Tendances Pop

15 reasons for embracing the 20s attitude

The Roaring Twenties are back in style, so get out there and have fun!

• - To listen to Duke Ellington and his Cotton Club; lively, bewitching tunes that cheer you up in the morning and get you swinging in the evening.
• - To dance your feet off without suffering… in the comfort of your Salomé shoes. These emblematic shoes were designed for dancing!
• - Because it sure is easier to dance the Charleston than the Tecktonik.
• - To savor a contemporary lunch (while people watching) in the Art Deco setting of Paris’ Relais Plaza on Avenue Montaigne.
• - To wear unique, vintage dresses.
• - To act like an unconventional flapper by sporting trousers during the day, then play the “femme fatale” in a sequined evening gown.
• - To have fun trying to popularize bring back feather boas.
• - Because flapper beads make you look taller and more slender.
• - To add a touch of mystery by donning a hat, or even a ravishing turban, and pretend you couldn’t possibly go out “wearing your hair”!
• - To get a kick out of treating yourself to a delectable substitute for smoking in public places: a holder fitted with a fake cigarette!
• - To imagine yourself as one of Jules Renard’s muses or an actress flamboyantunder the guidance of the charming Sacha Guitry
• - To party all night long and dance until dawn…
• - To indulge in fine dining at Bofinger’s, under the resplendent stained-glass ceiling of Paris’ oldest brasserie, with its original twenties’ decor.
• - Because low-waist dresses are flattering for all figure types.
• - Because, more than a style, it’s an attitude: infectious joy and energy.

Le Relais du Plaza Athénée, 21 avenue Montaigne, 75008 Paris, France +33 1 53 67 64 00

Bofinger 5-7 rue de la Bastille, 75004 Paris, France +33 1 42 72 87 82

Salomé dance shoes made to measure, MENKES 12 rue Rambuteau 75003 Paris, France +33 1 40 27 91 81

Duke Ellington A Night At The Cotton Club

Le Journal de Jules Renard (The Journal of Jules Renard), la Pléiade

Who wouldn't love to party with the "flappers" of the Roaring Twenties? Women's roles were changing as was their clothing. Women went from wearing corsets to slinky dresses, had short bob haircuts like Louise Brooks and started wearing make-up freely. Prohibition did not stop the party people and so came rise of the speakeasy where a false facade store would lead to a secret bar and drinks were often served in tea & coffee cups! Can you imagine it? Drinking and dancing in these secret clubs? The movie Some Like It Hot comes to mind where one drunken character is demanding "more coffee!" when he is really asking for more liquor. If you want to go back to this time of glamour and dynamism get yourself to The Back Room in NYC. The front looks just like a toy shop and they serve drinks in tea cups! address: 102 Norfolk St New York, NY 10002 photographer: Claudio Papapietro for ontheinside.com Thank you once again for contacting me with this opportunity! Yours Truly, Hanna Kim

Last winter, I had a great time trying to figure out the makeup I was seeing on women around town, which makeup they picked out of magazines, and how they give it a twist of their own before finally showing the world.

That’s when I noticed some striking trends of the “Roaring Twenties”: lipsticks from the deepest of reds to even flashy, bright reds; and dark, smoky eyes. The very look that we all try to reproduce using a ton of brushes and pencils, along with a magnifying mirror to avoid looking like a drowsy owl!

Although I have drawn a parallel between women of the twenties and women of today, i can only reflect on our big differences.

On the one hand, women of the twenties sought emancipation and proclaimed: “I am Woman, all the way through to my makeup!” at a time when makeup was considered improper. A dark, loud cry from the heart. Women mixed styles, outrageously, provocatively, and who, ultimately, were very confident.

On the other hand, today’s women lead their own lives, keep up with fashion, and learn to wear makeup from a very young age. No color is too outrageous, only something to play with.

And yet modern women don’t mix styles: smoky eyes go with nude lipstick to escape any misjudgement of character…

Ultimately, a “nice girl.” Well, almost!

The roaring twenties birthed a spirit of glamour and decadence not oft repeated since. Its ambiance was found in nearly every major American metropolis but none more so than New York City. The Bowery Hotel is a perfect example of this unique atmosphere.

The “Lost Generation” ran the streets with a thoughtful impertinence for the powers that be. Women shed Victorian rigidity, revealing their bodies and flaunting their femininity. Skinny dresses and chic haircuts drew attention away from the horrors of WWI and toward a liberated light at the end of a long, sober night.

New York City is once again a playground for a disenchanted generation. Each street and avenue is a path down the rabbit hole, a trip to whatever gets us through the night. Our stylistic rebellion opts for a more obvious sense of sexuality. Lush fabrics and precious metals conjure that roaring New York before it all came crashing down.

The customization idea, dreamed up for Longchamp, is an homage to the term Art Deco, coined during the pop-art period to describe the Roaring Twenties art trend.

What could be niftier than to take your favorite, brand-new bag and your darling beau with you, everywhere you go? And since you are proud of both of them, why not wear a customized version of each one? So here are a few, fast and easy steps, doable even for the not-so-crafty among us.

You don’t need to know how to sew, just how to use a utility knife and a paint brush.

Materials needed:

• - A photo of your darling (here, it’s my little sweetie, George)
• - Some white Dylon Shoe & Accessories Colour for leather
• - Some OHP transparencies
• - A can of repositionable spray adhesive

You’ll also need a printer and Adobe Photoshop™ (surely you have a graphic artist pal who can help you!), some newspaper, a utility knife and a cutting board.

What to do:

Step 1: Create a stencil

To create a stencil representing an effigy of your sweetheart, you’ll need a portrait photo. Open the picture with Photoshop, use the Image > Adjustments > Threshold function to get a black and white version of your photo. Play around with the cursor until you come up with a pattern you like. You might want to experiment with several shots.

Step 2: Print and cut out the stencil

Print your creation on ordinary paper to see what it looks like on the bag. When you are satisfied, print out the image on the transparency. Place the sheet on the cutting board and carefully cut out the stencil.

Step 3: Paint

Stuff your bag with newspaper until the surface where you want to place the stencil is flat and smooth. On the backside of the stencil, spray a little adhesive. Make sure you shake the can thoroughly to avoid getting thick residue on the stencil. Stick the stencil where you want it on your bag. Then follow Dylon Colour instructions to paint your leather bag: using the abrasive side of the slightly dampened pad, gently rub the surface being careful not to remove the stencil, then leave to dry. Apply thin coats of shoe color, allowing to dry between each coat until the white color is opaque. Carefully remove the stencil. Allow to dry overnight.

All you have to do now is wear it! Your girlfriends will be green with envy!