Little black dresses, 1920s

Little black dresses, 1920s, originally uploaded by Gatochy.

Click image for 972 x 968 size. Scanned from "Decades of Fashion" by Harriet Worsley.

From the book: "The little black dress was made fashionable by Coco Chanel and Edward Molyneux and was promoted by American Vogue in 1926. Black dresses had not previously been fashionable for society women, unless they were in mourning. For one thing, they made a good base from which to show accessories. A velvet dress by the House of Jenny (above, left), another dress by Jenny showing off a tasselled lipstick holder (above, centre), and a dress by Madeleine Vionnet (above, right) with signature scalloped panels."

Noel Coward's play Private Lives, September 1930

Click image for 1490 x 1122 size.

"Laurence Olivier, Adrienne Allen, Noel Coward and Gertrude Lawrence in a scene from Coward's play Private Lives, September 1930. Critics and theatregowers were shocked by Coward's and Lawrence's animated portrayal of a rowing couple who physically fought on stage. Lawrence was renowened for her trouser suits in this production designed by Edward Molyneux."

Scanned from "Decades of Fashion" by Harriet Worsley.