Although at first glance, this flapper ensemble shown on Clara Bow seems reasonable priced… keep in mind that the average yearly wage in 1926 was less than $1250. So this outfit would have eaten up, pre-tax, about a quarter of a year’s income!

Click to read the text

This article from 1926 claims

a person could furnish a three-bedroom flat for the same cost of buying the accompanying outfit, modeled by quintessential flapper girl Clara Bow.

Of course, Clara didn’t have the Resale Shop Directory handy to check out the gently-used great fashions in her local consignment, resale, or thrift shop.

Read more fascinating info on this outfit at Fashioning.