Before the 30s bombshell or the 40s pinup the original "It" girl was the ingenue silent film star Clara Bow. Her bee-stung lips, bouncing bob of curls and carefree attitude caused quite a stir at the box office and she became Hollywood's first sex symbol in the early 20s. Bow's flippant ways defined flapper sexuality as something playful and slightly aggressive, the prankster girl next door with a dash of indecency.

The original "It" girl, the lovely Clara Bow.

The erotic photos of the time exhibit the flapper as a sweet tease and make for some of the finest vintage boudoir photos. 

Marlene Dietrich is not so innocent in a cami-knicker and stockings.

If you want to channel your own inner 20s "It" girl all you need are pin curls, red lips and a cheeky cami-knicker set. The cami-knicker was a flapper staple. Worn under the girdle garters of the era, it was a loose fitting undergarment designed to hang lightly over the female form. Instead of accenting an hourglass physique it created a boxy, boyish silhouette, in classic flapper form.

Clara Bow wears a cami-knicker in the 1928 movie Ladies of the Mob.

Today the garments are a perfect lounging outfit, just the ensemble you need for taking in your Sunday morning coffee and newspaper. Often made from silk, the styles are feather light, adorned with feminine trims and make for a delicately romantic pajama or play suit. 

We just listed two gorgeous 20s cami-knickers on the site, each with its own vintage charms. The first, a pristine step-in style, has exquisite knife pleats and stunning lace inserts. The luscious peach silk is in perfect condition and features a darling rosette, you'd be hard pressed to find another like this.

The second is made from exotic celadon hued Habotai silk. The classic design has a ribbon tied waist and a hidden button closure crotch, meaning it looks like a slip when standing but has the high kicking benefits of a closed bottom knicker. 

Both pieces are special new old stock finds, having never been worn they are in mint condition and are sure to bring out the flapper in any gal.

Renowned designer Elsa Schiaparelli was famous for her adventurous approach to fashion. Her ground breaking and often outlandish designs brought a sense of fantasy and whimsy to haute couture and embraced the sensational with a refreshing sense of humor. While Schiaparelli is credited as the inventor of a number of concepts which have since become standards (exposed zippers, the wedge heel, graphic knits and the color Shocking Pink to name a few) her legacy would not be complete without her prolific collaborations with artists of her era.

Schiaparelli herself. 

Schiaparelli was heavily influenced by Modern Art, particularly Surrealism and Dadaism which challenged the classic conceptions of beauty and embraced irrationality. Ideals echoed in her own projects. Her friendships with artists such as Salvador Dalí and Jean Cocteau lead to the creation of some of the most memorable pieces in fashion history.

Dalí and Schiaparelli

Dalí's wife Gala models the Shoe Hat, also seen on the mannequin. 

Salvador Dalí's creative sense matched Schiaparelli's wit and the two artists often worked together bringing the reveries of his surreal projects to the runways. The spectacular "Shoe Hat" was first envisioned by Dalí after his wife Gala took a photograph of him with one of her slippers perched atop his head. He sketched a design for Schiaparelli to create and the hat became a hallmark of the her label.

Dalí's fashion plate of "Lobster."

In 1937 the two artists partnered for a creation which became known simply as "The Lobster Dress." Dalí painted a bold red lobster on the skirt of one of Schiaparelli's white silk evening gowns. The creation was infamously photographed on bride-to-be Wallis Simpson, the American socialite who wooed Edward VIII away from the British throne.

The dress above and below as photographed by Cecil Beaton on Wallis Simpson. 

The exquisite pale blue "Tear Dress" created for her 1938 Circus collection was hand painted with tears and rips and featured a thin veil with 3-Dimensional tears carefully cut out and lined in pink and magenta silk. The gown was supposed to look as if it had been torn to shreds by a wild beast but maintained the refined elegance of haute couture.

A forerunner to Gaultier's skeletal corset from the Fall/Winter 2011 runways, the "Skeleton Dress" was a body conscious dress sewn with trapunto accents mimicking the shapes of the human skeleton. So macabre!

Jean Cocteau and Schiaparelli

Schiaparelli experimented with a variety of textiles and textures including bead work and embroidery. Her partnership with avant-garde artist Jean Cocteau incorporated his unique illustrations into her witty clothing, resulting in some of the most stunning examples of how these techniques could be translated into wearable art.

The eye catching jacket features the profile of a woman with her blonde hair cascading down the shoulder and sleeve. This exquisite piece was embroidered with metallic threads by the famous Lesage house, the most highly regarded school of embroidery in Paris.

Another fantastic collaboration between the two geniuses. This evening jacket features another sensational Cocteau figure.

Another art inspired style was Schiaparelli's playful gloves complete with red snake skin nails. After Picasso painted hands to look like gloves for a Man Ray photo, Schiaparelli decided to flip-flop the concept and create a pair of gloves to look like hands.

Man Ray's photo above and Schiaparelli's reversal below.

Other fanciful delights include the horned gloves, and the glittering Versailles cape an extravagance worthy of the Sun King himself.

Check out the sequin work on the cape!

Incredible! 

Along with eccentric outerwear, shoes, jewelry and accessories Schiaparelli also designed several lingerie collections. We are lucky enough to get our hands on these treats from time to time.

While this luscious nylon slip may not be a bizarre beauty along the lines of the Shoe Hat, the scrumptious layers of lace remind us of Schiaparelli's creative approach to details and trims. Multiple tiers of lace along the bottom hem add depth and an artful sense of geometry to the design. Come into the shop to behold the style in person, you won't be disappointed.

F. Scott Fitzgerald penned a classic when he wrote The Great Gatsby in 1925, a novel about what lies at the heart of the American Dream. The intriguing tale takes place in the middle of the roaring 20s and features some of the most captivating characters in literary history. These include the unassuming narrator Nick Carroway, the magnetic Mrs. Daisy Buchanan, the compulsive liar Jordan Baker and of course, the enigmatic Jay Gatsby himself. Along with its sensational antagonists, the story depicts the lavish parties and ruckus goings-on of the era with such bewitching glamour that one cannot help but wish they could some how go back and be a part of it all.

Since locating a flux capacitor is more difficult than finding a parking space in San Francisco we will have to disregard the possibility of a time machine to get us back to the days of bootlegging and the Charleston. Luckily, the Art Deco Society of California has found a way to bring the era to you in a sort of reverse time travel, with the annual Gatsby Summer Afternoon. Join the swanky dames and dandies on Sunday September 12th at the luxurious Dunsmuir Helman House in Oakland for a lovely day of summer fun. Attractions include a live jazz band, croquet, dance demos, costume contests, vintage car shows and much more.

Costumes are a must for the event and the ADSC goes for authenticity above all. The event is a summer lawn party so bust out your drop waisted frocks and make sure to match your hat with your gloves. Flapper fringe and garish sequins are a no-no for the day time event so get creative. If you're not sure what to wear visit their website for a detailed lesson on 20s-40s fashions complete with pictures and suggestions on how to put together an outfit.

We have many perfect pieces for the would be flapper or the 30s doll. To pull off a bona fide vintage ensemble you'll need to start with the right undergarments. Women in the 20s desired a gamine silhouette and disguised their feminine curves under boyish angles. A vintage bandeau brassiere will do the trick to flatten your bust, just see the lovely jacquard styles or the delicate lace bralette for real vintage options.

The tap short is also an enigmatic style of the era. We have a couple delightful designs, one in ivory silk and the other in saucy black chiffon.

Another stunning 20s look is the ethereal silk crepe chemise. Its dainty feel exudes the very fresh romanticism intrinsic to the leading lady Daisy.

Pair it with the silk trapunto slip and you'll be the cats pajamas!

Also glorious are the 30s silk night gowns and although they may not have been worn as outerwear back in the day, when paired with the right accessories they can easily translate into picnic attire. Check out this exquisite silk charmeuse floral frock or the peach Swiss dot gown for possibilities.

Old-fashioned gals hardly ever went out with out some kind of stylish head wear. Our very own straw boater hats are the perfect way to accent your vintage outfits with picnic worthy charm.

The Hermione is just one of several adorable styles.

Explore our site for more inspiration and check out the Gatsby Summer Afternoon webpage for all the details.  Who knows, with the right look and a couple glasses of champagne you may just find yourself a partner for a little old fashion necking.

Whose up for a picnic?

The Deco Belles compete for the Miss Art Deco crown.