Back to School - College Fashion from 1949

Check out this wonderful back-to-school fashion for the college-bound, straight from 1949 and Woman's Day magazine. This gal is starting the school year with a fine collegiate wardrobe of tea-length skirts, snug jackets with weskit points, and fun boxy toppers.

This boxy topper (with a belt or not) has a wind-breaking collar and useful big pockets.  I love that pose. :)

Perfect for all uses - a suit made of a jacket with weskit points and a trouser-pleated skirt in wool.

Here is the same jacket & skirt in cotton velveteen, making the perfect "date suit". Her college date is wearing a suit too. ;)

 

This fabulous, sporty jerkin of bright wool felt  is made by leaving the sleeves out of the boxy topper pattern and adding a martingale belt in back. It makes a great warm addition to layer over sweaters and a wool skirt.

This shirtwaist dress in rayon is a "campus classic" for every day. So demure! Note the flash of color with the handkerchief in the breast pocket - nice touch!

Scraps from the Past - 1940s Snug Jerkin with Trapunto!

I think this is a gorgeous pattern for a very snug jerkin (vest), decorated with cables using your choice of hand embroidery or trapunto - wonderful techniques! From 1941 and McCall, the hip-length jerkin offers 3 neckline variations, so you can have fun making more than one. :)

Tucked inside was the "V" cutout for view C, in a soft dark navy blue wool. It's a nicely woven fabric - be sure to click on the image for a close-up view. The transfer is partially used (only view C is unused). I wonder which technique our mystery seamstress used - embroidery or trapunto?

Can you picture it?

1950s Refashion - From an Old Skirt to a Fresh New Jerkin

Sewn without a pattern, this refashion begins with a skirt that has a fringed edge and ends with a jaunty tweed jerkin.

And what is a jerkin? Originally worn only by men back in the 1500s through the 1800s, it is a sleeveless and collarless short jacket worn by men or women, often with extended shoulders. It is an item that seems to have morphed into the vest or sleeveless pullover in today's terms. In any case, in the 1940s and 1950s, they were popular, and typically considered for casual wear.

Check out how this refashion was done!

The jerkin is cut in a single piece from the seamless skirt, wide enough to extend beyond the shoulders and long enough to fit from front to back hip over the shoulders.

The piece was then cut across the shoulder line, with the back slightly longer than the front. Shoulder seams were sewn in a sloping line. The neckline was rounded and a short stand collar added. A neckline slit was made at center front and faced with scraps.

Darts were added at the waistline for a neater fit. Bias binding was stitched to the side edges, then turned under and hemmed.

The belt was created from the skirt waistband, which had the button and buttonhole removed, the open side and ends re-stitched, and a buckled added.

Nifty, neat fashion that looks cute to me!