Greater Than Gatsby?

Let’s face it, part of what made F. Scott Fitzgerald’s famed characters in the 1925 novel, The Great Gatsby, well … “great” was their appearance. In my head, yours, and anyone else who either may have read the classic novel or even merely seen the cinematic trailer for Baz Luhrmann's May 2013 film adaptation, the story features an extremely well dressed group. So much so, in fact, nearly a full century later, designers around the world are making their solid attempts to emulate the fashion sense of the early 1920s. In 2013, the age of instant news via the likes – no pun intended there – of Facebook and Twitter, eyeglasses that have the capability allowing you to take a picture, record 720p video, send a message, and video chat all by voice command, and a wristwatch that makes phone calls, how difficult is it for you to grasp the idea of the resurgence of 1920s fashion?

From the Art Deco jewelry to the two-tone hard-bottoms, to even the hairstyles, the period has successfully resurfaced on the runways, mannequins, and galas of 2012-2013. Supermodel and former Victoria Secret Angel, Karlie Kloss was recently featured on the cover of Vogue Australia sporting a carbon copy of the Prada ensemble draped over actress Carey Mulligan as Daisy, in The Great Gatsby. Prada and Gatsby costume designer, Catherine Martin designed an XX chromosome-driven, 40-piece collection inspired by the book and film while for the men, Martin collaborated with storied retailer, Brooks Brothers, to develop a more extensive (500+ items) hodgepodge.

Interestingly enough, and contrary to today’s popular belief, 1920s fashion was far from glamorized at least through the eyes of Fitzgerald, who often and throughout, downplayed or in some cases completely disregarded the era’s fashion style in the novel. What he or she was or was not wearing eventually became a bigger deal over time to the interpreter, who then became the consumer, who then became the designer, the model, the storefront, and even the screenwriter. Isn’t it funny how that works? The question now becomes, is what exists between the lines more impactful than the line itself? Is your discernment greater than the indubitable?

Image Source: Vogue Australia, Brooks Brothers, and Wikipedia Creative Commons