1930s - Suave and Chic Winter Looks

The weather is freezing here in Seattle this week, so I think a winter coat post is in order. And I adore 1930s fashion. :)

Pencil-slim and trimmed with a lynx fur collar and slanting bound pockets, this tailored coat from the late 1930s exudes devastating charm. That jaunty hat has a bit of swagger to it, too!

1930s Glamour in a Double-Breasted Princess Coat

I'll be traveling for Thanksgiving today, and I hope you all are blessed with a safe and wonderful time with all those you love.

For my travels today, I wish I could wear this fabulous tweed coat from 1937 that hugs the figure with flair! It features princess seams, underarm pockets with shaped flaps, double-breasted closing, and a shawl collar accented with scalloped Persian lamb fur. And I'd wear the marvelous hat too, with its square visor, envelope crown, and Persian pom-poms!

I wish I could order one of these!

1960s Winter Fashion from Young Designer Gayle Kirkpatrick

Today let's take a peek at winter fashion from 1966. Gayle Kirkpatrick was a hot "In" designer from the mid-60s to the late 1970s. During that time, he won a Coty Award, and designed for Butterick, among many other things. Here are a couple of his designs for Butterick from 1966.

Coatdress Butterick 4204

The coatdress could be sewn to be a coat or a dress (or both!). In this interpretation, sewn in wide wale corduroy, it definitely looks like a coat, with military details.

The double image below pairs Butterick 4204 with Gayle Kirkpatrick's Blouse and Suit Butterick 4205 (looking darn cute and perfectly Mod in paisley). Note the "power stance" of the models. No demure crossing of legs in the youthful revolution of the Mod years!

1930s Winter Coat - Wrap Yourself in Luxury

Double pockets with flaps that hug a snug waistline, a double-breasted closing, and a warm shawl collar topped with luxurious fur make this tweed coat from 1937 a beauty. That sculptured hat tops it off with panache!

Such a fashionable way to stay warm during freezing winter days!

Winter Fashion from 1937 - Glamour Coat

It's the "new glamour from Paris" for the 1937 - 1938 winter season! All is immensely alluring, charming. Wear this brilliant coat to a football game? Why not! This beautiful fitted coat of Shetland tweed has a Black Persian lamb collar, high scalloped pockets, soft pleats, and a leather belt to give you a tinier waistline.;) And don't forget the felt hat trimmed with matching black Persian lamb. What smart women wear and want to wear - and featured in "Vogue". :D

Only $75.00 back in 1937. Yummmmm!

Home Sewing Tips from the 1920s - How to Make a Coat, Step-by-Step

This tip from Ruth Wyeth Spears and the 1920s must be her longest ever. If you feel that sewing a coat is a challenge, Ruth is here to walk you through it! The steps have not changed throughout the decades - the construction of a tailored coat is timeless. Well, except, perhaps, Ruth's suggestion that you take the coat to the tailor to make the button holes and give the coat its final pressing. :)

Winter is Coming! Slim Coat with Late 1950s Style

I was wandering the blogosphere, and on Paper Fashion  (love her blog!) was this wonderful coat from GAP (you'll find the following images on Paper Fashion, GAP, and styld. by).

Image from GAP and styld.by

Image from Paper Fashion

Image on Paper Fashion and styld.by

With it's slim, tailored style, this GAP coat reminds me of vintage coats from the late 50s. Here are a couple of patterns from my shop with similar details.

This Vogue pattern shares the slim tailored silhouette and the tailored details (note the bound pockets).

Vogue 9449

This Butterick pattern has that same slim silhouette, with the notched lapel collar and 3 lengths.

Butterick 8319

'Tis the season for coats!

Home Sewing Tips from the 1920s - Trimming a Frock and Coat with Tucks

I love garments with tucks and this tip from Ruth Wyeth Spears and the 1920s delivers tucks in spades! Ruth illustrates a frock and coat, both with one-inch wide tucks. She describes this popular form of trimming as being especially chic on solid-color georgette and chiffon fabric. She also describes the technique of using a gauge (note the typo in the article - the first I've found! - where "gauge" is replaced with "gauze" ;)) to aid in making the tucks.

Doesn't the model rather remind you of Lady Mary from Downton Abbey? Or maybe her mother?

1950s March Fashion - Neutral Tones Carry the Day

The pearly look of pale tones are featured in this collection of spring styles from March 1952!

 Pale beige flannel suit - a collarless neckline, pleated skirt, "domino" closing.

 A beautiful double-breasted coat of white fleece, lined with black silk, worn over a black silk suit.

 A double-breasted white fleece topper over a slim navy dress - perfect to wear spring or summer.

A neat round-collared suit in oatmeal tweed flecked with red and green, and accented with a big wool tassel.

Escape the February Winter Blues, 1970s Style

Tired of winter? Ponder a getaway to warmer climes in superb travel clothes from 1973!

Consider this all-weather coat from Vogue and Yves St Laurent, with its tented flare and bold collar. It's perfect for making your escape with incredible style and great ease. :D

It's Time to Celebrate All Things Scottish!

St Andrew's Day is coming up at the end of this month (November 30th to be precise), so I've decided to use the whole month of November to honor this patron saint of Scotland by celebrating all things Scottish in my shop! 

Be watching for postings of patterns that either feature designs for, or simply illustrate patterns with, plaids, kilts, and hats such as tam o'shanters and glengarries.

Here is a peek of some bonnie things to come for the lasses and the wee lasses!

 

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:

1950s Refashion - Change an Old Coat into a Pert Little Jacket!

Refashioning new clothes from old has been practiced for....well, a very long time. They were particularly important in the 30s and the 40s, but extended into the 50s. With the 1960s, this art or skill seemed to wane in popularity.

Now that refashioning is enjoying a resurgence, I thought it would be fun to show refashions of the past. I'll start with one from the October 1950 edition of Woman's Day magazine.

This refashion from 1950s shows how to take an old moth-eaten coat (shown in the upper right corner), and using a Woman's Day pattern, create this cute short "button-upper" jacket.

 

The refashion salvaged enough fabric from the old coat, using the lower part of the coat, to create the front and back panels of the jacket. The jacket pattern originally called for dolman sleeves. But since the coat panels were too narrow, the sleeves were pieced below the shoulder, with the seams disguised with welt stitching. Facings and covered buttons were made from leftover scraps. A very clever and cute result!

Coat and Dress from June 1950

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Oh, what a Marilyn Monroe pose! When the rain threatens, this coat and dress combination is perfect. Note the generously wide sleeves at 3/4 length, and just two big buttons at the waistline - delicious. From June 1950 Women's Home Companion.