Halloween Costume Ideas: How to Prepare a Flapper Costume

In the Roaring 20's was the Jazz Age. And in the Jazz Age was the rise of a "new breed of women", otherwise known as Flappers. These women challenged the protocol of their time while simultaneously reinventing a new image of the modern female. As described by American author, F. Scott Fitzgerald, the Flapper was viewed as attractive, reckless, yet independent. And with Halloween on the way, these historical characters provide a fun and subtly flirtatious costume idea. Furthermore the image is simple to put togetherand the overall product is just the outcome of being resourceful. So just as this costume is charming it is gracious on your wallet.

Hair:
One of the key characteristics of a Flapper is the short boyish hair that was defiant of the female protocol of the time. Now, if you have long hair, don't worry. You won't need to chop off all your hair to achieve this look. Just take a hair tie and put your hair up in a pony tail then style the hair at the side of your head so that from the front it will look like a bob cut. The excess hair in the ponytail can be rolled and tucked from underneath and secure with bobby pins. Here are videos that show more technical procedures but are essentially the similar and simple steps formerly mentioned: www.youtube.com/watch and www.youtube.com/watch.

Make up:
These new breeds of women showed a new found preference for the liberal usage of cosmetics. Therefore, the bare-there look won't do here. However, add a sophistication and sultriness to your make up by applying a classy smoky eye instead of outrageously heavy and concentrated bright colors. The key to a smoky eye is proper blending of three hues (one that is light, medium, and dark). First apply primer so that the eyelids are free from residue oils that would compromise the security of your eye make up. Next, line the eye lid from the inner corner of your eye and stroke outward. Apply the lightest shade of eye shadow just under the brow and on the brow bone to highlight your eyes. Then apply the medium toned hue across the lids and into the crease and make sure that a natural blending of the colors occurs. Use the darkest shade of hue to darken the outer corner of your eyes and blend the color with the hue found in the middle of the lid. Then finish it up with volumizing mascara to brighten up your eyes. Also keep in mind that having both defining eyes and lips can become visually heavy, so it is advised to keep the lips at a natural, rosy hue so that all the focus can lie on the eyes.

Attire:
The heart of the Flapper fashion ideology is simplicity. The colors, monochrome and simple. The cut, straight-lined and boyish. The hem line, relatively short and flashy. Despite its defeminizing nature (since it does everything but extenuate the female body) wearing the flapper dress does seem to complement a facet of womanhood. The dresses are typically sleeveless, about knee length, kept at one color, and some compromise of shredded tassels. The criteria of these kinds of dresses are met in so many places, so finding your flapper dress should not be as stressful or as expensive as your other Halloween costumes ideas. You can try places like Forever21 or even go through a fun search through a thrift store.

Accessories:
You can add a long string of pearls, which was popular among the flapper fashion. Classy black pumps would be perfect shoes for this ensemble; using dark pantyhose is an option. Also, you can wear a playful boa around your shoulders, wear arms length gloves, and don't be afraid to use playful headbands with gaudy feather pieces! It tops off the Flapper hair style with the exuberance these ladies lived off of. If you want to come with a partner dressed up as a 1920's mobster, that would work as a quaint accessory as well.

Credit:
"How to: Turn long-layer hair into a bob!" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvi0Dmb9NCU
"How to make long hair look short" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3U4Tj4dNK4
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flapper
http://beauty.about.com/od/allaboutyoureyes/ht/smokeyes.htm