What Accessories to Wear with the Perfect 1920s Wedding Dress

You’ve found your perfect 1920s wedding dress. It’s in the perfect shade of ivory, matches your style perfectly, and flatters your height, so you look like a 1920s sassy girl.

All that’s left now is to accessorize this dress, and your wedding wardrobe is complete. But where to begin?

In the 1920s, flapper girls were known for their attention to fashion, with a hint of rebellion thrown in. But as someone who was very much not born in the 1920s, it isn’t easy to get the details right.

Yet, it doesn’t take much to accomplish that look. Here are some accessories that should suit your style well. Pick and choose the ones you want, and pair them with your 1920s themed dress. All of the options below are authentic and chosen to fit your ideal style of a perfect wedding look!

Which Accessories Should You Wear with a 1920s Wedding Dress?

·       Coats/Blazers

In the first half, coats known as collegiate coats would mimic men’s wool coats and be straight cut, double-breasted.

In the latter half of the 1920s, these coats started to change in style. Most coats were designed with deep V-necks and would typically be knee-length. Designers would make these coats a little thinner and with tapered hems. You could find any color you needed and patterns if that struck your fancy.

However, if women needed coverage in the summer, that’s when they would whip out the summer blazers or the spring cape. Capes, blazers, and coats had become a standard wedding accessory by then, especially among wedding parties who’d host weddings outdoors. So you’d find almost any style imaginable.

If you’re getting married in the winter, coats with fur trims or fur shawl collars are a perfect choice. If you’re getting married in the summertime and love a little drama in your attire, a spring cape offers the perfect choice. Otherwise, a blazer gives a nice touch.

·       Bridal Hats or Headpieces

You can always judge a person’s style by the hat they wear, and no one knew that better than women in the 1920s. Hats were the ultimate accessory mainly because you could wear them however you wanted, and they would still look cute and unique on you.

Vintage 1920s were in a separate league of beauty. They were made using bows, silk flowers, embroidery, applique, straw, and felt. You could wear them at a jaunty angle, at the side, on a bun, or coordinate the style with your outfit by only holding it and not wearing it.

Hats would give your outfit a new look. However, headpieces would add that perfect sparkle and dramatic flair. Feathers, diamantes, brooches, ribbons—you’d find so many headbands, combs, headpieces, each more beautiful than the next.

So, with headwear, you get to make a choice. If you want something simple but pretty, hats are the way to go. But if you want to make a splash, headpieces are the option to go with here.

·       Jewelry

The 1920s were all about style, glitz, and glamour. In terms of jewelry, though, you’d be surprised to know that the idea wasn’t to go overboard with the sparkle.

Balance was the name of the game. We already know that colors in the 1920s—especially for wedding attire—were limited to pastels and whites. To match that look, jewelry that was most in fashion was limited to pearls and diamonds.

Even in The Great Gatsby, pearls and glitzy statement jewelry completed the look. So, for your wedding accessories, choose pearls as your main addition. You can also go with a vibrantly colored necklace, earrings, or a headpiece. But it also comes down to creating a sense of balance with your look. If you have a vibrantly colored hat to go with your dress, choose minimalist jewelry that catches the eye.

Statement jewelry is only a good choice if your dress is without color and far too simple. Dangly earrings in black, pearl drop earrings, art deco earrings are just some of the jewelry pieces you can use to create the perfect wedding look.

·       Shoes

Colors in wedding shoes were limited to white, silver, ivory, and gold. You could wear T-strap shoes, flats, or Mary Jane heels.

However, unlike the simple flats and Mary Jane shoes that we have nowadays, wedding shoes in the 1920s would have a different look. These shoes were decorated with plenty of bling, such as sequins, beads, rhinestones, and more.

Some designers would also use ribbons, different types of leather, glitter, pearls, and crystals to create gorgeous shoes that were not only fabulous but colorful and comfortable too. Wedding shoes would also feature buckles and various designs. Some who could afford it would also get their shoes customized to match their dresses perfectly. But that doesn’t mean you have to do the same too.

In present times, the best way to match shoes with your dress is to find flats and kitten heels that match your dress’s color or style. You can find such options at Wardrobe Shop, but we recommend ordering them well before the wedding. Unlike all the previous options, shoes take some time to get used to.

Even if they’re flats, you shouldn’t have to walk around with a foot ache on your wedding day.

·       Purses and Clutches

The purpose of a purse in the 1920s was not as it is today, i.e., to hold everything but the kitchen sink.

A 1920s purse, handbag, or shoulder bag would hold a small compact, house keys, coins, and perhaps a tube of lipstick. However, with wedding purses, you weren’t meant to hold anything much at all. Wedding purses and clutches were treated more as accessories than anything handy.

These were often glitzy, small, and made with silver mesh or beads. Nickel silver, brass, sterling silver, steel, and gunmetal were used to make the bag’s frame. In terms of design, you’d find purses made with fabrics, embroidered silks, felt, linen, suede, embossed leather, and woven tapestries with a hint of art deco style.

Clutch purses were also popular with wedding wear and would often come with matching gloves, which you would store in your purse when not in use.

Purses would often complete the look, especially if the ensemble would only use one color. So, for your attire, use a beaded bag or clutch to create a softer look. Buy a vintage reticule, or find a clutch that doesn’t carry an overwhelmingly complex design. And use a metal that matches the metal and tone of your jewelry. You don’t want anything to be off-tone.

Coming Up with a 1920s Wedding Look

Considering the era we’re in, understand that your look won’t match your exact expectations of what a 1920s wedding look is unless you can find genuinely authentic items. But this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try your best.

Today, many fashion items take inspiration from the designs and styles we followed before, so do your best to search for the accessories you need for your wedding day look. Or make it easy for yourself and search at Wardrobe Shop if you want a reliable source.

This will not only decrease your search time, but it’ll also help you find authentic style accessories that will add that oomph to your wedding wardrobe that you’d been looking for.

Final Thoughts

Thinking about fashion in the roaring 20s, you could say that it was all about having fun and letting loose style. Whether in the office space or at weddings, the idea was to be happy with yourself and look as you want.

Follow that mantra, and design a 1920s wedding look that inspires you to look the happiest you can for your special day!