What inspired you to do what you do today?

In my teenage bedroom I had posters of Marilyn Monroe and Dita Von Teese on the walls. From a young age I was already drawn to vintage glamour.

I love how music and fashion reflect the spirit of their time. I’m very interested in history, particularly the first half of the 20th century. Especially in this time period, I’m fascinated by the glamour and the stories of remarkable women who used the power of self-transformation. The idea of becoming a self-created persona, where beauty is an art form.

This is the greatest source of inspiration for writing my music.

Who are your vintage role models and why?

There are many great vintage icons that I love from the old era (and current era as well!) But if I had to pick five favourites, it would be:

Marlene Dietrich
I love how she owned every little aspect of her performance, from the costume design to being very specific about lighting. She really was an engineer in creating beauty and the director of her own image.

Mata Hari
I love how she is from a small town in the North of the Netherlands, just like me, and became a creation of her own imagination. She is the ultimate femme fatale.

Vera Lynn
She is someone I hold very close to my heart. I can’t fully explain why, but sometimes I am moved to tears just thinking about her, or when listening to her music. She is not a glamour diva like the others on this list, but she used her gift to tell a story of hope and resilience at a time when people needed it most. In 2025, I dedicated an EP to her with covers and original songs inspired by her story.

Marilyn Monroe
She is the ultimate beauty and fashion icon to me, and the more you learn about who she really was, the more fascinated you become by her.

Josephine Baker
This woman is a real powerhouse, a sensational performer, human rights activist and wartime hero. Her story is incredible, and that’s why I wrote a song called Dance Like Josephine Baker, which is my latest release on the Berlin-based label Electro Swing Thing. You can find the song on Spotify!

Do you have a preferred vintage era?

Yes, my music is heavily inspired by the Roaring Twenties, the ''Jazz Age''.

I also love the Belle Époque, and I think the wartime era is very interesting. It is where icons like Vera Lynn, Josephine Baker and Marlene Dietrich played their perhaps most memorable parts.

What is the best part of your passion?

I love the inspiration process. Being is my own creative bubble, where I do a lot of research, visit museums and watch movies to learn about history and find inspiration. Here I come up with designs for new costumes and ideas for new songs. This is one of the things I love most, maybe because it’s also a part where I don’t think about expectations or strategy yet.

And what is also a great drive, is how people’s faces light up during performances. The engagement with the audience can be such a heartwarming experience. I love to see them having a good time and dance to my electro-swing music.

Can you explain your choices of our jewellery and what other pieces are catching your eye?

In many performances I wear pieces from my Lovett & Co collection. I find the quality very good, and the designs are so vintage-glamour coded. The Diamante drop earrings with the matching necklace are one of my favourites. Wearing this set instantly makes you feel like a movie star.

I love the specific shade of gold that is used in almost all the jewellery, as it looks so authentic and rich, even though the price is quite affordable.

Recently I visited the Titanic & Fashion exhibition in The Hague, where jewellery was on display that was used in the actual movie. The first thing that came to my mind was that they might as well have put some Lovett & Co pieces there. They would have looked equally beautiful and would have been a seamless match. That’s perhaps the biggest compliment I can think of right now, and it underlines how much I adore these pieces!

Some things to anticipate:

• This Thursday, 15-01-2026, I’m playing a show at Europe’s largest showcase festival and music conference, Eurosonic! https://esns.nl/en/festival/artists/miss-helena/

  
  

• My new single ‘Mata Hari’, will be released soon, so stay tuned for updates! https://www.instagram.com/helenavegter/

  
  

• Listen to my music on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1z5WA3j00WQzF4707xp3u6

A bit of history...The roaring twenties marked one of the most vibrant and transformative periods in modern cultural history. Emerging from the shadows of World War I, society embraced freedom, excess, and reinvention. At the heart of this era were performers and artistes who defined the decade’s energy through music, dance, fashion, and spectacle. Their influence shaped nightlife, popular culture, and the enduring mythology of the 1920s.

Live entertainment flourished in nightclubs, theatres, and underground venues. Jazz became the soundtrack of the age, pulsing through crowded dance floors and smoke-filled rooms. Musicians, singers, and dancers captivated audiences with improvisation and bold new rhythms that broke away from tradition. Jazz performers were celebrated not just for their talent, but for their attitude—confident, daring, and unapologetically modern.

One of the most iconic performance styles of the era was burlesque. Burlesque artistes blended comedy, satire, dance, and sensuality into theatrical shows that pushed social boundaries. These performances were often flamboyant and deliberately provocative, challenging Victorian ideas of modesty while celebrating personal expression. Costumes shimmered under stage lights, and performers commanded attention with wit, charm, and confidence.

The rise of flapper girls symbolized a cultural shift led by young women who rejected restrictive norms. Flappers were dancers, singers, and socialites who embraced independence and fun, both on and off the stage. Their performances featured energetic movements like the Charleston, and their presence represented freedom, rebellion, and a desire to live fully in the moment.

Much of this entertainment thrived during prohibition parties, where alcohol was illegal but nightlife was unstoppable. Hidden behind unmarked doors and whispered passwords were speak easys, where performers entertained elite crowds and everyday thrill-seekers alike. These secret venues became cultural hubs, blending music, fashion, and performance into a single intoxicating experience. The atmosphere was often decedant, reflecting a society determined to enjoy itself despite legal restrictions.

Literature also captured the spirit of the era, most famously in The Great Gatsby. Though fictional, Gatsby’s lavish gatherings echoed real-life parties filled with performers, musicians, and dancers. These events showcased the spectacle and excess that defined the decade, reinforcing the image of the 1920s as an age of glamour and illusion.

Fashion played a crucial role in performance and identity. 1920s style was bold and expressive, designed for movement and visibility under bright lights. The 20s dress style featured dropped waistlines, fringe, beads, and luxurious fabrics that shimmered as performers danced. 1920s dressing was not just about clothing—it was a statement of modernity, rebellion, and artistic freedom.

Performers and artistes of the 1920s helped redefine entertainment and self-expression. Their creativity, courage, and charisma left a legacy that continues to inspire fashion, music, theatre, and popular culture today. The roaring twenties remain unforgettable because of those who dared to perform loudly, live boldly, and embrace a world that was changing at a thrilling pace.