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Most Roaring 20s party accessories get bought in a rush: a feather headband the week before a Halloween party, pearls the day of a New Year’s Eve invite. The trouble is that the right piece depends on the dress you already own. A beaded gown and a plain black slip need opposite help. So instead of a shopping list, this guide starts with your dress, then points to the 28 accessories that suit it, with a quick note on which are true to the decade and which are modern fun.
Links marked (paid link) are affiliate links. The pictures are styling inspiration, so search results will vary.
Not sure which group you are in? Lay the dress on the bed and ask one question: where is the sparkle right now? If the answer is nowhere, start with the plain dress section. If it is everywhere, skip to the beaded dress section, where the advice is mostly about restraint. Need the dress first? Our Gatsby cocktail dresses guide sorts 30 of them by occasion.
The Two-Piece Rule for Roaring 20s Party Accessories
Flappers did pile on jewelry, but a good modern Gatsby look usually works best with one statement piece and one or two quiet supporting pieces. The statement sits at the head, the neck or the hand, never all three. Everything else in this guide is sorted by what that statement should be.
- Statement: a headpiece, a long pearl rope, a big pair of earrings or a dramatic bag. Choose one.
- Support: small studs, a bangle or a hair pin that repeats the metal of the statement.
- Practical: something to carry your phone and keys, and a wrap if the party runs past dark in late fall.
Choosing a metal: gold and champagne warm up black, red, green and cream dresses. Silver and crystal suit navy, gray, ivory and icy pastels. Pearls go with everything, which is why they were everywhere in the 1920s and why a strand is the safest first buy. If your dress mixes gold and silver beading, follow whichever covers more of the dress, and let your shoes and bag follow the same rule. Mixing metals can look intentional, but only when one clearly leads.
If Your Dress Is Plain Black or a Simple Slip
A plain dress is the easiest canvas. Here the accessories carry the whole theme, so this is where the bold headpieces and the long pearls earn their place. Pick a metal (gold, silver or pearl white) and stay in it.
Jeweled Peacock Feather Headpiece
A single upright feather on a jeweled band is the fastest way to say 1920s. Feathered bandeaus were a real evening accessory of the decade, worn low across the forehead. Look for 1920s feather headbands (paid link) with a band that grips without pressing at the temples, and pin it through your hair at each side so it survives the dance floor.
Pearl-Draped Choker
Draped pearls at the throat fill a plain neckline without competing with a headpiece. It is a modern take on the decade’s love of pearls: the period look leaned more toward long ropes, so add one long faux pearl rope necklaces (paid link) worn down the back if you want both.
Black Velvet Ribbon Choker
A velvet ribbon tied at the throat costs almost nothing and gives a slip dress a moody, gothic edge for Halloween. It is more Victorian than flapper in origin, so think of it as a style choice rather than a period piece. black velvet ribbon chokers (paid link) come in widths from thin to wide; thinner reads more refined.
Gem-Encrusted Hair Pins
A row of jeweled pins at one side of a bob or faux bob adds sparkle without the commitment of a headband. They also hold a pinned-up faux bob in place, which makes them more useful than they look. Try vintage-style hair pins (paid link), and see our iconic 20s hairstyles for the faux bob itself.
Onyx Ring With Intricate Detailing
Black onyx set in silver or marcasite is a classic Art Deco pairing. A big cocktail ring is perfect with a plain dress because it shows every time you raise a glass. Keep the other hand bare.
Diamond Chain Head Drape
Fine crystal chains across the crown look like a 1920s headpiece from a distance, and they suit long hair that will not go into a bob. They do slide, so secure the side loops with bobby pins under the hair.
If Your Dress Is Already Beaded, Sequined or Fringed
A heavily decorated dress does most of the work. Accessories here should be small, smooth and in the same metal as the beading. Big necklaces catch on beads and pull threads, so move the interest to your ears, hair and hands.
Emerald Fan-Shaped Earrings
Fan shapes are a signature Art Deco motif, and green stones pop against gold or black beading. With earrings this size, skip the necklace entirely. For a wider color story, our emerald green accessories post has more ideas.
Sapphire and Pearl Drop Earrings
Long drops in blue and pearl suit silver or ivory beading and look right with hair pinned up. Look for Art Deco drop earrings (paid link) that weigh little: heavy drops tug the ear by midnight.
Beaded Tassel Earrings
Tassels move like fringe, so they suit a fringed dress without adding bulk. Match the tassel color to one shade in the dress.
Gold Leaf Hair Comb
A side comb is the quiet headpiece for a busy dress. Leaves and fans in gold suit champagne and gold beading; slide it in at an angle behind the ear. Look for jeweled hair combs (paid link) with long teeth so they hold in fine hair.
Layered Pearl Waist Chain
Pearls at the hip echo the dropped waist of the 1920s and keep the neckline clear for a beaded bodice. Chains slip on satin, so tack them at the side seams with a small safety pin.
Crystal Drop Anklet
Anklets are a modern extra rather than a 1920s staple, but with knee and calf hemlines they show off nicely. Choose one in the same tone as your beads and wear it over sheer hose rather than under.
If Your Dress Is Satin, Velvet or a Sleek Column
Smooth fabrics show off line and shine, and they can take structured accessories that would snag on beads: belts, brooches, gloves and stacked bangles.
Art Deco Belt With Crystals
A crystal belt sharpens a plain velvet or satin dress into an evening look. Wear it at the natural waist for a modern line or low on the hips for a dropped-waist read. Look for crystal Art Deco belts (paid link) with an adjustable back.
Art Nouveau Cameo Brooch
A brooch at the shoulder holds a draped wrap in place and adds a single point of interest. Cameos lean earlier than the 1920s, which suits a romantic, softer look. Browse cameo brooches (paid link), and pin through a double layer of fabric so the weight does not pull the satin.
Art Deco Silver Bangles
Bare arms and stacked bangles are pure 1920s: the sleeveless evening dress made arm jewelry popular. Wear three to five silver bangle sets (paid link) on one wrist only so the other hand is free for a drink.
Gold Fringe Arm Cuff
An upper arm cuff with fringe adds movement to a sleek column dress. Check the fit at home: a cuff that is too tight digs in, and one that is too loose slides to the elbow.
Pearl-Encrusted Gloves
Long gloves were part of formal evening dress in the period. Pearl trim at the wrist turns them into jewelry, so skip bracelets. The photo shows a prop cigarette holder; we would leave those at home, since they get in the way at a real party. Plain long satin opera gloves (paid link) are a good base.
Sequin Fingerless Gloves
Sequin fingerless gloves are a costume-party twist, not a period piece, and that is fine for Halloween. They let you use your phone and hold a glass, which full gloves do not.
If It Is a Halloween Costume Party
Halloween is the one night to stack the cliches: feathers, fringe, long pearls and a fan, all at once. Comfort matters more than accuracy, because costume parties mean hours of standing. For the full outfit, our Halloween costume ideas has more inspiration, and our Roaring 1920s makeup ideas cover the dark lip and smoky eye that finish a flapper look.
Feathered Sequin Headband
A tall spray of feathers reads from across the room, which is what a costume needs. It also sheds, so put it on last and keep it away from candles.
Silk Feather Fan
A feather fan is a prop that gives your hands something to do in photos. Large feather fans were a real evening accessory of the era, and modern versions are light. Choose feather hand fans (paid link) with a wrist loop.
Beaded Fringe Clutch
A fringed bag is the practical piece of a costume: it holds your phone, keys and a lipstick while matching the dress. Look for beaded fringe evening clutches (paid link) with a wrist strap so you can dance with it on.
Tassel-Trimmed Capelet
A short capelet covers bare shoulders on a cold October night without hiding the dress. Tassels add flapper movement, so it doubles as part of the costume.
If It Is a Holiday Party or New Year’s Eve
Late fall and winter parties need warmth and a little polish. Add one wrap, one bag that closes securely and something to check your lipstick with after midnight.
Velvet Embroidered Handbag
Green velvet with gold embroidery looks festive from Thanksgiving through New Year’s without shouting Christmas. A structured bag with a clasp is safer in a crowd than an open clutch.
Silk Head Wrap With Brooch
A silk wrap pinned with a brooch at the front is a 1920s turban look, and it solves second-day hair. Wrap it snugly over a low bun and pin at the back as well as the front.
Antique Mirror Compact
Compacts became a popular accessory in the 1920s as women began powdering in public. A metal mirror compacts (paid link) fits in a small clutch and gets admired every time it comes out.
Jeweled Eyewear Chain
A jeweled chain keeps reading glasses or sunglasses around your neck instead of lost under a chair. It is a modern accessory with a vintage feel, best at a daytime brunch or an early cocktail hour.
Daytime and Garden Parties
A 1920s brunch or garden party wants lighter pieces: no feathers, softer metals and something for the sun. For outfits, see our Gatsby garden party dresses.
Ivory Lace Parasol
Parasols were a daytime accessory, and a lace one is more shade and style than rain protection. Keep it closed indoors.
Moonstone Anklet With Gold Chain
A fine gold chain with moonstones is subtle enough for daytime. As with the crystal anklet, it is a modern addition, so pair it with simple strappy shoes.
Period-Accurate or Modern? A Quick Cheat Sheet
None of these choices is wrong at a party. This list just tells you what you are wearing, which helps if the invitation says “true to the era”.
- Firmly 1920s: long pearl ropes, feathered and jeweled bandeaus worn low on the forehead, stacked bangles on bare arms, long evening gloves, beaded and metal mesh bags, mirror compacts, feather fans and Art Deco geometry in fans, sunbursts and chevrons.
- Earlier styles that still fit: cameo brooches, velvet ribbons at the throat and lace parasols, which belong more to the decades before but blend in at a Gatsby party.
- Modern twists: anklets worn as a feature, sequin fingerless gloves, eyewear chains, crystal head drapes over long loose hair and waist chains over satin.
If accuracy matters to you, build from the first group and add one piece from the others for personality.
A Five-Piece Kit That Covers Every Party This Season
If you only want to buy a few things between Halloween and New Year’s Eve, these five pieces cover almost every look in this guide:
- One long pearl rope. Worn long, knotted or doubled, it works with plain, satin and beaded dresses alike.
- One headpiece. A feathered band for Halloween, then remove the feather or swap it for a jeweled comb for December.
- One pair of earrings in your main metal. Medium drops in gold or silver are the most flexible.
- One small bag with a strap. A beaded or velvet bag that holds a phone and keys covers every party.
- One warm layer. A fringed evening shawl (paid link) or capelet gets you from the car to the door in late fall and looks right in photos.
Add gloves or bangles only if your dress is sleeveless and simple. Everything else is a bonus. Buying this way also means you are not wearing the same complete costume twice, since swapping one piece changes the whole look.
Shoes, Fit and Comfort Notes
- Headpieces: try them on for an hour at home. Anything that presses on the temples will give you a headache by the second drink.
- Earrings: heavy drops pull on pierced ears. Choose light metals or clip-on backs with padding.
- Gloves: take them off to eat. That was the etiquette then and it is the clean option now.
- Shoes: T-straps and Mary Janes with a moderate heel suit the decade and stay on while you dance. See our 1920s high heels and 1920s-inspired footwear posts.
- Nails: finish with geometric half moons or metallic tips from our Art Deco nail art ideas.
Caring for Costume Jewelry Between Parties
- Put jewelry on after perfume, hairspray and lotion, and let them dry first. They dull plated metal and loosen glued stones.
- Wipe pieces with a soft dry cloth after wearing to remove skin oils.
- Store pearls flat, not hanging, so the thread does not stretch.
- Keep feathers in a box with room to breathe, away from sunlight and moisture.
- Store each piece separately so chains do not tangle and stones do not scratch. A jewelry travel cases (paid link) with small compartments makes this easy when you dress away from home.
For more on choosing and caring for pearls, see our pearl accessories guide.
Host the Party Your Accessories Deserve
If you are throwing the party rather than going to it, the printable 1920s Art Deco Christmas Party Kit on Etsy includes invitations, a menu and cocktail cards in a matching Art Deco style. For the countdown at midnight, the Twelve Bells New Year’s Eve Party Kit adds games and signs. Browse more printable party kits in our shop, and see our 1920s Christmas party dress inspiration for the outfit itself.
Planning the rest of the evening? Choose a dress from our Gatsby cocktail dresses, hang vintage Gatsby Christmas decorations, cook Gatsby-inspired entrees and bake from our 1920s Christmas dessert recipes. For Halloween, set out gothic hors d’oeuvres and dark Halloween desserts; for a sci-fi crowd, there are tiny bites for a Coruscant-inspired gala, Star Wars-inspired bars and Star Wars dinner recipes. Prefer the 1960s? Serve Mad Men vintage appetizers beside hand-painted furniture, freshen the powder room with lavish 1920s bathroom ideas, and find printable kits in the Inspired Realms shop.