Tag Archives: 1920s fashion

Dolly Tree and Spain

The British born costume and fashion designer Dolly Tree in addition to being prolific in London and the regions in the 1920s had a great vogue in Paris and a great love of being in the French capital. But it is also clear that she developed a strong affinity and love for Spain and Barcelona in particular.

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Dolly Tree Interview in the Daily Express 26th January 1922

I recently found a detailed interview with Dolly Tree in the Daily Express from January 1922 in the British Newspaper Archive. This feature was not available during the research for my biography Dolly Tree: A Dream of Beauty and so the information it provides was not included. So here is the text and commentary as it does show some invaluable and interesting points.

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Brighter London at the London Hippodrome, 1923

Julian Wylie’s 1923 London Hippodrome show Brighter London was in fact the second longest running revue in London during the 1920s, being overtaken by The Whirl of the World (1924) at the Palladium. The show had no real story but comprised a series of episodes with Cupid setting out to brighten London culminating in the appearance of the celebrated American band leader Paul Whiteman and his orchestra. 

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Crysede and Dolly Tree

Sometime in mid 1921 the theatrical costume designer Dolly Tree became associated with the famous Cornish textile company Crysede and the owner Alec Walker.

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Doggies Dictate Dress

Doggies Dictate Dress

From the turn of the century through the Jazz Age, fashionable ladies became more closely linked to their doggies. The term ‘A Woman’s best friend’ was certainly more apt than the old phrase ‘A Man’s best friend’. Dogs became an essential part of life for any smart society woman, and influenced their matrons wardrobe. Thus, doggies dictating dress became a distinctive fad.

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The London Couture House of Jean-Philippe

A prominant London couture atelier in the Jazz Age was that of Jean-Philippe based originally at 39 Conduit street, W1, which thrived through the 1920s and into the 1930s. Jean-Philippe was owned and run by the society hostess Mrs Simon Hartog and since the first known listing in the press was in late 1926, one must presume that the establishment was formed in or around 1926.

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La Vie Parisienne: The 513 Art Deco Covers of the Twenties

La Vie Parisienne: The 513 Art Deco Covers of the Twenties by Angelo Luerti

Another superb, full-colour book by Angelo Luerti. This is ultimately a book of pictures: a celebration of the glorious covers of La Vie Parisienne from the Jazz Age of the 1920s; the decade that would be remembered for the exhilarating cosmopolitan, worldly and liberal atmosphere of Paris.

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The London Couture House of Zorene Ltd

A prominant London couture atelier in the Jazz Age was that of Zorene Ltd based in and around Hanover Square, W1. Zorene Ltd was founded in 1919 and thrived through the 1920s and into the 1930s and was described as Court Dressmakers.  It was owned and run by Zoe Florence A. Benn and another lady called Irene, hence the name Zorene.

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Val St Cyr and Baroque Ltd

Val St Cyr and Baroque Ltd

Val St Cyr as the house of Baroque was a major force in the dress-designing world of London in the Jazz Age and beyond. Long forgotten and ignored, Val St Cyr’s  work was nevertheless magnificent and was characterized by being original, idiosyncratic, innovative and daring.

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