The Roaring Twenties was a decade of economic prosperity, accompanied by decadence and a blatant disregard for the rules (hello, Prohibition). Even more than that, it was an era that ushered in a cultural renaissance of sorts. One of the greatest developments: women earning the right to vote, which paved the way for a new wave of opportunities for them to break from the traditional cult of domesticity. The flapper, what with her free spirit, sexual confidence, and avant-garde style of dress, became an early symbol of feminist change.
Of course, my fascination with the Roaring Twenties (also known as the Jazz Age) began when I first read The Great Gatsby back in high school. The smells of illicit booze and crisp, freshly printed dollar bills permeated the air the characters breathed. Furthermore, the story is layered with the complexities of achieving the American dream, only to remind us that the rigorous and relentless pursuit of wealth can’t always buy us happiness.
After reading the book (and seeing the film version with Leo), I wanted to fulfill my fantasy of becoming a flapper. Luckily, my girl Alex of Stay Goldy, was a willing participant in this mission, and we decided to organize a 1920s-themed shoot. With additional help from Jacob, Rafael, and Oriana (all of whom are credited below), we were able execute our vision and bring it to life at the beautiful Roxy Hotel in TriBeCa.
The story behind our shoot is as follows: two flappers dress to the nines and scheme their way from rags to riches, only to fall victim to the Great Depression not too long after. I hope you enjoy perusing these images as much as we did shooting them! It was truly a blast transporting ourselves to a different time period.
Models: Sami Mauskopf, Alex Goldsmith
Photographer: Jacob Goldberg
Stylists: Rafael Ingannamonte, Oriana Suarez Di Cristofaro
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