


The resulting strain in Roger and Astaire's relationship didn't last long. He went on to give her the nickname 'Feathers', and to buy her gifts engraved with the moniker. (screenchic.com, 2020) I always imagined it to be a white dress, but apparently it's actually blue. (screenchic.com, 2020) I would love to see a colour photograph of it or see it in person if it's ever included in an exhibition.


Ginger Rogers in her famous 'Top Hat' feather dress designed by Bernard Newman.
Ginger Rogers in her famous 'Top Hat' feather dress designed by Bernard Newman. (screenchic.com)

In the 21st century, #1930sglamour still has a strong presence in fashion. One style icon who has repeatedly been photographed wearing 1930's style gowns is Kate Moss. Other contemporary stars who have been photographed in 1930's influenced dresses include Charlize Theron, Sienna Miller, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Margot Robbie, Katie Holmes and Julianne Moore.


Kate Moss wearing a vintage 1930's influenced Dior gown at 'The Golden Age of Couture' exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum.
Kate Moss in 2007 wearing a vintage 1930's influenced Dior gown at 'The Golden Age of Couture' exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum. (www.vogue.co.uk)

Kate Moss in 2014 wearing silver dress and cape.
Kate Moss in 2014 wearing a silver dress and cape. (zimbio.com)



Margot Robbie wearing a backless silk dress at the premier for 'I Tonya' in 2018.
Margot Robbie wearing a backless silk dress at the premier for 'I Tonya' in 2018. (fashionista.com)

Julianne Moore wearing a metallic gown with a cinched waist and matching cape at the 2022  Venice Film Festival.
Julianne Moore wearing an incredible metallic gown with a matching cape at the 2022 Venice Film Festival. The sheer material adds a modern touch to the design. (en.vogue.me)

Below are some images of 1930's inspired dresses available today that I would love to own. Let me know in the comments which gowns shared in the blog are your favourites and if you do/don't agree with me about the 1930s being the most glamorous decade.







Just for fun, I've added some accessories below that I would style with a 1930's inspired dress:







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Writer's pictureginaelisebradbury

Updated: Apr 23, 2023

Pearls are timeless, but which type should you buy and why?



Our obsession with pearls has lasted for millennia. In ancient Greek mythology, pearls were said to be tears of joy cried by Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. It has been reported that the first evidence of pearl hunting, found near the Indian Ocean, dates back to around 5000 BC. (bbc.com, 2021)


A painting of Venus/Aphrodite by Sandro Botticelli 1482.
'The Birth of Venus' (Aphrodite's Latin counterpart) by Sandro Botticelli. Painted in 1482. (singulart.com)

Whilst popular through the ages, celebrities like Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe and Jackie Kennedy brought pearls into the limelight in the 1950s and 1960s. Jackie Kennedy wore pearls on a regular basis and is reported to have said, "Pearls are always appropriate". (thepearlsource.com, 2021) Being an elegant First Lady, she cemented the view of pearls as a sophisticated accessory.


Jackie Kennedy wearing a pearl necklace and bright Barbie pink in the 1960's.
Jackie wearing her signature pearls in the 1960s. (Cove.tt)

Pearls are still very much in fashion, and have been worn in recent years by celebrities including Rihanna, Sienna Miller, Harry Styles, Gigi Hadid, Billie Eilish and Dua Lipa.


Dua Lipa at the Brit Awards in 2021 wearing a faux pearl necklace by Vivienne Westwood.
Dua Lipa at the Brit Awards in 2021 wearing a faux pearl necklace by Vivienne Westwood. (scmp.com)

In terms of modern day options, we are spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing which pearls to buy. There are faux/imitation pearls, cultured pearls and natural pearls to choose from.


Faux/imitation pearls, which have been made for centuries, are often made by coating glass beads with a mixture of varnish and fish scales. They can also be made with plastic or by coating glass beads with a mineral called mica. Faux pearls are an affordable and pretty option. However, due to having a perfect roundness they look less natural than other options. The coating may also chip with time. Although, I must admit that the faux pearl necklace I bought from Claire's Accessories as a teenager is still in very good condition. It would seem that Jackie Kennedy was happy to wear imitation pearls, and she is reported to have owned a necklace that cost only $35 when originally bought in the 1950s. The necklace is reported to have eventually sold for $212,000 at an auction in 1996. (medium.com, 2019) I really like the faux pearl double necklace option, shown below, by Zara.




Cultured pearls were first created in 1893 by Kokichi Mikimoto. Before 1893, real pearls were incredibly rare as natural pearls form in only one of ten thousand oysters. Mikimoto's creation of cultured pearls made 'real' pearls far more widely available. He even stated, "My dream is to adorn the necks of all women around the world with pearls." Cultured pearls are created, with human intervention, by imitating the way in which a natural pearl forms. According to Natural History Museum, "Pearls are made by marine oysters and freshwater mussels as a natural defence against an irritant such as a parasite entering their shell or damage to their fragile body. The oyster or mussel slowly secretes layers of aragonite and conchiolin, materials that also make up its shell." To create cultured pearls the initial irritant is usually created by a farmer inserting a tiny, man-made bead into the shell. This kicks-off the same process of self preservation, and the creation of a pearl. Cultured pearls are also often referred to as freshwater pearls or saltwater pearls. Saltwater pearls cost more than freshwater pearls. This is because with saltwater pearls an oyster will only create one pearl and with freshwater pearls an oyster will create up to thirty at a time.


Cultured pearls have received backlash by a number of sources since their inception. In 1921, it was claimed by a London newspaper that cultured pearls are purely imitations and should not be referred to as pearls. However, this sparked a court case, referred to as 'the Paris trial', in which Mikimoto eventually won the right to sell his creations as pearls. This court case also created a worldwide reputation for Mikimoto, a company that is still strong today. Whist cultured pearls often supply an affordable option, Mikimoto pieces range in price from a few hundred pounds to over ten thousand pounds. This is due to their high reputation, exquisite design and use of high quality materials such as 18k gold and high quality diamonds. The Mikimoto earrings shown below are made with diamonds and 18k white gold. They are priced at a whopping £14,300.




In the 21st century, cultured pearls have become part of a very different debate. Whilst they are attractive, varied in style and affordable, pearls have been deemed by PETA as an exploitation of oysters. They warn that buyers should, "think twice before wearing pearls", and argue that the culturing of pearls is a cruel act:


"Having their protective shells pried open by humans is a presumably frightening and painful experience." (PETA, 2022)


For me this raises the question of whether or not an oyster can feel pain as surely an oyster is a creature that doesn't have sentience? PETA even refer to this question themselves:


"While we don’t yet know whether bivalves can feel pain in the same way we do, we can observe that oysters snap their shells tightly shut when they’re disturbed by touch or even when they sense loud noises. Their response indicates an understanding of the potential danger if their shell is pried open, especially since the process commonly results in the death of half the oysters." (PETA, 2022)


I feel a great amount of respect for PETA as an organisation. I greatly admire their stance on the vast majority of animal welfare issues. I also feel that the fashion industry is one of many industries who should deeply consider the views of PETA and adjust their practices accordingly. One example of this being PETA's stance on the fur industry. However, I don't personally view the culturing of pearls as a cruel practice as I don't imagine that oysters feel pain. I sometimes wear a small pink, cultured pearl necklace and I even have some of these necklaces for sale in my Depop shop. However, I do appreciate that we should always consider the source of a product and decide if its creation aligns with our beliefs and values. I therefore appreciate that PETA spread awareness about the source of particular goods within the fashion industry. Imitation pearls are a better, affordable option if you don't like the way in which cultured pearls are created. It's also worth noting that PETA warn against buying imitation pearls made with fish scales as they aren't vegan and recommend plastic and glass pearls instead.



Marilyn Monroe owned a Mikimoto cultured pearl necklace. It was given to her by Joe DiMaggio during their ten day Japanese honeymoon in 1954. Marilyn famously sang the line "Diamonds are a girls best friend", but apparently this pearl necklace was one of her most loved and cherished treasures. Marilyn's pearl necklace has been shown in exhibitions worldwide, and was even reported to be in a Mikimoto exhibition in 2010. (professionaljeweller.com, 2010)


Marilyn Monroe wearing her Mikimoto pearl necklace in the 1950's.
Marilyn wearing her Mikimoto pearls in the 1950s. (karipearls.com)



Finally, let's look at natural pearls. Their rarity makes them highly valuable, and sought after by those who can afford them. Naturally formed pearls tend to have a more irregular shape like the famous Hope Pearl. The Hope Pearl is said to have once belonged to King Louis XIV of France in the 17th century. (winterson.co.uk, 2019)


The famous Hope Pearl once owned by King Louis XIV
The famous Hope Pearl once owned by King Louis XIV. (winterson.co.uk)

Elizabeth Taylor famously owned La Peregrina Pearl. Whilst natural, the pearl has a beautifully formed pear shape. The necklace was previously owned by European dynasties, and depicted by famous painters including Peter Paul Rubens.


"Wealth, beauty and spiritual purity: these were all the associated qualities of pearls when La Peregrina – the largest example yet seen – was discovered in the Gulf of Panama in the late 1500s." (BBC.com, 2021)



Elizabeth Taylor wearing La Peregrina pearl necklace.
Image of Elizabeth Taylor wearing La Peregrina. (El Espanol)

Whichever type of pearls you choose to buy there are beautiful options available. Below are some more pictures of my favourite pearl jewellery pieces available today. Let me know what your stance is on the PETA imitation pearl debate and which type of pearls you like to wear in the comments. Also, which of the pearl jewellery items that I have shared do you like the most?








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