Jaunty 1930s Dresses with Back Fullness

These dresses from the December 1936 McCall's magazine look thoroughly jaunty. From the front, the bodice, waistline, and hip fit smoothly. But in back, the skirt flaunts its fullness. Who wouldn't love to have one of these back-flared frocks?

Love those hats, too!

1950s Paris Fashion: Dior Dress & Jacket, American-Style

From the Fall 1955 collection, this is a sketch of Dior's back-buttoned camisole dress of tawny wool, with a panel flying free from the skirt, and a cropped jacket with back fullness.

Here is Dior's dress, as envisioned by American dress manufacturers, adapted for the evening in metal-shot moire, and incorporat9ng the panel into the skirt. A very fitted jacket is substituted for the loose one. In one word? Dreamy.

 Featured in Woman's Home Companion, October 1955 edition.

Neutral Grays for Spring - 1952 Fashion

Soft pleats distinguish the skirt of this lovely dress and add back fullness - a trend from the late 1940s that continued into the 1950s.

A big ribbon bow accents this soft gray capelet - beautifully matched with the dress.

White contrasting "punchinello" cuffs trim the eye-catching sleeves of this gray dress, also trimmed with bows.

Spotted in a Shop Window - Swing Coat!

What do you think? Is this not a super-cute coat? It has more than a tent silhouette - it has beautiful bias flared swing fullness.

It reminds me of the coats of the 1940s (and a bit in the early 1950s). In that era coats with swing fullness (especially in the back) were enormously popular. Adult or child, these coats were definitely tailored, and had delicious back fullness and flared drape. Here are a few examples from patterns currently in my shop: