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Saturday, December 31, 2011
Resort Fashions!!!!
Are you excited? I am! January is resort fashion month at Midvale Cottage! I am so looking forward to listing lots of great swimwear, sunsuits, sundresses, and beachwear for all ages and spanning multiple decades. To get you in the mood for summer breezes, the call of soft sandy beaches, and the vintage fashion to wear there, I leave you with illustrations drawn for Life magazine back in January 1947.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
In Search of Style - 50s Evening and Afternoon Dress
A dress in an Bergdorf Goodman ad from New York caught the eye of a seamstress in 1956 but its hefty price tag of $25 (!) clearly motivated the seamstress to look for a good match in the patterns of the day. It is easy to see why this dress attracted her attention, appealing to "country and casual" city style in the rather formal colors of black, navy, mint, and blue.
She found it in Advance 8079, which matches nicely the scoop neckline, short French sleeves, fitted bodice, and full skirt of the dress in the ad. There are some differences - the Advance version has a full circle skirt and back zipper closing, while the advertisement clearly shows a full skirt with soft cluster pleats, and shirtwaist front button closing. But the Advance pattern shows lots of variations that surely inspired the seamstress back in 1956. :) We will never know if she could have come closer, or if she simply found the perfect pattern for her.
She found it in Advance 8079, which matches nicely the scoop neckline, short French sleeves, fitted bodice, and full skirt of the dress in the ad. There are some differences - the Advance version has a full circle skirt and back zipper closing, while the advertisement clearly shows a full skirt with soft cluster pleats, and shirtwaist front button closing. But the Advance pattern shows lots of variations that surely inspired the seamstress back in 1956. :) We will never know if she could have come closer, or if she simply found the perfect pattern for her.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Looking Ahead
Where did the month of December go?! For that matter, where did the year go? Now that the majority of the holiday crunch is behind me, there is time to plan for the new year. What fun is in store! Here is a peek at the coming months.
January:
Resort Fashions
Yes, resort fashion month is almost upon us! I can hardly wait to list the fabulous and charming patterns for swimwear and summer fashion from the 1940s to the 1980s.
February:
Sharing Style - the Gift of Fashion
Thrift was essential during the 1930s and the Great Depression as well as during the 1940s and World War II (and beyond). So many women copied and traced favorite patterns to share with family members and friends. These treasures turn up in estate sales from time to time. So in the spirit in which these patterns were made, I am going to be giving these patterns away to my readers and customers! Is that not fun?! I will photograph the pieces, and describe the details as best I can, and then will use a random number drawing for those readers who respond with their desire to win the pattern. The first item will be posted at the beginning of February, and will become a regular event on my blog. I am not sure exactly how often these will occur, but at a minimum they will be once a month, possibly more frequently.
March:
Like Mother-Like Daughter
Mother-daughter patterns were immensely popular from the 1940s and 1950s (and even into the 1960s). I've been slowly accumulating pairs of patterns and look forward to listing those gems. I will also be sharing images from my many vintage sources of mother-daughter fashions.
And More...
And throughout, I will be continuing my findings for The Hundred - one of my slower efforts to be sure. But an interesting challenge for vintage patterns. :) In Search of Style is another one I love - I always am delighted when I find a newspaper clipping of a fashion item (for which the pattern was a great match) tucked in with the pattern pieces. I look forward to posting more fabulous "Before and After Hit Parade" items - the successful and delightful work of my customers. What could be more rewarding? :) And there will be new themes in the works, such as all things wedding and bridal, designer fashions, the history of refashioning, and oh, well, there are just tons of inspiring patterns just waiting for you! :D
January:
Resort Fashions
Yes, resort fashion month is almost upon us! I can hardly wait to list the fabulous and charming patterns for swimwear and summer fashion from the 1940s to the 1980s.
February:
Sharing Style - the Gift of Fashion
Thrift was essential during the 1930s and the Great Depression as well as during the 1940s and World War II (and beyond). So many women copied and traced favorite patterns to share with family members and friends. These treasures turn up in estate sales from time to time. So in the spirit in which these patterns were made, I am going to be giving these patterns away to my readers and customers! Is that not fun?! I will photograph the pieces, and describe the details as best I can, and then will use a random number drawing for those readers who respond with their desire to win the pattern. The first item will be posted at the beginning of February, and will become a regular event on my blog. I am not sure exactly how often these will occur, but at a minimum they will be once a month, possibly more frequently.
March:
Like Mother-Like Daughter
Mother-daughter patterns were immensely popular from the 1940s and 1950s (and even into the 1960s). I've been slowly accumulating pairs of patterns and look forward to listing those gems. I will also be sharing images from my many vintage sources of mother-daughter fashions.
And More...
And throughout, I will be continuing my findings for The Hundred - one of my slower efforts to be sure. But an interesting challenge for vintage patterns. :) In Search of Style is another one I love - I always am delighted when I find a newspaper clipping of a fashion item (for which the pattern was a great match) tucked in with the pattern pieces. I look forward to posting more fabulous "Before and After Hit Parade" items - the successful and delightful work of my customers. What could be more rewarding? :) And there will be new themes in the works, such as all things wedding and bridal, designer fashions, the history of refashioning, and oh, well, there are just tons of inspiring patterns just waiting for you! :D
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Necklines: The draped neckline
I hope this posting is one of many on the elements of clothing design, as expressed in vintage patterns. :) I'll just jump in and start with necklines.
As the holiday season has begun, the drape neckline is a great element to consider. The drape neckline is exactly as its name implies, featuring soft folds at the neckline. It is not a common neckline, and when I do come across it, the drape neckline invariably seems to be a designer pattern, and one for formal and evening wear.
As the holiday season has begun, the drape neckline is a great element to consider. The drape neckline is exactly as its name implies, featuring soft folds at the neckline. It is not a common neckline, and when I do come across it, the drape neckline invariably seems to be a designer pattern, and one for formal and evening wear.
Vogue Couturier Design 2775 (Valentino)
Advance 7914 (Anne Fogarty)
Vogue 5782
Draping can also be applied to collars to beautiful effect. This draped collar from Spadea is a great example.
Spadea A-2147 (Anthony Blotta)
Friday, November 18, 2011
A Vintage Perspective on "The One Hundred": Animal Print
Nina Garcia includes the animal print as a must-own for the stylish woman, in her fashion book "The One Hundred".
Who would have thought? Finding vintage patterns with animal prints in the illustrations was not easy! And vintage animal toy patterns don't count. :) But fortunately, I managed to find two in my stash.
This adorable pattern from the early 1950s and McCall's features animal print accessories, including hat, bag, and scarf. This certainly meets the criteria, for Nina states that an animal print accessory is an opportunity to be a little bold.
This is hardly ladies' fashion, but for gratuitous fun, I had to include this pattern from Lovely Lingerie and the early 1970s, which features animal print briefs for men. What a handsome hunk!
Who would have thought? Finding vintage patterns with animal prints in the illustrations was not easy! And vintage animal toy patterns don't count. :) But fortunately, I managed to find two in my stash.
This adorable pattern from the early 1950s and McCall's features animal print accessories, including hat, bag, and scarf. This certainly meets the criteria, for Nina states that an animal print accessory is an opportunity to be a little bold.
This is hardly ladies' fashion, but for gratuitous fun, I had to include this pattern from Lovely Lingerie and the early 1970s, which features animal print briefs for men. What a handsome hunk!
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Getting to the Point
Dress elements that include an extended point or peak have been popular through the decades, even the centuries. Whether at the waist, drop waist, or high waist, whether sharp or curved, the extended point always adds class. Here is a short set of examples of the extended point across the decades.
Let's begin with 3 examples from the 1940s. The first dress illustrates the most popular use of the extended point, the basque bodice, here with a short drop waistline. The second dress inverts the point, creating a beautiful mirror to the sweetheart neckline. The third dress narrows the extended point and takes it into the midriff - a delicious design.
1950s dresses also made great use of the extended point, as these graceful New Look dresses demonstrate.
These wedding gowns from the 1960s take the upward extended point to the empire waistline, to beautiful effect.
These adorable dresses from the 1970s use the same upward extended point starting at high and empire waistline.
Let's begin with 3 examples from the 1940s. The first dress illustrates the most popular use of the extended point, the basque bodice, here with a short drop waistline. The second dress inverts the point, creating a beautiful mirror to the sweetheart neckline. The third dress narrows the extended point and takes it into the midriff - a delicious design.
1950s dresses also made great use of the extended point, as these graceful New Look dresses demonstrate.
These wedding gowns from the 1960s take the upward extended point to the empire waistline, to beautiful effect.
These adorable dresses from the 1970s use the same upward extended point starting at high and empire waistline.
And in the 1980s, formal dresses such prom dresses and wedding gowns, added a romantic touch with the extended point of the basque bodice.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Before and After "Hit Parade" - 1950s Dress with Bonny Details
The Seamstress: Jennifer Gough
The Pattern: Vintage 1959 McCall's 4951 Misses' Dress with Slim and Full Skirt
Jennifer picked this particularly adorable dress with its wonderful neckline and collar details.
The Result: A fabulous dress with charm to spare! Jennifer chose a beautiful yellow and black tartan to sew the full-skirted version. Jennifer states: "As far as construction; the measurements were pretty spot on, but I added some length to the bodice and I recall that I had to play around with the skirt pleats quite a bit because of the plaid fabric, but since the pattern pieces there were just big rectangles it wasn't a big deal."
Jennifer has since made this pattern up again in the teal with white collar like on the pattern envelope, too, though she doesn't have photos of it on the web. Be sure to check out more photos of this first version of the dress on Jennifer's Photo Bucket album. Wonderful results, Jennifer - the dress and you look so lovely! Winning style, all the way around. :)
The Pattern: Vintage 1959 McCall's 4951 Misses' Dress with Slim and Full Skirt
Jennifer picked this particularly adorable dress with its wonderful neckline and collar details.
The Result: A fabulous dress with charm to spare! Jennifer chose a beautiful yellow and black tartan to sew the full-skirted version. Jennifer states: "As far as construction; the measurements were pretty spot on, but I added some length to the bodice and I recall that I had to play around with the skirt pleats quite a bit because of the plaid fabric, but since the pattern pieces there were just big rectangles it wasn't a big deal."
Jennifer has since made this pattern up again in the teal with white collar like on the pattern envelope, too, though she doesn't have photos of it on the web. Be sure to check out more photos of this first version of the dress on Jennifer's Photo Bucket album. Wonderful results, Jennifer - the dress and you look so lovely! Winning style, all the way around. :)
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