Art deco style is back, from interior design and furniture to fashion, with modern twists

A century after it was formally introduced at the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts, in Paris, art deco is enjoying a resurgence in decor, fashion and more. A new generation is appreciating the style’s unapologetically glamorous roots and translating it into something new. A current exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York provides a look at the style that helped define that city in the popular imagination a century ago, in landmarks like the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building, the Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall. “Art Deco City: New York Postcards from the Leonard A. Lauder Collection” also showcases ephemera, clothing and film clips from the era. Meanwhile in London, the Victoria and Albert Museum has a collection of day and evening outfits, jewellery, textiles, and costumes from the early 20th century ballet company Les Ballets Russes that were a big influence on fashion. “Ask three historians to define the term art deco, and you’ll likely get three varying answers,” design writer Arricca Elin Sansone said in 2024 in a story for Elle Decor. “Art deco is many different things to different people, and its evolution is as unique as its expression in architecture, interior design, decorative arts and fashion.” Emerging after World War I, the original art deco era embodied a spirit of creativity, freedom and innovation. With modernity and exuberance on full display, the 1920s and early ’30s became one of the most influential periods in design history. The early 1930s saw the blooming of the style in Miami, too, where South Beach’s art deco district is still a draw for visitors and a hub for design. And in Paris, organisers of the 2024 Olympics created art deco posters to celebrate the games and mark the centennial since the 1924 Olympics, which Paris also hosted. They said the vivid posters were meant to celebrate the style’s colourful and flamboyant influence on the city’s landscape. In cities around the world during that era, squat urban landscapes morphed into canyons of soaring skyscrapers. Public and private spaces embraced geometric motifs, luxurious materials and an urbane appeal. In transport, faster cars and sleeker trains hinted at a dynamic new age, while the jazz-fuelled nightclub scene brought people out to celebrate. That same energy infused the shift from restrictive corsets to sensuous, liberated silhouettes. It was the bee’s knees, the cat’s pyjamas, the Roaring Twenties. Flapper style reflected changing roles for women in society, says design blogger Courtney Price. On today’s runways and red carpets, shimmering gold-and-black satin gowns evoke Jazz Age sparkle, often adorned with crystals and feathers. Celebrities like Zendaya, Gigi Hadid, Beyoncé and Demi Lovato have embraced bobs and finger waves, channelling the allure of the art deco era in fresh ways. “The aesthetic of the 1920s is enjoying a fashionable renaissance,” says Kirsty Thatcher of the Australian fashion magazine Russh. “Drop-waist dresses, sleek bobs and layers of pearls dominate runways and street style alike.” Giorgio Armani evoked the period in its autumn couture display in Paris with pearls, velvets, silk chiffons, sequins and more. The models were accompanied by nostalgic jazz music as they walked. Chanel and Dior’s autumn/winter 2024 collections also gave a nod, with elongated boyish silhouettes, tweed and cinched waists, feathers, pleats, and slinky slip dresses. “The boldness and elegance of art deco are what appeals to me,” says New York-based interior designer Vanessa DeLeon. In DeLeon’s interiors, deep hues like emerald and ebony meet gleaming metallic accents and stylised prints. Her latest lighting collection pays homage to art deco’s signature frosted glass and polished metal fixtures. Jamie Watkins and Tom Kennedy of the London design house Divine Savages infuse their collections with cheeky nods to art deco’s architectural drama. Their “Deco Martini” print marries a classic fan motif with a swanky cocktail glass, conjuring visions of Jay Gatsby’s parties. Their “Gershwing”, meanwhile, layers luscious feather shapes into a decadent statement piece. “Art deco was synonymous with glamour and luxury,” Watkins says. “It’s no wonder we’re drawn to it again.” Designer and lifestyles maven Athena Calderone, in collaboration with furniture retailer Crate & Barrel, invokes cinematic art deco silhouettes with alabaster sconces, curvilinear club chairs and geometric-patterned furnishings. The vibe is Manhattan, Paris and jazz legend Duke Ellington. For true art deco devotees, the exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York is a must-see. Co-curator Lynda Klich notes that postcards were the social media of their day, with travellers busily scribbling messages to friends and family. New York’s now-iconic art deco buildings feature prominently in over 250 postcards, plus a selection of 1920s-era gowns, shoes and accessories. “More than an aesthetic, art deco was the look that sold the city to the world,” says Lilly Tuttle, another of the exhibition’s co-curators. The exhibition runs until February 17.

Art deco style is back, from interior design and furniture to fashion, with modern twists

Art deco is enjoying a comeback in decor and fashion 100 years after its introduction, embraced by celebrities such as Zendaya and Beyoncé