Of all the Halloween costume ideas and themes there are, we think that the Roaring 20s is one of the best! What isn’t there to love?! The costumes are the bee’s knees: flapper-style dresses, gangster suits, beads, fringe, glitz and glam. What’s more, daddy-o, is that the 20s makes for a great party theme, too – all you need is a swingin’ jazz station on Spotify, a decadent Prohibition-era drink menu, and maybe some Charleston dancing lessons. While you’re busy planning your party, let us decide the most important part for you: the clothes. These 1920s outfits will help you look swell this October.
Flapper Dresses for Women
Let us give it to you straight, kitty cat. We love flapper dresses because they look amazing on anyone! The drop-waist, the fringe, and the sequins can make any Jane look like a real doll. As far as flapper accessories go, adding a strand of pearls and donning a classic bob wig are both absolute musts – we know you’ve always wanted to try the iconic hairdo, so why not test it out this Halloween? For inspiration, you HAVE TO watch these classic movies set in the Jazz Age. Chicago, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and The Great Gatsby are all must-sees to get the flapper fashion and the lingo down so you and your friends can have the perfect attitude and slang ready to match your Roaring 20s dresses.
Gangster and Great Gatsby Costumes for Men
Speaking of The Great Gatsby… dare we say that men’s fashion never looked as good as it did back in the 1920s? The 1920s clothing style was so slick for men – what looks sharper than a nicely tailored zoot suit, suspenders, a fedora, and, uhh, a tommy gun? While the Gatsby was the icon for all things sophistication and decadence in the 20s, another style reigned supreme: the gangster. Mob bosses and crime kingpins like Al Capone and John Dillinger ruled the streets and their 1920s outfits are so fun to recreate. Get that slang ready, though! You gotta talk the talk, big shot, if you wanna walk the walk.
1920s Outfits for the Whole Family
The family that executes an elaborately planned bank heist together stays together. Or at least, the family that plans an incredible group Halloween costume together stays together, right? If you can look past the criminality of it all, our 1920s outfits for kids are pretty dang adorable. Flapper-style dresses for girls can be dressed up with a fur stole, black tights, and lots of jewelry for an age-appropriate Halloween costume. If you promise your little gangster he can throw around fake money all night, it’ll be a lot easier to get them into a suit than it is for a wedding.
Gangster and Flapper Accessories
The devil is in the details, guys and dolls. If you want to look as authentic as possible when you go to your speakeasy party, these accessories will do the trick.
For ladies, to complete your flapper fashion outfit, be sure to grab the essentials: a fluffy feather boa, a long-as-your-body strand of white pearls, and some over-the-top glitzy jewelry. Load your fingers up with big rings, add a feather and jewels to your headband, and don’t forget about the cigarette holder! Any dame worth her dime has a snazzy cigarette holder always perched between her fingers.
Guys, your 1920s will be complete with the classics: a fedora that’s just the cat’s meow, some suspenders that make you look like a real bootlegger, and some shiny shoes to top off the whole look. No one will stand in your way when you’re in line for another glass of giggle juice when you have a tommy gun and a huge bag of dough at your side, either.
Now that we gave you the essentials, it’s up to you to get your 1920s outfits ready for Halloween! You can take inspiration from these 1920s costumes from the Prohibition Era and add your own touches for some Halloween costumes that’ll blow the socks off all the molls and dolls you see. Be sure to share any photos with us of your favorite gangster and flapper costumes you’ve worn in the past on our Facebook or Instagram. Let us know in the comments what you think!