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About
Bias Cut Bureau
Bias Cut Bureau is a curated editorial dedicated to the style of classic Hollywood, from the silent-era cool of Louise Brooks to the studio-era glamour of Katharine Hepburn.
The name comes from a bias cut, which runs diagonal to the weave of the fabric, giving garments a flattering fit and natural flow. Madeleine Vionnet refined the technique in the 1920s, and within a decade Hollywood had made it the look of the era.
It all starts with the look: a portrait, a publicity still, or a magazine cover. For each one, we curate four to six pieces that give a nod to the original, sometimes faithfully, sometimes loosely. An authentic 1930s bias-cut gown might sit next to a reproduction, which sits next to a department-store satin dress. Sometimes you just want the vibe, a silhouette, a feeling.
Prices in the catalog are purposely varied. The Bureau is for everyone from the bride styling an Old Hollywood wedding to the classic movie fan wanting to bring a little big screen style to life. Every product is selected by hand, every image cleared for use.
Start with the collections. Each is built around a single star, the films and photographs that made the style, and the pieces that will let you make it your own.
The Bias Cut Bureau
About Our Picks
Genuine vintage pieces from the period itself — real items that have survived from the 1920s, 30s, 40s, 50s, or 60s, found mostly through Etsy's vintage sellers. They're rarer, sometimes more expensive, and one-of-a-kind.
Actual secondhand pieces — not necessarily from the exact era, but genuinely old. Found through Etsy resellers, ThredUp, Depop, and similar platforms. A sustainable way to get close to the look.
Made today in period style. A modern flapper dress modeled after the 1920s, or a contemporary maker working in mid-century silhouettes. These give you the look reliably in modern sizes.
Contemporary pieces that capture the spirit of a look without being period-styled. A modern slip dress that nods to 1930s bias-cut. A current oxford shirt in the Hepburn mode. These work in any wardrobe.