“There is a huge
element of escapism
that goes beyond
the fashion”“I was fortunate to grow up with a very
stylish grandmother, who was a true child of
the ’20s. When bobbed hair came in, she
was the first in town to get it done – the Eton
Crop was the most boyish style there was!
Her stories connected me with the social
history behind the looks of the flapper girls.
My first piece of ’20s fashion was a
lustrous teal velvet jacket. I fell in love on
the spot – the vibrancy and feel was out of
this world. Fashion is as evocative as music- one piece ignites your imagination.
The ’20s community is a really warm
and inclusive group, and for me there is a
huge element of escapism that goes beyond
the fashion. I love to pour myself a cocktail
in a crystal glass while sitting amongst
period artwork in my kimono. On my morn-
ing commute, I’ll live stream ’20s music.
On my blog, Jazz, Gin and the Cat’s
Meow, I stress that I’d adore to visit the ’20s
and party at The Cotton Club, but I wouldn’t
want to live there – my ethos is ‘vintage
style not vintage values.’
You can point to exceptional women,
such as female aviators, but there were huge
limits as to how far women could progress
[in the ’20s]. Today, we can adore the
aesthetic style, music and literature of the
time, yet not be beholden to its social
customs. We can choose the magic, vibrancy
and joy instead.”
INGER SHEIL, 45, PROJECT OFFICER,
NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM’20s