What a fun invitation to receive! I must admit, I’m a little jealous, as I’ve never been invited to a themed wedding. Sigh. Fortunately for 1930s-inspired wedding attendees, this decade offers up a variety of fun styles that are pretty easily replicated with what you see in fashion magazines today.

The playful, somewhat cutesy styles of the 1960s have combined forces with the lean, bohemian styles of the 1970s, parading themselves through racks at Forever 21 and in the store windows of department stores. Conveniently for you, these styles were actually influenced by a lot of what was en vogue in the 1930s. Let’s look at a variety of 1930s inspiration straight from our time machine, shall we?

For a more casual affair, it would be appropriate to wear a maxi length dress in a fun pattern, like vertical stripes, polka dots, or bright florals. If the wedding is outdoors or at a beach, it would be really fun to flaunt a dramatic wide brim hat to keep in style and in the shade.

C A S U A L   T R E N D S   F R O M   T H E   E A R L Y   1 9 3 0 s   I N C L U D E :

• subtle nautical themes
• bow-tied or knotted fabric
• slim silhouettes from shoulder to toes
• breezy, but somewhat tailored skirts or wide-leg trousers
• rayon or thin cotton help achieve the desired drape
  

The garden-party look is much more typical for Spring-Fall weddings, and might be the easiest 1930s style to replicate. Long, floral dresses are on sale everywhere right now, so the getting is good! If you’re handy with a sewing machine and have some DIY skills, you might be able to slightly alter a dress to implement some of the 1930s characteristics below.

P A R T Y   D R E S S   T R E N D S   F R O M   T H E   M I D   1930 s   I N C L U D E :

• fitted skirts that begin to flare below the knee
• bigger bows and ruffles
• different levels of layers in the skirt
• skirt lengths hit mid shin or just at the ankle
• shoulders and busts are adorned with loose, drapey fabric or ruffled shoulders

If the wedding you are attending is a bit fancier than anything you have in your closet, then you might want to invest in a long, bias cut dress that somewhat fits the criteria below or matches the styles above. If in doubt, simpler is always better. You can always accessorize!

F O R M A L   D R E S S   T R E N D S   F R O M   T H E   1930s   I N C L U D E :

• bias-cut skirts hug the waist and hips, then drape loosely below the knee
• tiered ruffles or diagonal-tiered layers in the skirt
• fabrics such as velvet, silk, fine rayon, or sheer cotton would be acceptable
• sleeker, more elegent styles with finer attention to detail than casual dresses

images: 1 2 3

In the 1960's, Linda Eastman See was working her way through a crumbling marriage and a tedious desk job at Town & Country magazine. After catching a break on board a yacht for a promotion party for the Rolling Stones, Linda started her photography career as she was the only unofficial photographer on board. A popular groupie, and suddenly a professional photographer, Linda often mixed with the likes of Janis Joplin and the Beatles.

In 1969, Paul McCartney and Linda were married, starting a romantic life together that ended with Linda's death in the '90s. Throughout the years of their marriage, Linda continued to work as a professional photographer and activist, all the while capturing intimate moments and home and with friends.

Looking through Linda's photographs, it's really easy to imagine sipping smoothies with the McCartney's, playing with their dogs in the country, and listening to the band practice. Such beautiful moments- I'm sure their family cherishes them even more than the rest of the world.

first photo by  Alain DeJean | other photos by Linda McCartney | images via every day I show

Remember when I posted these photos and you astutely pointed out how much this friend looks like James Dean on the bongos? The next time I saw my friends, they totally, emphatically agreed. And when I stumbled on this photo of James Dean. With bongos. (You know, just during one of those afternoons when I'm perusing the internet for James Dean photos…. heh). My jaw dropped. By golly, you were right!