When we think of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, our minds often jump to the opulence of 1920s fashion—sparkling dresses, sleek suits, and the iconic flapper style. But the fashion in The Great Gatsby is more than just about looking glamorous; it’s symbolic of the excess and illusion that define the novel’s characters and themes.

Set in the Roaring Twenties, The Great Gatsby immerses us in a world of wealth and decadence, and the clothes reflect that. The 1920s were an era of cultural and social transformation, with fashion playing a big role in expressing newfound freedoms. Shorter hemlines, beaded evening dresses, and cloche hats became staples of women’s wardrobes, as society embraced modernity and indulgence. In Gatsby’s world, this fashion speaks to the showy wealth of characters like Daisy Buchanan and Jordan Baker.

Daisy, in particular, is often described in ethereal, glittering outfits, symbolising both her beauty and her unattainability. Her white dresses and luxurious pearls paint her as a figure of purity and elegance, but they also hide the moral emptiness underneath. Like the lavish parties at Gatsby’s mansion, the clothes in The Great Gatsby are dazzling but ultimately hollow, a reflection of the characters’ desire to escape reality through appearance.

Gatsby himself is often dressed in fine suits, but one of the standout moments in the novel is when he wears a pink suit. This choice of color is unconventional for men’s fashion at the time, and it’s telling of Gatsby’s desire to stand out and impress Daisy. The suit represents Gatsby’s wealth, but it also highlights his outsider status in the world of old money. His flamboyant choice contrasts sharply with Tom Buchanan’s more traditional clothing, symbolising the clash between new money and old money.

Fashion, in this sense, becomes a tool for Gatsby to construct his idealised version of himself—a wealthy, sophisticated man worthy of Daisy’s love. But just like his extravagant parties, Gatsby’s carefully crafted image is built on illusion, and his pink suit is a subtle reminder of the fragility of that dream.

Jordan Baker, the novel’s resident flapper, embodies the liberated, modern woman of the 1920s. Her boyish figure, short hair, and carefree attitude reflect the changes in women’s roles during this time. The flapper style—drop-waist dresses, bobbed hair, and a more androgynous silhouette—was a rejection of the restrictive fashions of the past. Jordan’s appearance, like her personality, signals independence and a certain detachment from traditional femininity.

But, as with all things in The Great Gatsby, there’s a darker side to this liberation. While Jordan may seem free, she’s ultimately trapped by the same societal expectations and superficiality that ensnare Daisy. Their fashion choices, while modern and rebellious, still serve the narrative of appearance over substance, showing how even the most liberated women in the novel are bound by their social roles.

In The Great Gatsby, fashion is a reflection of the era’s obsession with appearance, status, and the pursuit of the American Dream. The beautiful clothes worn by Daisy, Jordan, and Gatsby are as much a part of the novel’s glittering world as the parties and mansions, but they also highlight the emptiness beneath the surface. In Fitzgerald’s Jazz Age, fashion becomes a metaphor for the illusions the characters chase, making it central to the novel’s themes of aspiration and disillusionment.