Guest post is provided by Cynthia Findlay Antiques, a dealer specializing in antique rings and collectables. Please visit the website for more information.
With the new film The Great Gatsby picking up enormous steam; you’ll be seeing more 1920’s fashion becoming a trend in the next few years. Mock jewelry can be found in many different fashion stores, but if you want the real antique rings to make your look more authentic, consider buying some of your jewelry from an antique shop. Antique shops appeal to both young people and to vintage collectors.
So just what makes a great accessory inspired from the roaring 20s? Costume jewelry was all the rage back then. The fun and flashy culture fueled the desire to wear expensive looking jewelry. However, although the economy post-WWI allowed for a higher standard of living, the use of plastics, platinum and non-precious stones like opal, coral, jade and onyx were more fashionable. Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli were considered the trendsetters of the era for vintage jewelry.
A string of pearls also works well with a 1920’s inspired outfit. When Howard Carter discovered Tutankhamen’s tomb in 1922, the artifacts inspired all of the Egyptian motifs you see in 1920s fashions. You will see prominent circles, arcs, squares, rectangles, triangles and other bold shapes that draw inspiration from the archeological finds. Jewelry was the centerpiece of 1920s fashion. Low cut necklines and shorter sleeves allowed women to show off their pearls and costume jewelry around their necks and wrists, whereas clothing beforehand during the Victorian era, for example, was designed to cover as much skin as possible. Estate jewelry from this era can be found at vintage antique stores.