Home Sewing Tips from the 1920s - Satin Flowers for the Bride's Gown

In this wonderful tip, Ruth Wyeth Spears describes a lovely decoration for a bridal gown. She provides an actual size template, which you use to cut flower appliques from satin. You trim along the edges of each flower with pearl beads. The satin flowers are then applied to bands of sheer georgette, which trim the dress (along with side drapes of georgette). Such graceful 1920s wedding fashion!

Resort Fashion - A 1950s Duster is a Must!

Looking exotic and in such a dramatic pose, this model is wearing a black terry cloth duster (complete with rhinestone buttons!). The duster is versatile - slip it on over a bathing suit, or wear it as a coat or as a casual dress. Columns not required. ;)

Resort Fashion - Don't Forget Your Clam Diggers!

These 1951 tapered pants are a high fashion way  to make a stand on the beach! Called clam diggers or cabin boy pants, they are also simply called - short slacks. ;)

Resort Fashion - Strapless on the Beach

Up for some sun? Cotton flowers that don't wilt in the water trim the strapless top of this fabulous one-piece swimsuit from 1951.

Home Sewing Tips for the 1920s - A Draped Formal Gown

"Richness should be the keynote of the draped gown" Ruth Wyeth Spears says. In this home sewing tip, she describes how to create this evening gown with "metal cloth" - what we would call metallic fabric - brilliant, glittery, and dramatic! The skirt is wrapped to create drapes at back sides of center, with velvet flowers and foliage trimming the drop-waistline. Elegant!
 

 

Resort Fashion - A Swimsuit with Boned, Strapless Decolletage!

This one-piece, shiny, cotton satin bathing suit is boned, creating a strapless "evening gown" top. She's dressed as if she just walked off a ballroom floor. It's dreamy fashion from 1951.

Resort Wear Month - At the Beach

It's 1951 and oh yes, I love to lounge on the beach in my alluring strapless suit, my make-up perfect - but I just pretend to smoke. ;) I do look cool, don't I? Definitely gorgeous.