1930s Sporty Frock - Golf Anyone?

Here is a delightful frock from 1937, apparently the perfect garment for outdoor fun. It appears to be cut on the bias, which always provides graceful flare and movement. I love the top-stitched center box pleat in the skirt front, the shaped yoke with wing revers, and that sporty action back. Wow, did you notice that she is wearing gloves to golf? How professional! :)

Farewell to May with Lovely Spring Frocks from the 1930s

Let's bid the merry month of May farewell with a handful of graceful and flattering tea-length frocks from 1932! 

 Dress 981 has a rather tailored air, with buttons at the hip, a smart center front inset, and a pleasing neckline treatment.

Dress 2551 is a simple and neat affair - pin tucks at the neckline and wrists add distinction.

Dress 2677 is slim, with crisp inverted pleats adding graceful flare to the skirt.

Dress 759 has slimming flare, front and back panels from neck to hem, and sweet bows as accents.

Dress 982 has a smart bodice closing, raglan sleeves, and princess seams the release into double inverted pleats.

Now if only we could still order these mail order patterns! :-)

Home Sewing Tips from the 1920s - Adding an Inverted Pleat to a Skirt

In this wonderful tip, Ruth Wyeth Spears explains how to add an inverted pleat (the latest fashion trend - in the 1920s, that is!) to your skirts. Her method uses an underlay - a classic and timeless technique still used today. This is a great technique that you can use often. So bookmark this tip. :)

1951 Re-Fashion - Reviving an Evening Gown!

This re-fashion from 1951 focuses on re-draping and re-cutting a problem dress into a fresh, new silhouette.

An evening gown (from the late 1940s, I'm guessing) with weary-looking panniers is converted into this fresh, new dinner dress with a slimmer, shorter skirt. The extra fabric in the old skirt enabled the addition of a center inverted pleat. The neckline was cut a bit lower and wider, both front and back. Scraps from the skirt faced the neckline and provided enough fabric for a wide matching belt. Delightful results!