Insanely Glam 1930’s Gowns worn by Old Hollywood | 1930s Evening Dresses

This post is all about the 1930s evening dresses and 1930s dresses worn by Old Hollywood actresses 

Glamour. Mystery. Romance. Sophistication.

These are the words that come to mind when dreaming about 1930s glamour and evening gowns.

1930s Glamour might just be the most glamorous fashion to date.

You wouldn’t guess that some of the most glam fashion we’ve ever seen was born in the middle of the Great Depression, right?

However, the backdrop of the great depression in the 1930s allowed Old Hollywood to provide the ultimate escapism for the masses with their over-the-top glamour oozing from the big screen.

Old Hollywood actresses and Vogue influenced the luxurious 1930s glamour, with women draped in fur, jewels, and slinky gowns, a far cry from the reality for most Americans….but, a girl can dream, right?

What was popular for evening wear in the 1930s?

​Popular 1930s evening wear consisted of evening dresses that ranged from long slinky curve-hugging styles to fuller a-line and ballgown styles.

These Art Deco evening gowns were an art form themselves.

Fashion designers experimented with extremes, from sleeveless to exaggerated puff sleeves, to plunging backs, with the most daring low backs dipping all the way to the waist.

Now, onto the different styles of vintage 1930s evening dresses as worn by Old Hollywood actresses.

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31 Beautiful Old Hollywood Actresses – Old Hollywood Glamour at it’s Best

Carole Lombard: Grecian-inspired 1930s evening dress

Grecian and Egyptian goddess-inspired evening gown styles were a popular 1930s look.

These beautiful gowns ooze timeless sophistication and Old Hollywood Glamour.

For the 1930s Grecian inspired style, the fabric draped in folds to cascade sensuously across the hips or torso.

Usually the natural waist is emphasized in 1930s fashion, and this dress is no exception.

The fluid fabric mirrored the look of Greek goddess statues.

Below, Carol Lombard sizzles as a Greek goddess in her dramatic long-sleeved grecian gown.

Claudette Colbert & Joan Crawford: Egyptian style 1930s evening gowns

The second 1930s goddess inspired style evening gown was “The Egyptian”.

This was a favorite of the reigning starlets of Old Hollywood, like Claudette Colbert and Joan Crawford.

We love the long, polished and sensual styling, and how every curve is on display with minimal skin showing.

From black velvet to simmering gold Lamé fabrics woven with metallic threads, there were lots of stunning fabric options in the 1930s.

Below, Claudette Colbert (left) and Joan Crawford (right) show off their 1930s egyptian style gowns.

Early to mid 1930s Evening Dresses – Old Hollywood loves it’s sleeves!

The popular 1930s bias cuts highlighted a woman’s curves, and were oh-so-feminine!

There were a couple of defining back and sleeve characteristics of these gowns.

Once combined with Art Deco inspired shapes, the resulting creations were unique.

They were a gorgeous fusion of art and fashion.

One stunning element of 1930s evening gowns were the open backs.

These gowns would often show no cleavage in the front, yet plunge darlingly in the back.

The most daring styles showed the bared skin—down the waist!

Notice how the ruffles and embellishments highlighted women’s glorious figures, even from behind.

To ensure style lines flowed in front, built in bras and boning were a must for 1930s evening gowns.

Now let’s talk sleeves.

Interestingly the 1930s evening gowns went to extremes when designing sleeves, ranging from minimalist off the shoulder looks to exaggerated (and crazy outlandish) sleeve styles.

Puff sleeves, balloon sleeves, ruffled flutter sleeves are just a few of the names for the grandiose sleeves that stole the show.

Below, Claudette Colbert (left) and Joan Crawford (right) show off their elaborate 1930s sleeve styles.

Claudette Colbert, Jean Harlow & Marlene Dietrich: Ballgown-style 1930s dresses

Toward the end of the 1930s, the evening gown styles took a different turn, experimenting with gorgeous two piece dresses, and fuller skirt styles.

You’ll notice that a number of these stunning looks continued to be popular with 1940s evening dresses.

One stunning look that we love is the two piece evening dress.

We adore the embroidery on Claudette Colbert’s two piece evening gown, as she strikes a pose in her Los Angelos home in 1939. (below)

What a perfect vintage, yet modern look!

Full ballgown styles also became all the rage in the mid and later 1930s.

These dresses also played with sleeve proportions, some of them would be sleeveless, while others would go full drama with the sleeves.

And again, there would be more backless styles.

Below, Jean Harlow wears a full ballgown style gown, a departure from her usual slinky, figure hugging gowns.

The long a-line evening gown style was also introduced in the 1930s.

Look familiar? This stunning look would continue to be popular into 1940s.

Below, Marlene Dietrich wears a floor length a-line gown with a dramatic pattern.

Mae West: Ultra-glam 1930’s evening dresses

Of course a post on 1930s evening gowns would not be complete without mentioning the hilarious and sexy Mae West.

She is best known for her slinky 1930s evening gowns that showed off her gorgeous curves.

Her witty bawdy double entendres, which she delivered in a husky voice, will still generate LOLs.

This plus-sized sex symbol reigned in Old Hollywood, as an American actress, singer, and screenwriter.

Her gorgeous gowns mirror her personality—larger than life!

Notice how she opted for glam and drama in her gowns, and experimented with different 30s style elements, from dramatic sleeves to curve hugging silhouettes, to fuller skirt styles.

Irene Dunne, Joan Crawford, & Jean Harlow: 1930s Evening Gown Accessories

To take the evening gown to the next level, accessories were a must.

From evening jackets, wraps, furs, and capes, to dress clips and belts, these added extra glam and personality to the 1930s formal looks.

Irene Dunne’s over-the-top white fox wrap takes her slinky evening gown to the next level in the The Awful Truth, (below) starring opposite the gorgeous Cary Grant.

We’re not sure what we love more–her one-liners, her 30s fashion, Cary Grant, or Asta the dog.

Coordinating capes and dramatic shawls also added glam to the 1930s evening gowns.

The options were endless, depending on your mood and the look you were going for.

Feeling dramatic and in charge, maybe the ostrich feather shawl would be perfect? Or perhaps sultry and sensual, how about the glittering gold creation?

Joan Crawford models both a feather cape and a glittery gold cape in the images below.

Craving a bit of bling for your evening gown?

Dress clips and belts were a great 1930s option to accentuate the bodice or the waistline.

Below, flowers at the waist or the neckline were an interesting 1930s trend.

This post was all about stunning vintage glam 1930s evening gowns

Which 1930s evening look is your favorite?

Would you wear a 1930s evening gown?

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