Home Sewing Tips from the 1920s - Hemline Advice

In this tip, Ruth discusses "a hemline for every figure" - a brief but honest discussion that we all don't have slender figures nor trim legs and ankles. :) The use of pleats, overskirts, and underskirts are all successful approaches "for the woman who does not wear short dresses well" ("short" being a relative term, here).

A very useful tip when sewing your 1920s costumes!

Spotted in a Shop Window - Yet Another Variation on the Embroidered Dress

Spotted in a window at Nordstrom's in downtown Seattle, this dress caught my eye. I can't help it, I am rather enjoying these embroidered dresses in the Fall 2014 fashion line of Oscar de la Renta. Composed of a net overdress and black underdress, the embroidery is actually on the net overdress, and both back and front are embroidered. Love the contrast of the colorful embroidery against the black underdress.

Sweet design!

Home Sewing Tips from the 1920s - Lovely Silk Dahlias!

This is perfect! I just planted dahlia bulbs in my garden today, and here is Ruth Wyeth Spears, showing us how to create lovely dahlias from silk. I love her recommendation to use several tones of one color for the best effect. It looks like a trip to the fabric store is in order. :)

It's Shorts Weather!

I know that summer is already upon most of the country, but here in the Pacific NW, we are getting a few days of 80-degree weather. We are delighted!

A brief review of shorts fashions through the decades seems in order. No matter what decade, they all look cute to me!

1940s - Most commonly fitted around the waist and hips then loose around the legs. Simplicity 2017 has a rare elasticized waistline version as well. Note the high waist on Simplicity 3673.

 
1950s - Still fitted, and definitely slimmer around the legs.

1960s - Very slim and fitted! Proportioned for height was an important new feature.

1970s - Both fitted with the zipper moving to the front (a major shocking fashion move - a fly front zipper, just like menswear!) and loose with elasticized waistline (but still looking relatively fitted).

1980s - Elasticized waistlines are most common, and generally loose in the legs.

Home Sewing Tips from the 1920s - Trimming a Frock and Coat with Tucks

I love garments with tucks and this tip from Ruth Wyeth Spears and the 1920s delivers tucks in spades! Ruth illustrates a frock and coat, both with one-inch wide tucks. She describes this popular form of trimming as being especially chic on solid-color georgette and chiffon fabric. She also describes the technique of using a gauge (note the typo in the article - the first I've found! - where "gauge" is replaced with "gauze" ;)) to aid in making the tucks.

Doesn't the model rather remind you of Lady Mary from Downton Abbey? Or maybe her mother?

Oscar de la Renta Embroidered Dress Redux

I was walking past Mario's in downtown Seattle this past week, and look what was in the window: another embroidered dress from Oscar de la Renta!. You'll remember my post from the other day, which featured two of his dresses as part of his Fall 2014 Fashion Trunk Show.

Here, the dress is still beautifully embroidered in front, but on chartreuse (?) and note the closeup - outlines in the back, but not embroidered. They just look ready to be filled in... :)

Enduring Fashion for Girls - Charming 1930s Style Revisited in 1970s

A few weeks ago I posted this dress from the 1930s for a young girl. Butterick 5202 is completely adorable, with a center box pleat (front and back) framed by knife pleats, and a surplice button closing in the geometric yoke. Neat short and long sleeve options and matching panties are noteworthy, too. :)

And then just the other day, I happened to post Simplicity 9346 from the late 1970s in my Etsy shop. Not completely identical, but what striking similarities! And equally delightful. Pleats, yokes, off-set button closing, short & long sleeve options - it's a wonderful and worthy re-envisioning of the 1930s style. :)