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."

Adrienne Ames, 1930s

Adrienne Ames, 1930s, originally uploaded by Gatochy.

Click image for 766 x 1117 size.

"Low-backed, white evening dresses were used to show off a deep tan. Film star Adrienne Ames wears a classically draped back, which could possibly have been designed by Madeleine Vionnet or Alix Barton (later known as Madame Grès). Almost sci-fi style wide sleeves made the column dresses worn for evening look slimmer and longer."

Scanned from the book "Decades of Fashion".

1927 Vanity Fair

1927 Vanity Fair, originally uploaded by myvintagevogue.

Jule Andre wearing a black velvet dress by Vionnet, hat by Reboux jewelry by Charlton.

Irene Castle, 1922

Irene Castle, 1922, originally uploaded by Gatochy.

"Classical drapery would be taken up again as a trend in the 1930s by Madeleine Vionnet. Dancer Irene Castle poses in a classical-style dress, 1922."

Scanned from the book "Decades of Fashion".

Click image for 968 x 1123 size.