In Search of Style: Cute Mid-60s Swimsuit Fashion!

Are you ready for the water this summer with a cute vintage-inspired swimsuit? I recently posted a swimsuit pattern in my shop that had this page from the May '66 edition of Seventeen Magazine tucked inside.

Here is the pattern, Simplicity 5978! When comparing the two swimsuits in the ad with the pattern, I think the sewist had her eye on the lower suit, as it matches the swimsuit pattern the most closely.As you can see, the boy shorts-style trunks and the curved camisole bra top are not too far from the illustrated swimsuit (minus some ruffles) in the lower half of the ad. :) The only real difference is in the beach coverup - the pattern version actually resembles the bloused top of the upper swimsuit in the ad.

Any way you look at it, the suits are cute! (Not to mention their hair is cute too :) The nice bonus with Simplicity 5978 is that it includes a lovely slim dress with a lacy overblouse..

Simplicity 5978

Miss Lillian's Postcards: Vintage Tweet from Niagara Falls

Postcard 35

Sender: Nellie
Addressee: Miss Lilian Maguire, 1902 G Terry St, Seattle, Wash.
Postmark: Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Date: Aug 12, 1908
Image: General View of Falls, Niagara Falls

The fabulous Niagara Falls, looking fabulous in 1908. Comparing this image with a recent image on this page (which looks like it was taken from the same vantage point), it would appear that the structure in the lower right hand corner no longer exists.

Message:

Dear Lil,

Am having a

fine trip hope you

are enjoying yours

received you[r] cards.

Nellie

Well how fun! Nellie is enjoying her summer trip to Niagara Falls, and is assuming that Lillian (misspelled as "Lilian" in the address) is on vacation too. This is the first we have heard from Nellie, who could be a friend or a family member. And evidently Lillian has sent her several post cards. In any case, lucky Nellie to be able to visit Niagara Falls, it was no doubt as thrilling then as it is now. From the postal stamp on the front of the postcard (Seattle, Aug 14), this postcard only took 2 days to reach Lillian!

And where will you be spending your summer vacation?

1907 Jabot Blouse

Home Sewing Tips from the 1920s: Ribbon Accents for a Girl's Frock

So far the tips that I have posted from Ruth Wyeth Spears and the 1920s have been for women, but Ruth also wrote sewing tips for infants', children's, and men's clothing too! In this tip, a sunny summer frock for a girl is dressed up with some flower accents created with slim "baby" ribbon. Ruth describes the frock fabric as organdie, and the ribbon as two-toned or double-sided. I found several shops on Etsy that carry just this type of ribbon (for example, SewVictorianCrazy). I am sure that you could find more. It just depends on how true to Ruth's tip you want to be. :) Sweet tip!

Seen in a Shop Window: The New Shirtwaist Dresses?

I spotted these shirtdresses in the store window of Anthropologie in downtown Seattle, and was reminded of the classic shirtwaist dresses of the 1940s through the 1980s. These dresses differ by dispensing with the waistline. Both shirtdresses are short and perfect for summer.

This madras shirtdress has a lovely asymmetry in the hemline and a lovely, flowing drape.

This button-pleat shirtdress is formal, demure, and flirty at the same time. The even hemline of this fully-lined cotton dress gives it a tent-like silhouette.

Pattern of the Week: Darling 50s Summer Ensemble for a Girl

Everything about this McCall pattern from 1951 for growing preschoolers makes it special.  I simply love this matching ensemble of short sun dress, bloomers, and bolero, decorated with cute little poodles or rosebuds for that special touch. Such smoochy cuteness!

McCall 1616

Some of the charming details include:

• faced bodice
• sweetheart camisole neckline
• gathered dirndl skirt with scalloped trim of your choice
• back button closing
• scalloped edges on the bolero
• your choice of hand-embroidered poodles or petite rosebuds

Check out the details of the adorable poodle transfer:

The tiny rosebuds on simple vines make a delicate and dainty motif: