Tag: vintage sewing

1950s fashion, sewing, sewing patterns, Vintage Kids

Maybe the Cutest Pattern Ever Made

Lisa

I never quite know what I’ll come across in my stash, so when I saw this little cutie, it intrigued me. It’s a Learn to Sew pattern from Advance, which I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen, especially when I read the instructions:

The pretty side. Isn’t that the cutest thing ever? Apparently this series of patterns were written for children doing their first sewing projects, so they are written especially for children. I suspect that I would do well with these instructions. I hope to find more like this, because I just think it’s the sweetest thing ever. And the pattern is cute too.

1930's fashion, sewing, vintage clothing, vintage fashion

I’ll Fly Away (on Fabulous Friday)

Lisa

I was listing this 1935 Excella catalog in the Etsy shop, and I fell in love with this. The one on the left. The one with the collar that could be mistaken for wings. The Dumbo of dresses, if you will. Isn’t it amazing?

The seams. The buttons. The topstitching. Everything combines to make it a memorable garment to enter a room in. This is why I love the 30s so much. It hugs the curves but can stand alone in it’s style. You wouldn’t even need much in the way of accessories for this look to sing. And lest you think that that collar would indeed take flight — NO. The topstitching would help it stay in place just fine.

It’s Friday. I’m in love.

1930's fashion, 1970s fashion, sewing, sewing patterns

The Letty Lynton Dress

Lisa
Joan Crawford as Letty Lynton, 1932. Dress by Gilbert Adrian.

In 1932, the film Letty Lynton was premiered, and with it, one of the most iconic dresses in screen history. Joan Crawford was costumed by the legendary fashion designer Gilbert Adrian, in a dress full of frills and ruffles, and those sleeves. Ms. Crawford, blessed with naturally broad shoulders, was blessed by Mr. Adrian to be dressed in suits and gowns with even broader shoulders, in order to make her waist look proportionally smaller. And what a look that was!

Adrian turned fashion on its access with his broad-shouldered look, and was a genius at fashion marketing, thinking six months forward in fashion so that his gowns didn’t look dated in the time it took to film the movie and get it to market. Depending upon who you believe, there were millions of this style of dress marketed in the months and years following this one showing up on the silver screen. It was a major movie moment. This, of course, is subject to media hype, as it would seem that we’d see some in vintage fashion now.

So when I came across this 1978 pattern, Letty is the first person I thought of. It’s not a dress, though. It’s a wrap top and tiered skirt, but those sleeves have Gilbert Adrian written all over them. I wonder if that’s what the designer had in mind when it was created?

Simplicity 8545, ©1978.

Of course, it could be that the designer was thinking of flamenco, especially given the girl with the maraca on the left, but either way, it’s a cute look that would look great either together or separate.

1950s fashion

I introduce to you: the Fauxlero

Lisa
Mail Order 4572, 1952.

Have you ever seen a dress like this, wherein it appears to have a matching bolero, but in fact it’s an illusion? If so, let me introduce you to the fauxlero.

Fauxlero is a fake bolero, in case you haven’t surmised. It may have free pieces that attach in back, or if may be completely sewn down, but either way, it looks like a cropped jacket but isn’t. You don’t see this much anymore, because clothing companies want cheap garments and don’t care much about design, but it’s a super clever — and cute — idea. Most of the ones I’ve seen are from the fifties and 60s, but there are some newer ones in the 80s, when the fifties revival happened.

I didn’t come up with the term. I first saw it on the Dress a Day blog, but it’s a great term for describing what’s going on here. The nice thing about a fauxlero is that it is so waist-friendly. It whittles the waist and also creates a waist where one may not exist. You also don’t have to worry about setting your jacket down somewhere and forgetting it. And there are so many ways to construct it. Use a matching or contrasting fabric, whichever works best. Isn’t it cute? Click on images to purchase.

Simplicity 3044. Photo: Vintage Sewing Patterns Wiki
1970s fashion, sewing, sewing patterns, vintage fashion

The Narrow Shoulder Look

Lisa

I was listing this super cute pattern in the shop this morning and saw that it touts “the new narrow shoulder look,” so of course I had to investigate. This pattern is from 1971. Simplicity must have been on the cutting edge of fashion at that point, because I find no references to the narrow shoulder look in newspapers of that year, nor of 1970. I do, however, see references in 1972.

Papers of that time defined the narrow shoulder look at having a shorter shoulder area as well as a higher sleeve head. It was also the fashion for mens’ jackets, with one article saying that this had been the fashion for men in the early 1950s as well. It’s not often in those days that you saw a collision of mens’ and womens’ fashion, unlike today with all of our unisex clothing.

Here are a couple of other examples of the narrow shoulder look. The combination of the short shoulder and the high sleeve head make the arms look longer, for a very flattering look.

Love the tailoring on the first one. It is super feminine and whittles the waist. The second one, 5186, is also called “the Navajo Look,” for reasons I will have to investigate.

Since the original pattern, 9446, is from 1971 and other two are in the 5000’s and 1972, I think the first one was likely an original pattern of the narrow shoulder style. I can see some of the Romeo & Juliet influence of the early 70s here, following the 1968 film by Franco Zeffirelli. The sleeves aren’t in true Juliet style like some patterns of the era, but they are definitely quite full — not unlike coming out of the leg o mutton sleeves of the 1890s and into the 1900s. Fashion echoes history as it changes.

I know that a lot of people take issue with puff type sleeves, and I don’t think I’d wear them now as I have gotten fluffier in my old age, but I used to love them back in the day. This style would not only elongate the arms but it would (obviously) narrow the shoulders — a big plus for someone with linebacker shoulders like me!

I’d make this in the shorter length. What do you think?

sewing

I Have Questions.

Lisa
McCalls 6592, ©1962

I love this little blue robe. I’d trim it in eyelet, because I just love eyelet. That being said, the shorter version is cute too, isn’t it?

My first question is about the pocket placement. It seems high, especially on the blue one. I think that the way it’s cut means that they need to be placed high, but doesn’t it look a bit wonky?

My other question is, what the heck is that girl pouring? Purple Kool-Aid? Was it a Netflix and chill day, or was she giving Sissy Kool-Aid for breakfast? Is it some weird science experiment? I need to know.

1910s

What Do You Think of This 1914 Blouse?

Lisa

I came across this whilst trying to date another pattern for collar, cuffs and vests from the same time period. I find it fascinating.

May Manton 8462, 1914.

I thought at first that the “vest” is a different garment, but it’s not. It’s attached, and only gives a vest effect. A faux-vest, if you will. I like it in theory, and it’s interesting to look at, especially with the contrasting fabrics, but I think in reality it wouldn’t lay right when you sit, and would probably bunch up at the waist. What do you think?

Description in the ad: “Here is a blouse which shows distinctly new features. It is quite simple and severe enough to be made of linen or pique and is well adapted to the various tub silks and to combinations of materials. Since the washable silks launder quite as well as cotton and linen, it is easy to combine them and the combination is extremely handsome. In the illustration, striped tub silk is made with vest, collar and cuffs of pique but in the back view, white linen is combined with colored. The long plain sleeves are exceedingly fashionable but, in spite of that fact, many women prefer the shorter length and these can be cut off as shown in the back view. There is just fullness enough in the blouse to be becoming while the plain stitched vest gives a tailored finish.”

I have so many questions. First, combining linen and silk when laundering would be a nightmare, yes? Add colors and whites together and how in the world did they make this happen? What kind of laundry wizardry was involved here?

sewing, sewing patterns, vintage clothing, vintage fashion

Fabulous Friday: So Pretty

Lisa
Simplicity 3444.

I came across this pattern this week and just sighed. It’s so softly feminine. What a pretty look for both a wedding dress and a going away dress, back in the day. I imagine it in a soft gray, kind of like it’s shown in the long length, and maybe a pale blue in the shorter version. I can’t stop staring at it.

I question the lace on the collar and pockets in View 1. I think it’s a bridge too far. I questioned the pockets as well, until someone pointed out that it would hold a hankie. I suspect however, that as my mother would say, “they are just for show.” I think that with where they hit on the hip, anything you’d put in them would fall out. Skip the extra lace and the pockets, and get yourself a cute little bag to carry. It’s all you need. This type of dress doesn’t need the extra embellishments.

Am I right? Click here to purchase.

1950s fashion, sewing patterns, vintage fashion

Fabulous Friday

Lisa

As you might imagine, after last week’s arrival of 10,000 patterns — no joke, folks, it is 10,000 — one could probably surmise that I’ve been just a wee bit busy. It’s actually been like Christmas in May here, with all of the beautiful designs I’ve seen. I’m slowly working my way through them, as well as building another website, because hey, who’s a glutton for punishment? THIS GIRL.

I may have squealed a little bit when I came across this beauty. I’d imagine that there is a fair bit of handwork in it, but it’s glorious, nonetheless.

Vogue Couturier Design 748, from 1953.

Isn’t it lovely? On that note, I’m off to bask in more patterns. Click here to shop. Have a great weekend.

sewing, sewing patterns, vintage clothing

My Day

Lisa

This is what my afternoon looks like. This truck is currently heading toward my house, ETA in two hours, straight from Texas. It contains five sewing pattern cabinets (YAY – I need them!) and ten thousand new-to-me vintage patterns.

TEN THOUSAND PATTERNS.

Dear Lord, what have I done to myself? Oh well, one grabs these things when one grabs these things, so I’m actually pretty excited. Husband, not so much, but he hasn’t really spoken badly of it. No matter, it’s my work to do anyway. It’s taken six months of planning this in the middle of a pandemic and a broken supply chain (and a knee replacement for the person at the other end of the delivery), but we persevered and now it’s happening. I’ll be interested to see what I find in there, and you’ll be seeing more lovelies, I’m sure.

Pray for me. Light a candle. Send good juju. I’m gonna need it in order to fit all of this into my workspace! More will be revealed after the unloading.