Fashion

Art Deco Fashion

Flapper Style

Art Deco Elegance 

Art Deco Casual Wear

1934 French Ad Fashion Belle Jardiniere Paris

UK Vogue March 1929, by Alison Settle

Miami Design Preservation League and Art Deco in Miami

Being a resident of Miami, Florida I decided to also touch on an organization that works to historical buildings, many of which are of the Art Deco style. Miami Design Preservation League (MDPL) is a non-profit organization devoted to preserving, protecting, and promoting the cultural, social, economic, environmental and architectural integrity of the Miami Beach Architectural Historic District and all other areas of the City of Miami Beach where historic preservation is a concern. 
The Art Deco style present in Miami Beach is that of Streamline Moderne, which evolved during the Great Depression. This form was less decorative and had a more industrial look than the original Art Deco style. In addition, in Miami the style of Tropical Deco was created by pulling from the surroundings and incorporating it into the architecture.


What to look for:
Over-all symmetry, ziggurat (stepped) rooflines, glass block, decorative sculptural panels, eyebrows, round porthole windows, terrazzo floors, curved edges and corners, elements in groups of three, neon lighting (used in both exteriors as well as interior spaces).


For more information on MDPL Click Here

Jewelry

It was obvious that as the times and fashion style changed, so would the jewelry trends. Art deco era jewelry pulled from the main art deco style, geometric, angular, and streamlined, just like all the other forms of design. The shapes of the jewelry were very angular and the types of stones were very expensive (because of the economic boom of the 1920's). The metals used were also very expensive. Gold (yellow and white) were the most common along with platinum.  During the Great Depression of the 30's the jewelry was made from a mix of expensive and cheaper products so that they were more affordable.

Popular Trends
Hair Ornamentation
Long, dangly earrings
Jeweled Carrying Cases

Popular designers included:

Boucheron
Jacques Cartier
Georges Fouquet
Gerard Sandoz
Jean Fouquet
Lacloche Freres
Raymond Templier
Rene Lalique
Van Cleef & Arpels


More on Art Deco Jewelry

Art Deco Ruby, Diamond And Smoky Agate Cigarette Case, Cartier, Circa 1925

Art Deco Earrings

Art Deco Diamond Engagement Ring

Art Deco Engagement Ring in Bi-Colour Gold

Art Deco Brooch Emerald & Diamonds with Pearl Drop

Graphic Design

Following the typical art deco style, graphic designs were streamlined and geometric. Adding to this new style was the new typography that was more angular than the curvy style of Art Nouveau. The composition of these designs weighed heavily on the beauty and style, function alone was no longer acceptable. Function and beauty had to stand hand in hand when it came to everything; book jackets, building signs, posters, etc.. The sentiment of the day was that "the street was the art gallery for the public" (Aynsley, 2003) and nowhere is this sentiment most obviously expressed, as in the area of Graphic Design. 


More on Graphic Design

Art Deco Postcard - Miami Beach

Glass

Entrance, Dallas Power & Light Co Bldg, Dallas, Texas

Sandblasted Glass Door, Melbourne, Australia

Stained Glass Window, Peace Hotel, Shanghai

Office, Washoe Amusement Company, Anaconda, Montana

Chandelier, I. Magnin store, Los Angeles, California

Architecture

Probably one of the best-known examples of the art deco style is its architecture. Still seen in many cities of the United States (and I am sure, around the world), art deco architecture has left a lasting impression. Its ornamental, geometrical, and symmetrical attributes allowed art deco to break away from the norm to create something new and exciting. "For big business, Art Deco was ideal for expressing corporate wealth and dominance. Banks used the style to convey security. Hollywood used it to define the good life." The materials used in art deco were sometimes exotic (like zebra skin) but aluminum, stainless steel, chrome, and lacquer were the typical products. 

More About Art Deco Architecture

 

  Guardian Building, Detroit, Michigan

 

  Guardian (detail)

 

  Bullocks Wilshire, Los Angeles, California 

  La Casa Quinlana, Havana, Cuba

  Boston Avenue Methodist Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Drexel Theatre, Columbus, Ohio

An Overview

The art deco style has always been one of my favorites. It’s an artistic and design style that covers everything from architecture and art to jewelry and fashion. Having started in Paris in the 1920’s, art deco expanded through out the world in the 1930’s and came to a close during WWII. The style brings to mind terms like ornamental, geometric, symmetrical, streamline (especially in regards to automobiles), and modernism, just to name a few. Art deco combined many different aspects from many previous 20^th century styles, which includes neoclassical, constructivism, cubism, modernism, and futurism. By mixing all of this together, the art deco style was born and still lives on today.

The following video shows art deco at a glance with hints of all the different aspects of the style. Compiled by SHOW-PIX DVD Creations 2009.

Want to learn more about the history and aspects of art deco, click here.