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Costume Advice
BOOTLEGGERS & BEADS COSTUMES
Glitz, Glamour… and a Shot in the Dark
The Roaring Twenties were all about champagne, secrets, and scandal behind every speakeasy door. If your murder mystery character hails from this golden age of jazz and organized crime, you’re in for a decadent transformation. Whether you're a mob boss with blood on your hands or a flapper who knows more than she lets on, this guide will help you dress the part, style your hair, and channel the distinctive charm and danger of the 1920s.
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EXAMPLE LOOKS OF BOOTLEGGERS AND BEADS COSTUMES
Classic Aesthetic
The 1920s man was either suited up like a stock market prince, moonlighting as a bootlegger, or dancing in suspenders at a jazz club. You don’t need to be Jay Gatsby—you just need to look like you borrowed his tailor.
Essential Elements:
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Three-piece suit in black, navy, gray, or pinstripe
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High-waisted trousers with cuffs
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Dress shirt with detachable collar or club collar
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Tie or bow tie, preferably narrow or art deco pattern
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Oxford or wingtip shoes
Optional Add-Ons:
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Vest/waistcoat for a true 1920s silhouette
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Suspenders (braces)
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Fedora, boater, or newsboy cap
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Pocket watch or chain
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Spats (white shoe covers over black shoes)
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Cigarette case, flask, or fake cigar
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Fake mustache or slicked-back hair with pomade
Women in the 1920s threw off corsets, cut their hair, and started raising eyebrows (and hemlines). Whether you’re a glittering flapper or a high-society schemer, the key is confidence, movement, and sparkle.
Essential Elements:
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Flapper dress – drop-waist, knee-length or slightly above, fringe, beading, or sequins
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T-strap or Mary Jane heels
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Feather headband or jeweled hairpiece
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Long pearl necklace, maybe doubled or knotted
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Opera gloves or lace gloves
Optional Add-Ons:
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Feather boa or fur stole
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Cloche hat
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Cigarette holder (fake or real)
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Fishnet stockings or seamed tights
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Beaded clutch or vintage-style purse
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Waved bob wig or faux bob with pin curls
What You Might Already Have in Your Closet:
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Little black dress or anything with fringe or sequins
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Button-up shirt, vest, and slacks
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Suspenders, bow tie, or necktie
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Long gloves, shawl, or fur stole (faux is perfect)
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Oxford shoes, heels, or T-straps
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Dark blazer, trench coat, or long peacoat
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Hat — a fedora, newsboy cap, or cloche
Hair & Makeup Tips:
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Flappers: Finger waves or a faux bob (pin hair under). Use a headband with a feather or jewel.
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Men: Slicked-back hair or parted neatly with pomade. Clean-shaven or thin mustache.
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Makeup: Smokey eyes, arched brows, and deep red or plum lips. Add a beauty mark for extra flair.
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Extras: Dust of gold highlight for glitz. Glitter liner or rhinestones (optional for stylized looks).
Accessories & Props:
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Beaded necklaces or pearls (layer them!)
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Cigarette holder (use a fake one for effect)
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Garter flask or fake bottle of “bootleg hooch”
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Fake money, dice, or playing cards
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Pocket watch, cane, or cigar
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Tommy gun prop or “evidence folder”
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Feather boa, fan, or vintage clutch
Behaviors, Voice, and Quirks:
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Gangsters: Speak in clipped, confident tones. Add slang like “cat’s pajamas,” “taking a powder,” or “on the lam.”
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Nicknames encouraged: “Big Tony,” “Red Ruth,” “Johnny Knuckles”
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Flappers: Sassy, energetic, playful. Constant movement. Add phrases like “Bee’s knees,” “Ain’t we got fun?” and “Who, me?”
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Jazz Musicians: Smooth talkers with poetic flair. Snap fingers, hum, or quote lyrics.
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Socialites & Tycoons: Speak with upper-class accent or drawl. Toast often. Name-drop elite connections.
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Detectives: Grizzled tone. Narrate everything. “I knew something was off the minute she walked in…”
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Quirks: Always lighting a fake cigarette, clutching pearls, slipping flasks into purses, wiping blood from a ring.
Whether you’re running the joint, crashing the gala, or stirring up trouble in a back alley, 1920s characters live loud, dress flashier, and always know where the bodies are buried — even if they put them there themselves.