I love fashion spreads in magazines. I love seeing the looks, colors, styles, and accessories that are currently (or have been) in trend…no matter what the decade. And today’s spread is no exception!
Another thing that I absolutely adore about these early women’s magazines are how varied and detailed the topics are compared to today’s. You especially get that vibe when you read the descriptions of each outfit and accessory. It isn’t simply a list of the maker and price. Instead it is a lovely little blurb highlighting the main points of each item along with a wonderful description of color.
I hope you enjoy taking a little look back at not only fashion from the 1920’s, but also into the setup and work that went in to creating these wonderful magazine pieces! 🙂
Fashions Edited by Helen Kous
Good Housekeeping, April, 1922 Volume 74, Number 4
Last night was the first time in months where I woke up freezing. In fact, around 3am I stumbled to the living room to grab another throw blanket to keep me warm until it was time to roll out of bed. Even at 7am the chill was enough to send my searching for slippers. In January, I would never let the house get so cold, but in September….I’m savoring every chilly bit of it!
Today’s post is all about favorites. Some new, some old, but all 100% drool worthy! To start with, I am in love with this magazine cover from Good Housekeeping. I have several print outs of from this publication that hang up in my sewing studio…and I may just have to add this one to the mix!
A few weeks ago, my husband and I went on a little vacation and found a place with an amazing collection of fiestaware! With these cheery dishes still on my mind, I came across this vintage ad where you can get a table setting for 8 for a very reasonable price! I wish they still sold dishes this way!
This next favorite is a two for one. I adore not only the finished garment, but I love seeing the pattern pieces used to construction this 1950’s gem! Although, walking really wouldn’t be an option in that dress….
This fun teapot from Wayfair would make any chilly evening a little warmer! Click HERE to purchase.
And who wouldn’t love to wear an amazing apron like this 1870’s one while working in the kitchen! 😉
So as I pull my fleece up a little tighter, I plan on making the most of this chilly day…and I hope you will join me!
The last few weeks of August are upon us and natures is in full bloom. Flowers are large, bright, and overflowing. The grass is full and green. And every tree is leafed out in all its glory. With sights such as these, it is easy to see how a person would want to carry a little bit of nature around with them. And what better place than on one’s clothing!
Today’s post is all about the use of floral details which designers have been using to brighten up dresses for decades. Whether placed at the neckline, the waist, or along the hem of a skirt, these lovely replicas of nature’s beauty certainly are worthy of admiration!
Here are a few of my favorites!
These two lovely 1850’s ball gowns have some lovely floral accents!
This stunning 1870’s salmon pink gown has amazing pleated ruffles and embroidered rose detailing.
I adore this gown!! Such unique placement of the flowers!
The 1920’s definitely knew the appeal of using flowers!
I love Billie Holiday’s gown with the petal bodice!!
This soft yellow 1950’s evening gown definitely evokes a warm summer evening!
With so many colors, shapes, and textures to choose from, using these lovely decorations can truly add glamour to your next creation!
Some hairstyles in history are complicated. Some hairstyles in history make you very happy that you didn’t live during that time period (i.e.1830’s). Some seem so impossible to recreate that the hair must be fake, while others will continue to find rebirths in modern decades. But one particular look, it seems no matter who you ask, tends to be an all time favorite. Which look am I talking about? The Edwardian look of the 1900-1920’s. From the Gibson Girl pouf, to the delicate waves of low buns, Edwardian women knew how to make their hair work for them. And while curling irons were just becoming more commonly used, many relied on tried and true techniques of their mothers to complete these heavenly creations.
I have gathered a wonderful sampling of these looks to drool over…and maybe recreate for yourself! 🙂
I simply adore these looks, and it was one of the reasons I decided to go with an Edwardian image for my blog logo. Grecian in style, with a sprinkling of Regency, and a dash of something completely unique, the hairstyles of the early 1900’s will forever, at least in my opinion, be some of the most romantic ever created!
A little while ago, I watched the six hour 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice. I know I have mentioned it on this blog before as one of my favorite movies…and it truly is. No matter how many times I have watched it, I still find it as wonderfully fulfilling as the first time. Of course, drooling over all those amazing gowns doesn’t hurt either! 🙂
Yet, there have been many adaptations of this beloved story, and each with their own gowns and styles. I thought it would be rather fun to take a look at the four most famous versions of the novel focusing on the looks of the title character (and my favorite) – Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
1940 – Starring Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier
While, not my favorite version, it is still considered a classic with many wonderful parts in it. However, I can’t say that the gowns worn are all that accurate. A bit of 1860 meets 1830 with a brief stop in 1810. With that said, here are a few of my favorite gowns from this film:
1980 – Starring Elizabeth Garvie and David Rintoul
Another sweet version with clothing MUCH more appropriate for the time period! I especially love the various chemisettes that Elizabeth Bennet wears!
1995 – Starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth
This one is the best. Period. Done. I love absolutely everything about it from the scenery, to the acting, to, of course, the gowns! If you want to be truly inspired and taken away…this is the one to see! Here are a few of my favorite looks Lizzie wears:
2005 -Starring Kiera Knightly and Matthew Macfadyen
While this one takes the prize on music, I still find it a bit more Hollywood-esque than the previous versions. However, Kiera Knightly’s Lizzie is just as spunky as the rest of them! Here are my favorite looks from the film:
While the gowns I have chosen from each film may not be the most glamorous, they are still captivating in their own way! Looking at all these delicious outfits has me most definitely in the sewing mood! I’m off to my sewing machine! 🙂
There are (and probably always will be) two sewing skills that I will struggle with for my entire sewing career. I may have become much better at executing this skills, however, I don’t think I will ever get over the stress associated with them. What are these most painful parts of my sewing? Well, they are zippers and buttonholes. I don’t like them. I don’t enjoy them. And they most definitely are something that I wish I could avoid. However, I can’t and I have come to a tentative peace agreement with them, and am working hard to gain more confidence. So in a step to get over my fear, I have decided to create a whole post on one of these areas….the buttonhole.
Despite my personal feelings about them, buttonholes have longed been used to add interest to gowns in addition to their more practical use of closing up the garment. When I first began sewing, and began my struggle with buttonholes on the machine, I thought it would be easier to learn to hand sew them. While it was a bit less stressful, it was a painfully long process and only looked appropriate on gowns that were pre-sewing machine (1850’s and back.) So when I upgraded to my current machine, I was delighted to find that it came with a button foot that mechanically inserted the buttonhole. While I was no longer left to keep an eye on the length and width of the stitch, I still found it tricky to keep the foot from not bunching up the fabric or going sideways. Practice and time has solved most of these issues, and I am happier with the finished product…mostly! 🙂
Last year, I put my newly found confidence to work when I created an 1880’s blue gown which featured velvet buttons down the front. I think I sweated through that process for a good 40 minutes!
Despite my short comings, I still love the look of buttons in different shapes and sizes!
Here are some of my favorite examples!
I love the graduated size of the buttons down the front of this 1860’s gown.
I can’t imagine the time that went in to creating this front panel with all the buttons. I can’t quite tell if the buttons are just sewn on, or there they are poking out through buttonholes. Either way, this 1870’s gown is awesome!
Another example of various button sizes on the bottom half of this 1880’s gown.
I adore the brown gown with the buttons that go all the way down one side.
While not as daunting as the above example, I love the bling these buttons add this this evening gown from the 1900’s.
This pattern for a 1930’s dress, shows the appeal of buttons and angles.
I love every single thing about this 1950’s dress!! Every single piece!!!
This 1950’s wrap gets an extra helping of fun from the unique placement of buttons!
So whether you are a buttonhole master, or, like me, working your way to apprenticeship, I hope you appreciate the appeal they can offer!
I tend to be a bit behind the times. I think that is one reason why I enjoy the past so much. 🙂
So when it comes to sewing, I am truly a trial and error kind of sewer. I encounter a problem, and then I sit and think about how to fix it. I am a very “keep my eyes on my own paper” type of person. However, I will often miss out on tricks of the trade that other experienced sewers have discovered which could help make my sewing easier and more efficient. So, I spent a little time searching out some of these little tips and thought I would share my favorite five. Many of you may already be very familiar with these ideas, but in case you are like me, you may have never found them on your own without a little bit of help! 🙂
Tip #1 – Use two or three pencils rubber banded together to add in your seam allowance when tracing or designing your own pattern.
Photo credit: Sew McCool
Tip #2 – Wrap a large rubber band around your sewing machine arm to keep seams very straight.
Photo Credit: Yesterday’s Thimble
Tip#3 – To avoid frayed ends, wash fabric in a pillow case with the end tied in knot.
Photo Credit: The Mother Huddle
Tip #4 – This tip hits home as I have ruined many a gown with ripping through a buttonhole. Place a pin on one end of the buttonhole to avoid tearing through the fabric.
Photo Credit: Simple Simon and Company
Tip #5 – Keep pins in a bar of soap to help them slide through fabric easier. I imagine this would be wonderful when pleating large amounts of fabric into a waistband.
Photo Credit: Make it Love it
I hope these little tips will help make your sewing more effective and enjoyable…I know they have mine!
Happy Wednesday!
Did you know that I have begun creating more 19th century clothing to sell?
Today is the day to eat as much BBQ food as you can hold, spit out as many watermelon seeds as your lips can handle, and keep the neighbors up late with firecracker after firecracker! It is also the day to take out all your red, white, and blue and slap them all together in one glorious outfit! Of course it is probably an outfit that you would never wear on July 3rd or July 5th. 🙂
To celebrate not only our nation’s birthday, but patriotism in general, I have collected a series of images that show national pride! So enjoy…then go outside and have a blast!!
This 1903’s Sailor suit is adorable and very comfy looking.
While this photo is in black and white, one can imagine the bright stripes and crisp white of these 1940’s teenagers’ dresses.
I love the all-white dress this 1950’s model is wearing…including that amazing hat!
Another very fun 1930’s dress, I love the two toned belt on the blue dress.
Lena Horne looks stunning in this polka-dot-esque dress that I can imagine in a happy blue!
One length, but four beautiful necklines in a wide range of flag colors!
Stunningly simply, this dress is the perfect picnic dress!
