Get ready to roar!

By Sara G. Stephens

Zip up your flapper dresses and dust off your zoot suits. It’s time to get your Gatsby on at the “Pearls and Prohibition” Mardi Gras ball in Galveston!
 
To celebrate 30 years of hosting Galveston’s most opulent Mardi Gras Ball and Parade Viewing Party, The Tremont House is pulling out all stops for this year’s event with a “Pearls and Prohibition” theme. The event takes place  March 1, 2014, and Baby, it’s going to be the bee’s knees!
 
Dames and darbs will be sporting their glad rags, jumping into their jalopies, and heading to the ritziest juice joint in town, where they will get their wiggle on to the swinging music of retro band Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, known for their hit “Zoot Suit Riot.”
 
Replicating the glamorous speakeasies of the Prohibition era, The Tremont House will be transformed for the ball with live music, dining and cocktails throughout the first floor of the hotel, as well as a VIP parade viewing area. This premier Mardi Gras ball offers a prime view of the Momus Grand Night Parade as it passes directly in front of the hotel.
 
Following the parade, the revelry continues in the Tremont Ballroom with live music, Prohibition-inspired cocktails and a savory midnight breakfast buffet. Dapper daddies and doll-faced dames are encouraged to dress in a fashion that roars of prohibition and 1920s glamour.

Sounds swell, huh? Well, there’s more! The Tremont House is offering a special two-night weekend Mardi Gras Ball package starting at $1,078. The package includes a  Friday night  performance by renowned Dr. Michael White Jazz Quartet from New Orleans, two tickets to the 30th Annual Tremont House Mardi Gras Ball on Saturday, continental  breakfast on Sunday  and complimentary valet parking. Hotel guests also receive a commemorative Tremont House Mardi Gras bead as well as other party gifts as souvenirs for the weekend. That’s a whole lotta pearls for not a whole lottta clams!
 
Weekend packages can be booked online at  www.WyndhamTremontHouse.com  (see special offers) or by calling The Tremont House directly at  409-763-0300.

Ball tickets are $200 per person and can be purchased online at  www.Galveston.com/MardiGrasBall  or by calling The Tremont House at  409-763-0300.
 
The Tremont House Ball, hosted by the Cynthia and George Mitchell family, originated in 1985 with the grand opening of The Tremont House on Feb. 16, 1985 and the revival of Galveston Island’s city-wide Mardi Gras celebration.
 

Puttin’ on the Ritz

Here are some tips for achieving the 1920s glam and Prohibition look:

DOLLS

1. Wear beaded dresses or dresses with fringe, plunging necklines or backlines, and dropped waistlines to create a 1920s evening look.
2. 1980s fashions were rooted in the 1920s.   Hit your local thrift shop or search through eBay vintage clothes for a beaded or sequined 80s gown that can be easily transformed into 20s glam with the right accessories.
3. Now for the really fun part: accessories! They absolutely complete any 20s ensemble. Try fitted gloves—the kind that reach your shoulder are ideal. Mary Jane t-straps are the perfect heel for tapping you through the night. And, of course, you’ll need a few long strands  of pearls and a feathered headband or beaded headpiece. Find them at online costume shops or make your own… it’s really easy!
4. Dolls, the hair is important.  Wear it short and cropped close to the head in a styled bob cut. Use some hair gel to help create the right look. If your hair is longer and you don’t want to cut it, wear a wig. You can find a variety of 20s styles in different hair colors (including Daisy’s platinum blonde) at most costume shops.
5. As for make-up, wear lots of it: bright red lipstick, compact powder, and heavy black or brown eyeliner with dark shadows to bring out those sultry, smoky eyes.

GUYS

Any man with a business suit can reproduce mens’ 20s fashions. Of course, a tuxedo works best for a formal evening event like the Mardi Gras ball. 

1. If you can’t swing a tux, go for a single-breasted, loose-fitting suit. The pants should be high waisted, with pleats and cuffs at the bottom. Don’t shy away from pastels… think Gatsby!
2. Match your vest to your suit, or make it a similar shade.
3. Men wore button-down shirts with club-style (rounded) collars. You can find them at some online specialty shops.
4. To really ring the 20s look, don a bow tie. If you prefer a neck tie, make sure it’s longer and thinner than one you would wear today. Seek out bold colors and geometric patterns.
5. Fold a handkerchief and tuck it into your front jacket pocket. This accessory is known as a pocket square, and it should match your tie’s color and pattern.
6. Snap on some suspenders to truly mimic 20s fashion.
7. Don’t forget your hat: bowlers flap caps, Panamas, or fedoras work well in winter. If you’re going for a summer look, try a straw boater or Panama. And if you’re sporting a tux, a top hat will do nicely to finish your formal attire.
8. What truly defined a dapper 20s gent were his shoes. If you can find a pair of two-toned spectator dress shoes, you’ll be swinging with the best of them. If not, Oxfords or any shoes with a fringed tongue will keep you polished and in character.
9. Need some help pulling it all together? Visit the 1920s Men’s Fashion Shop online at www.vintagedancer.com for one-stop shopping!