Voices from the Past: Hurry Up, Mother, and Sew This!

A young woman sent a clear message to her mother when she wrote on the back of this lovely, swanky Advance pattern:

You can see her remarks in pencil: "Hurry up with my suit Mother! Hurry, Hurry, Hurry, Hurry". Just a tad anxious, do you think? :) Or was she just practicing her penmanship?

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!

Spotted in a Shop Window - Dreamy Evening Gown

Gorgeous? 'Nuff said.

Spotted in the shop window of Luly Yang in downtown Seattle.

Spotted in a Shop Window: Peplums for Summer!

Seen in the shop window of Anthropologie in downtown Seattle, this gorgeous tropical print blouse sports a flared peplum that dips low in the back. Simply superb.

In the shop window of Mario's in downtown Seattle, my eye was drawn to this divine little cardigan with the look of crochet, trimmed with a softly pleated peplum. Note the 3/4-length sleeves, and the scalloped edging. I just love all the details - want, want!

Spotted in a Shop Window - Formal Gowns at Luly Wang

I love this strapless gown, with its diagonal pleating on the bodice and flirty asymmetrical peplum. Simple stunning!

And this gown has an elegant pouf of a half bow adding drama to the strapless neckline. Eye-popping dreamy! Note the additional elegance of a sweep train.

Spotted in a Shop Window - More Peplums!

Seen in recent walk past Nordstrom's store windows in downtown Seattle are two tops with peplums.

This one has wonderful bias flare:

The slim strapless two-piece dress at left has a sleek flared peplum - such eye-catching style.

In vintage patterns, you can find the peplum in almost any decade, but the peplum was at the height of its popularity in the 1940s. Here are a few examples:

 

 1940s

 

1940s 

1940s

 

1950s

 

1990s

 

 

Spotted in a Shop Window - Peplums!

Spotted in the window of Nordstrom's, downtown Seattle, this fabulous Givenchy slim skirt & jacket with flared peplum and front cascading drape has dramatic color contrast:

Also spotted in the window at Nordstroms, is this Dior red hot 2-piece dress with cascading peplum:

Peplums have been popular over the decades, but particularly in the 1940s. Here are a few fabulous vintage styles with peplums.

1950s

 

 1940s

 

 

1930s

Fashion from January 1951: Youthful Junior Styles North and South

And  now for a look at a couple of outfits for the junior figure from January 1951 and McCall - a "hurry-up dress for the South" with a pretty scalloped collar, and a versatile North-South date dress. :D

McCall 8355

One of the fastest, easiest, designs you could choose to make! It's a blouse-and-skirt dress, strongly favored by Juniors and designed especially for companion cottons. The skirt in figure A is a lengthwise stripe cut cross-wise - make it with a seamed-on border, or without (as in figure C). Three views, three exciting fabric combinations. Sizes 9-17. 50 cents.

McCall 8354

New and important is the side-flaring peplum. It perks out saucily on either side of a flat smooth center front and center back. Especially flattering for slim-hipped Juniors with not-so-flat tummies. View A, a sunny south design - crisp cotton checks sparked with brisk, white accents. Version B, a north-or-south date dress - just the thing for wool-and-silk faille, heavy crepe. Sizes 9-17. 65 cents.

"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.

In Search of Style: 1940s Blouse with Peplum Charm!

Tucked in a pattern from the war years was this clipping of a very happy model wearing a beautiful formal blouse with a pert gathered peplum:

Here is the pattern, Advance 3909 from 1943, with models looking equally happy in blouse with peplum and flared swing skirt.

Let's compare! Both blouses have:

• lightly fitted bodice
• cap sleeves
• shaped neckline
• gathered peplum
• self-fabric belt

The neckline is not identical, and the pattern has a front buttoned closing, otherwise, nice match! Don't you think? :D