1946 Originator Sketch: Artful Gathers Create Beautiful Frocks

While I am tempted to call it smocking, I suspect these frocks illustrate the use of shirring to artfully gather fabric, for a front peplum in one case and a side cascading drape in the other. Regardless, such clever, creative ideas result in beautiful frocks. Delicious!

Mid-50s Cocktail Dress - Elegance in Green

Beautiful in green silk poult-de-soie, this ultra-feminine cocktail dress has a bodice that hugs the figure, a drop waistline with basque points, and a skirt that flares from the smooth, flat hipline.

 

Mmmmm. Mid-1950s marvelous.

Spotted in a Shop Window - Retro Flapper Style

This eye-catching cocktail dress is very evocative of the Flapper era, especially with the decorative fringes. I love the pleated and ruffled "fans" on the bodice and hips. Yum!

Spotted in the window of Luly Yang, downtown Seattle.

Spotted in a Shop Window: Deliciously Draped Dresses from Luly Yang

Look at these gorgeously draped dresses, seen in the shop window of Luly Yang in downtown Seattle. Such beautiful cascading drapes, artful gathers, and elegant design details!

I wish I could afford to shop in this store. Sigh.

Scraps from the Past - Pucci Gown in Polyester DoubleKnit?

It sounds like a heresy - but this is the 1970s, after all!

The Pattern: Vogue Couturier Design 2788 (Pucci)

The Scrap: Eeek! Tucked inside this pattern was a heather-y orange polyester doubleknit! The color doesn't look as orange in the scanned image as it looks in real life, but trust me - it is true to the 1970s. :)

And a bonus! Also tucked in the envelope was the original Vogue Couturier design label, for sewing inside the dress.

The New Look - Then and Now

You all know the iconic dresses of the 1950s and early 1960s known as the "New Look" - the dresses with a snug bodice and a full skirt or a slim skirt. Here are some lovely examples:

 

 

 

 

The current revival of the New Look is fun to see. Generally the dresses are shorter. I spotted a great example in this pair of formal dresses in the window of Luly Yang, Seattle.The full skirt has soft box pleats, while the slim skirt has soft gathers. Note how the display includes matching shoes and purse. :). Perfect!

And I spotted this pert dress in the shop window of Anthropologie - it has a softly box-pleated short skirt and contoured drop-waist.

 Totally fun fashion!

Fashion from January 1951: Afternoon Dresses with Flair

Let's check out two more advanced patterns from McCall and January 1951. These two afternoon dresses are easy to make and add becoming style to your wardrobe. Ruffles or gathers combined with slim flared style - not to mention an optional flirty drape at the hip! Yumm.

McCall 8352

Every so easy to make. No sleeve bother. If you want long sleeves, you know how simple it is to add them to these drop-shoulder lines. Figure B has such sleeves, pushed up to three-quarter length. The shirred yokes look so pretty you will be delighted with them, and you will discover that they are vastly becoming. Consider plain heavy sheers and prints. Sizes 12-20, 40, 42. 50 cents.

 McCall 8343

"The new diamond neckline" - Because this wide neckline starts out close to the neck, it is becoming to most people. That line is easy to wear. The lower edges are softened by the frills which are cut in one with the fronts, faced and merely flopped over. So simple, yet it has the professionally-made look because of this construction. Good for plain crepe, good for a print. Sizes 12-20, 40-42. 75 cents.

Fashion from January 1951: Around-the-Clock Delicious Fashion

All day and evening too - it's round-the-clock fashion from January 1951 and McCall! And these lovely sundresses with jackets have superb style. Gosh, I wish had these gorgeous patterns!

 McCall 8345

The sleeveless topless dress with its own jacket is in for another big season. The dress that can go anywhere at all with propriety as long as one keeps the jacket on. The dress - jacketless - that can be a short evening gown or a bare-top sports dress, depending only on the fabric used. Fitted heart-shape bodice, 4-panel flared skirt, simple bolero. Sizes 12-20. 50 cents.
 

 McCall 8346

This around-the-clock ensemble is an investment, paying dividends in good looks. You can wear it for daytime, for afternoon and, without the jacket, for evening. In the south, it is both a street costume and a play dress. Note the jacket - cape-like. Note the dress - buttoned over at the side, with soft pleats centered at the back. Sizes 12-20. $1.00.

"Five O'Clockers" - Fine Cocktail Dresses from 1951

These evening dresses have designer quality - a redingote dress with slip dress and the perfect dress for important engagements. Check out these wonderful cocktail or "after 5" dresses from 1951 and McCall. I include the original sizes available and the original price of the pattern.

McCall 8344

The garment under the redingote dress is called a "slip" but that is a misnomer. If you make it of an important fabric - metal cloth or a beautiful print on good heavy crepe - it can be used alone as a short dinner dress. The redingote fastens only at the waistline. Its neckline is waist deep, shawl collared.  Sizes 12-20, 40-46 $1.00

McCall 8350

Very Big Date! Charming neckline, swooping down in a graceful heartline. Long wasted and bustle-y at the back, and a pannier peplum hat is just the thing for snake hips. A slim-as-a-pin dress viewed from the front, but in back it has that pretty walk-away flare. Crushed short sleeves and other sleeve types. Sizes 12-20. 85 cents.

New's Years Evening Gowns from 1951

McCall's Patterns published a fabulous booklet of "advanced" or designer patterns, dated January 1951. Included are New Year's evening gowns, and "Five O'Clockers", Florida-California clothes, Around-the-Clock ensembles for North and South, and the New Sheath Slimness, the Asymmetric Line, and the "Beautiful Open Necks". Patterns range in price from 50 cents to a dollar, which was double or more the typical price of a pattern at that time.

All this week I'll post the images from this booklet, in anticipation of the new year. :D Here is the cover dress, pattern 8341 (sizes 12-20, 40-42) 75 cents.

With an enticement so gorgeous on the cover, let's move on to the New Year's evening gowns!

For Many Enchanting Evenings

 

Charming "breath-taker". Soft and billowy. A wedged-out neck that's very wide, very deep. Collar-revers with winged magic, derived so simply from bias-cut pieces interfaced and eased on. A basque bodice, smoothly fitted in contrast with the seven gathered panels of luscious skirt fulness. Unlimited fabric potentialities, including velvet, organdy, taffeta, and metal cloth. Pattern No. 8353 Sizes 9-17. 75 cents.

Lace Gown, Taffeta Slip

Dress and slip are attached so only one set of straps is required. The binding along the U decolletage and "bust ruffle" is a bias fold which runs on into shoulder straps - a smart touch. And it would be smart of you to stitch narrow tape inside the straps to keep them from stretching. Extremely wide skirt, with a detachable tie-on peplum. Sizes 12-20. $1.00.