Swing Vintage Party Dress Guide (2024)

FAQs

What did people wear in the swing era? ›

Ladies' Fashions

Shoulders were heavily padded. Skirts were worn just below the knee and slightly flared. Gored or pleated skirts, fitted bodices, shirtdresses that buttoned down the front, and tailored dinner suits were popular. For evening, short co*cktail dresses were worn more often than long.

+ Swing dresses work on most body types due to their universally flattering silhouette. + If you've got an athletic figure, add shape with tiers or an exaggerated A-line style. + The wide hem of a swing dress will help balance out bigger shoulders.

A modern swing dress is a flowy dress that still has an A-line shape. Instead of the top part of the “A” shape hugging your waist, it often will hug your chest and then the fabric will bell out from there. This gives the dress lots of movement potential…. the dress will “swing” when you walk or dance!

Its versatility and flattering silhouette made it a staple in many wardrobes during the 1940s and 1950s. The swing dress became closely linked to the swing music and the dance craze of the 1940s, with iconic images of women twirling in their full skirts on dance floors.

Avoid clothing that is too baggy or restrictive. Men may also wear pants that are comfortable and allow for a full range of movement, such as chinos or jeans. A button-down shirt or a polo shirt can work well for swing dancing. Choose a shirt that is comfortable and allows you to move freely.

Actual vintage dress is best, however if you cannot find period attire to wear, women can wear a modern dress that is cut like those from the era with vintage accents such as vintage jewelry and/or a flower in their hair and men can wear a modern suit that looks similar to those of the era with accents like a fedora, ...

+ Swing dresses work on most body types due to their universally flattering silhouette. + If you've got an athletic figure, add shape with tiers or an exaggerated A-line style. + The wide hem of a swing dress will help balance out bigger shoulders.

Darker shades of colors like blue, purple and brown can also help to hide flaws and create a slimming illusion. On the other hand, lighter colors, like white and khaki, can add pounds and give the illusion of a larger frame. Don't wear a white blouse if you want to camouflage a large chest.

HISTORY OF THE SWING DRESS

With a fitted bodice, cinched waist and a flared skirt. Swing dresses were a popular dress style in the 50s. Usually worn with a petticoat to accentuate the flare, these voluminous twirling dresses were often worn to high school dances.

Keep the hem above your knees.

Nothing shortens the legs like a hemline that falls below your knees. So while sometimes I can pull off a midi skirt with a well cinched waist, I can't pull off a swing style dress that goes past the knees. It makes me look shorter and wider. No one wants that.

What is vintage swing? ›

The term 'Traditional Swing' or 'Vintage Swing' usually refers to a group of swing dance styles that were originally developed just prior to, and throughout, the Swing Era of the 1930s and 1940s when big band swing music was the most popular music in the United States.

Description: A flared dress, just below the knee, with small neat shoulder and shallow rounded neckline. With the option of a button through back or a simple slip over the head. The trapeze is so easy to make and so easy to wear.

Swing clubs

Relative wealth also fostered a distinctive style among the Swing Kids, which was in some ways comparable to the zoot suit style popular in the United States at the time. Boys usually wore long jackets, often checkered, shoes with crepe soles (for dancing), and flashy scarves.

Examples include the mini skirt, culottes, go-go boots, and more experimental fashions, less often seen on the street, such as curved PVC dresses and other PVC clothes. Mary Quant popularized the mini skirt, and Jackie Kennedy introduced the pillbox hat; both became extremely popular.

Most swing dance class attendees wear casual clothing like jeans, flat shoes, t-shirts, or even tank tops. This is a big contrast to social swing dance events, where dancers often dress up in period costumes and wear outfits like dresses and heeled dance shoes.

Swing has its roots in 1920s dance music ensembles, which began using new styles of written arrangements, incorporating rhythmic innovations pioneered by Louis Armstrong, Coleman Hawkins, Benny Carter and other jazzmen.