Art Deco Fashion & Dresses

Art Deco fashion is geometry, glamour and extraordinary elegance. Our Art Deco collection draws on the golden age of the 1920s and 1930s, with satin and georgette Art Deco dresses, bias-cut gowns, printed blouses and skirts. It's Art Deco clothing designed in-house and made in Yorkshire.

What is Art Deco fashion?

Art Deco was the design movement of the 1920s and 30s, named after the 1925 Paris exhibition of decorative arts. In fashion it meant clean lines, symmetry, geometric prints, metallic touches and luxurious fabrics. In the 1920s it showed up in drop-waisted dresses, beading and asymmetric panels. In the 1930s it moved into the fluid bias cut, with Art Deco motifs in the prints and trims.

What is an Art Deco style dress?

An Art Deco dress is any dress that takes its lines and decoration from the movement. That could be a 1920s gown with pin tucks, chevron panels and balloon sleeves, or a 1930s tea dress in a geometric deco print. Look for symmetry, sharp geometry, clever panelling and details such as diamante clasps and covered buttons. Our 1920s dresses lean into the flapper end of the look, our 1930s dresses into the bias-cut end, and our bias cut collection takes it furthest.

What are the Art Deco colours?

Black, gold and cream are the classics, together with jewel tones such as emerald, sapphire and rust. Metallic and contrast trims add the glamour. Our satins in gold, oyster and rust bring exactly that palette to an Art Deco outfit, and black-and-ivory is as deco as it gets.

Is the 1930s Art Deco or Art Nouveau?

Art Deco. Art Nouveau came earlier, at the turn of the twentieth century, with flowing, organic curves inspired by plants. Art Deco replaced it with straight lines and symmetry, and it dominated design through the 1920s and 1930s.

For an Art Deco outfit, add long beads, a cloche hat and T-bar shoes from the 1920s collection, or gloves, a tilted hat and a silk scarf from the 1930s collection. Find out more in our 1920s style guide and 1930s style guide, or read 1930s prints and why we love them so.