Something Old Into Something New 2—Disco Deco

 

I have been in Los Angeles for the last few days with Jenna. We had the pleasure of meeting with a fabulous and fun couple to discuss their vision, the design of their wedding, and their printed matter. They told us their story as we shared a meal—my favorite part of this job!

 

We have been dying to do an Art Deco wedding with all of this Gatsby mania, and as the couple plans to hold the wedding at an historic Art Deco hotel here in Los Angeles, this is our chance. So let’s start with a recap of what was discussed (I can’t give you all of the details right now, as they are top secret):

 

WeddingBrand Vision Statement
Hollywood Chic juxtaposed by the quaintness of (Secret) City, where whimsical elegance meets a bit of cheekiness at a grand cocktail party . . . all reflected in a disco ball!

Color Ideas
• Neutrals – grays, silvers, with pops of gold
• Mixed metallics—the bride loves bling so I am thinking foil stamping, hmmmm.

 

The Something Old
Art Deco was an eclectic, design style that originated in Europe in the early 20th Century and flourished until 1940 when it was gradually replaced by the International Style. It became famous following the great Exposition des Arts Modernes Decoratifs et Industriels, held in Paris in 1925 and from which its name evolved. Art Deco, or the Machine Age as it is sometimes referred to, expressed the energy, optimism, and glamour of the roaring twenties; and later, the escapism of the dismal thirties. Art Deco style was a direct reflection of the times—the rapid industrialization of the culture, great archeological discoveries, and major technological advances. Its defining themes were the skyscraper, modern technology, a fascination with the speed and power of modern transport and communications, the new, liberated woman and the breaking of old rules and stereotypes, and the exotic (ancient cultures such as Egypt and Central America). It is characterized by rich colors, bold black and white, neutrals, luxurious metallics, stylized florals and scrolls, geometric shapes, the streamlined or linear, and sumptuous ornamentation.

 

Clockwise from top left: Art Deco Package Collection by Katsu Kimura; La Vie Parisienne, November, 1920; La Ferronnerie Moderne by Henri Clouzot, French Art Deco Wedding (1930) From Harper’s Bazaar by Andre Edouard Marty

 

Inspiration
I have a small and beautiful collection of Art Deco ephemera and some wonderful images from a recent trip to NYC from which to draw inspiration—I am like a kid in a candy store! I am sharing some of this inspiration here today as we begin our second, Something Old, Into Something New project. In the next week, I will show you how to take these items and transform them into something more contemporary for today’s bride. I love that term “modern” as Deco WAS the hot, modern look in the 20s and 30s. So essentially, we will be modernizing modernism.

So what do we call it? Neo Deco, , Neue Mod, Mod², what are your thoughts on this topic? We’d love to hear from you.

 

I created a new  DIY Tool – Design a Gorgeous Wedding Invitation containing some of our best invitation design tips. You can download it HERE.

 

Next up in Part II, we will choose contemporary revivals of Deco colors, fonts, and ornament that best reflect the brand vision.

 

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