"You Can't Buy Love" - 1934

"But you can buy and be Irresistible" This mysteriously exotic fragrance stirs senses...thrills...awakens love. It makes you divinely exciting, glamourous, utterly irresistible"

(repost from Feb,2010)

Thrilling New Plan - A Dress for You - Just Order Three! - 1946

What an Amazing New Plan from Harford Frocks! Just get orders for three dresses from your friend, neighbors, or members of your family and get a dress or suit! Your Choice of More Than 100 Styles. "You can get your complete wardrobe easily, quickly and without cost, and also earn good money for spare time work if you wish."

But there is that one thing.."Due to today's conditions we may not be able to send it at once.." But the catalog "Big Style Presentation will be rushed to you.

Just don't count on those dresses.

Dream Dresses for Stylish Stouts

If you order clever "Dream Dresses for Stylish Stouts" from Janne of Hollywood Dresses you can "camouflage those extra pounds". Which is a good thing because you need "Youthful ideas of slender grace that are so utterly figure flattering you'll love them."

But most importantly you should expect an "Atomic Change"!
This ad is from 1946 and 'Atomic' anything seemed like a good thing. But I don't think you'd walk down the street in your new dress and Mable would comment "Why just look at your Atomic Change!"

Joan Leslie - True Experiences Magazine - 1946

This is the lovely Joan Leslie on the cover of the September 1946 issue of True Experiences magazine. She's appearing in Warner Bros. production "Two Guys From Milwaukee".

Doesn't she look snappy? The military influence shows in the double breasted suit jacket with crisp collar and cuffs. Plus there is the eagle on her purse. But her bright pink matching hat and bag are set off with that cluster of red (bakelite?) cherries. Fabulous!

Bad Fashion Choices in 1955

While many fashions of the mid-fifties are wonderful there were also things like this. "Serbin of Miami pairs corduroy shorts with an egyptian cotton blouse and cummerbund, for your "at home" hours. About $14, at leading stores." Purple corduroy shorts??? Oh,well.
(BTW the Serbin of Miami folks were really from Fayetteville, Tennessee. Figures.)

Was there any good Fashion in 1971?

Can't prove it by these examples from this 1971 Simplicity Fashion News.









Be a super peasant? Really? Maybe it's because I was there, but there isn't much to inspire fond memories here. Some of the prints were cool (note the green dress with the graphic lines), but the flip side was a LOT of bad knits and "man-made" fabrics. Also it looks like the expectations of a sewers skills had lowered. Those gals who could rock a shirtwaist dress a few years back now were making some pretty basic stuff. These kids clothes are especially plain and boring. Or maybe I'm becoming a grouch.
(A re-post from August, 2009)

Vogue Book of Practical Dressmaking - 1928 Part 2

More from this 1928 booklet Vogue Book of Practical Dressmaking. These are some fashion choices in the "Vogue Manner". Look at the differences, we usually just think of the flat beaded flapper dress, but of course women had many more wardrobe options. There were Varied and Important Designs and Lingerie Worth Making!

Vogue Book of Practical Dressmaking - 1928

This little sewing instruction book put out by Vogue in 1928 has lots of goodies, but let's start with the ads.

Making Smart Clothes - 1934

This is some good advice from Making Smart Clothes which was published by The Butterick Company in 1934.

"Anyone who has known the satisfaction of wearing custom-made clothes finds it hard to satisfy herself with a ready-to-wear garment. The sense of comfort that comes from a frock or coat which fits in every smallest particular - the confidence attained by the knowledge that one is wearing a distintive, individual garment, combining one's own choice in fabric, design and color - such satisfaction can be secured only by the possession of a made-to-order wardrobe."

"It is not necessary to be rich to become one of the distinctively dressed women of the world. Any intelligent woman or young girl who is willing to give a reasonable amount of thought and time can wear made-to-order garments at a smaller expense than she can buy a ready-to-wear outfit."

Earn A Shirley Temple Doll!

Every Good Little Girl Wants A Shirley Temple Doll. "Shirley's image," says her mother. And Shirley herself says "I love my doll and I play with it all the time. It is just like me."
You just need to sell six subscriptions!

Make this Charming Hat - 1936

This Winged Hat is from Home Arts Needlecraft Magazine in 1936. These instructions sound a little complex to me, but maybe you can try. The hat is worth it!

Poor Head!

I hope you had a great time. :-)

The End of Everything - Including Unicorns.

It's true. Everything comes to an end.

A Gibson Girl Christmas Message - 1910

From her....and me. I wish you all good things,Merry Christmas!

Ravishing Runarounds for that Well-Heeled Look

The Ladies who shopped thru the 1960 Floride Fashions catalog had a chance to order these "Ravishing Runarounds for that Well-Heeled Look". And while those Sawtooth Sensations might get all the attention, the Bunny Fur Collared slippers are pretty fierce too!

What the Kids Wore to the Christmas Party - 1960

In this 1960 Florida Fashions catalog there are lots of suggestions for the kids. Mom was responsible for making them look picture perfect at all times, but especially when company was coming. So the have to have darling new outfits, matching everything, and every bit of it had to be ironed. It's no wonder Mom needed a cocktail once in a while.

A Few Unmentionables for Christmas - 1960

A few more images from the 1960 Florida Fashions Catalog. Here are some lovely lingerie and frilly things to brighten the holidays!

What to wear to the Christmas Party - 1960 Florida Fashions Inc.

This is a terrific catalog from Florida Fashions with lots of glamorous holiday choices from 1960. You just know that the Mad Men era was in full swing, that's a Joan Holloway look-a-like on the cover. But if you want to look just right at the company cocktail party you need to order soon, but they do offer "New Jet Air Super Service".

I wasn't able to find out much about this company, but this particular one was mailed to a Miss Elise in California, so they must have been nationwide. After all Florida Fashion Inc. "Brings Florida Glamour To You!"

Actually I always enjoy these sorts of catalogs because this is what women really wore and bought for their families. My mom (or your grandma) would have ordered from these exact sorts of catalogs and paid these prices. They could "Look like a Million! - for little money".