The Great Gatsby Party: Costumes

Now this may be the most essential thing to make your party feel like a real Gatsby party. Fashion in the Roaring '20's was incredible, with people pulling out all the stops in an effort to look glamorous. If your guests show up to your party in jeans and tee-shirts, then everything else you did to try and create a Great Gatsby ambience will be wasted. The only was to get the full effect of a Jay Gatsby party is if all of your guests fully commit to the idea and pull out all the stops.

Don't you just wish you could dress like this everyday? Its all just so grand. The bow ties, the pocket squares, the suits, the lace, the accessories, the sparkle. 

When you watch the clip below, make sure you are keeping an eye out for the different fashions that the characters are wearing (you might get distracted by the fabulousness of it all, so its alright if you have to watch it a couple times).

Ladies

The goal is to get as luxurious and posh as possible. Ladies should try to find sleeveless dresses that have a waistline that hits at the hips and with a raised hem line. Sequins, beading, gems, tassels, ribbon, and fringe are all huge pluses. These can sometimes be found at thrift stores for a very reasonable price, or you can look at vintage shops or online at shops like etsy.com to find a higher quality and maybe even authentic dress. Pair it with a fur jacket, some high heels, and piles of accessories like jewelry, pearls, cloches, head scarves, head bands, jeweled clutches, and anything else that reminds you of the era.

I need this look

I need this look

I need this look

I need this headband

I need this necklace

I need these earrings

I need this fur stole

I need this cloche

Gentlemen

For men's costumes, all you need to do is channel Jay Gatsby, Tom Buchannan, or Nick Carroway. Try to look mysterious and dapper, and if you are using Jay Gatsby as your model, work on your smile.

"He had one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. It faced, or seemed to face, the whole external world for an instant and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor. It understood you just as far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself."

-The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald

Men of the jazz era looked sophisticated, so make sure you wear clothes that fit this description. You should try to find a fitted suit if you don't already have one. You can find one at a thrift store or a mens clothing shop, and if you can afford it go ahead a buy a nice one. A fitted suit will never go out of style. Also, find some two tone Brogues and wear a statement watch. Pocket squares, cuff links, bow ties, fedoras or newsboy caps, suspenders, and slicked back hair will complete your outfit. 

I need these shoes

I need these personalized Great Gatsby cufflinks

 I need this look

I need this look

I need this look

I need this look