The summer season isn’t known for its evening-wear looks. Flip-flops, beachwear and shorts, yes, but glitz, tassels and sequins are usually confined to the party season.

Until now, that is. Inspired by upcoming movie blockbuster The Great Gatsby, Twenties-style looks are the razzle dazzle trend of 2012.

From Gucci to Marchesa and Roberto Cavalli, catwalk designers went crazy for divine deco.

Flapper girl style has become the retro reference of choice – think intricate beading, drop waists and even a dusting of fur and feathers.

Jazz hands at the ready for the high street with this show-stopping trend.

Slinky Silhouette

The Twenties-esque shape is easy to master if you want to cast yourself as a modern-day Daisy Buchanan.

Saying goodbye to corsetry and structure, women of the Twenties turned to less exaggerated silhouettes with shorter dresses that skimmed the hips and flattened the chest.

“The look was a sleek and slender silhouette, quite flat and boyish,” explains Naomi Thompson, author of new book Style Me Vintage.

“Drop waists were the main feature of the Twenties that created a longer, less feminine frame. The big revolution, however, was that a visible ankle was now not only socially acceptable but fashionable.”

Opt for a straight knee-length shape to stay true to the decade.

Costume Drama

Keep your look dramatically retro rather than fancy dress.

For a modern take, some retailers like River Island and Marks & Spencer have taken the Gucci homage black, gold and cream fringed dresses in a tribal direction.

Look for exaggerated fringing that looks more festival high summer than deco dancefloor.

To go classic Gatsby, think flirty glamour with swinging tasselled trims, shimmering lavish beading or sequins in art deco formations. Look for a daring side split if you prefer a slinky long dress.

To go all out with Twenties-inspired glitzy dresses, aim for a blank canvas and stay jewellery free. Prefer to be dripping in vintage-look accessories? Opt for a plain, fuss-free dress to offset the bling.

Art Deco-rate

The Twenties was a period of excess on the accessories front, but pieces still looked dainty and streamlined to fit with the new fashion mood.

This season, you can go to town on dazzling headpieces, statement drop earrings or rows of beads - just ensure you keep the rest of your look pared down.

“Avoid the cliched look of long gloves and a hair feather and instead go for a simple gold head band draped around the forehead and metres of looped glass beads,” Thompson suggests.

Think Twenties starlet for your outerwear too; forget the jacket and add extra drama with a frothy ostrich feather cover-up.