Bridal Fashions from 1924 - Good Housekeeping

"Bridal Tradition is Embodied in the Picturesque"
How lovely these are, romantic and feminine. Wouldn't these styles be nice see now?

Flapper Era Outfits - 1924 Good Housekeeping

"The summer mode brings soft fabrics, straight lines and bright colors". This Good Housekeeping magazine from May, 1924 tells us "Now that we know the straight silhouette with variations will continue to dominate the mode, a great calm has settled on our souls"
This is also a chance to see what early designers were doing. There is much discussion of the masculine tailoring influence, but there was lots of satin and lace in the evenings. "Fringe is again one of the smart trimmings, but beaded frocks, although still shown more or less in the formal collections, are not quite so popular as they were."

Modes Royal Fabulous Patterns - 1951

This is a single page from a Modes Royale catalog from 1951. Don't I wish I had the rest of this!
The "breathtakingly beautiful" gown would look right at home on any red carpet today. And that two piece dress has the best peplum ever. The "cutaway suit" looks tailored, but also gives such an hourglass shape...good design shows.

As One Girl To Another...More 1940 Kotex Advice

So here are the guidelines you need...what you can and can't do during 'that time of the month'.
Be especially careful to not get a cold!

As One Girl To Another...1940 Kotex Advice

"Things happen fast from eleven to seventeen...". That's right, and if you just talk to your Mother "As One Girl To Another" then some of lives mystery's will be solved. At least they will if you have this helpful pamphlet from Kotex printed in 1940.
But really have things changed so much?

Are Your Legs Straight? - 1905

"So simple you wonder why someone didn't think of it before" They will send you "instructions to make them appear straight, trim and stylish". "Endorsed and used by men of fashion everywhere"!

Van Dresser Fashion Drawing Lessons - 1905

Here's a way to be "fitted for a profession now most profitable". Just complete "fifty interesting and practical lessons" and you'll be prepared to earn money a as fashion illustrator in your own city!
Actually Mr. William T. Van Dresser did some lovely illustrations, including (I assume) the lady in this ad. He did the art for this charming children's book and you can find magazine covers with more lovely ladies. So maybe he was on to something and you could have had a career!

Chesterfields Sundial Dress - 1940

This is the back cover of the May, 1940 issue of The Progressive Farmer and Southern Ruralist magazine. It shows the charming Miss Elaine Shepard in Chesterfield's Sundial Dress. It seems she went on to more important things, but she sure did right by this dress, imagine posing with this massive dress, that also massive hat, the huge bouquet and then smoking a Chesterfield and looking like you enjoy it! A model's life wasn't all glamour.

Mail Order Patterns from The Progressive Farmer - 1940

Here are some of the patterns you could order from The Progressive Farmer and Southern Ruralist in 1940. They range from baby clothes, to practical maternity dresses and even a truly lovely 'graduation frock'. There is an emphasis on cotton because this was basically a farmers magazine and cotton crops were very important, there are several mentions of the need for everyone to have a cotton mattress.
There is speculation that most of the mail order patterns all came from one company, but I don't think we really know. If you have more information please share. Also if anybody knows more about Lillian L. Keller who worked for the Tennessee Extension Service, she seems to have been a clever gal indeed!

The Progressive Farmer and Southern Ruralist - 1940

This is the cover art from the May, 1940 issue of The Progressive Farmer and Southern Ruralist. The artist is Gari Melchers, who you can read more about here.

Aldens Catalog 1956-57 - Slips, Panties and Jayne Mansfield's Pajamas!

There is lots to love here, but it's not everyday we get to see what Jayne Mansfield wore to bed!
(Did you know she spoke five languages, and was a classically trained pianist and violinist?)
(Another 'I'm on vacation' repost from October, 2011)

"Give new ones a ducking before you wear them." - 1932

Aristoc Pure Silk Stockings - They Always Live Longest On Water
Plenty of instructions here on how to care for your stockings, but they were Pure Silk! This is another company that is still with us...and they still make stockings. You can read more here.
(a repost from March, 2010)

Full-Blown Skirts, Impudent Bows, Neat Checks - Simplicity Patterns - 1952

Perfect day-in-the-city dress in a sophisticated soft sheer with full skirt and sleeves. Simplicity Printed Pattern 3848. Sizes 12 to 20. 35¢. Size 14 requires 5 3/8 yards of 35" fabric. Perfect day-in-the-country dress in neat checks. Simplicity Printed Pattern 3851. Sizes 12 to 20. 35¢. Size 14 requires 4 5/8 yards of 35" checked fabric, 3/8 yard of 35" fabric for trim.

Full-blown skirt and great big, impudent bow. made in the kind of checks you see coming. Simplicity Printed Pattern 3850. Sizes 12 to 20. 35¢. Size 14 requires 5 1/4 yards of 35" fabric. Cool and uncluttered little summer dress. Simplicity Printed Pattern 3857. Sizes 11 to 18. 35¢. Size 13 requires 4 1/4 yards of 35" lengthwise-striped fabric, 1/4 yard of 35" fabric for collar. Horizontal stripes above vertical stripes, Simplicity Printed Pattern 3844. Sizes 12 to 20. 35¢. Size 14 requires 3 3/4 yards of 35" lengthwise-striped fabric, 3/4 yard of 35" fabric for trim.
(This is a repost from Feb 2010)

How To Retain Youth by Lillian Russell (1905)

Not big worry but petty worry is the greatest harbinger of old age.
This is from the 100th issue of McCall's Magazine put out in 1976.
(and it's a repost from May 2009)
To many women in domestic life the cook's ill temper is a tragedy, the laundress's predilection for superfluous blue a bodily infliction, the excessive prices of the butcher a great sorrow of her existence. Ah! She will need more than massage and cold cream can accomplish to eradicate the woe-begone expression, the downward droop of the discontented lips. If you would remain young, discharge the ill-tempered cook! Find a new laundress! Deal at another market! Ten years from now the cook's ill temper will have subsided, but what of the telltale lines about your mouth? Ten years from now the over-blued lingerie will have been replaced by other garments, but how about the creases around your eyes? Ten years from now the Beef Trust may have frizzled into the millennium, but alas for the wrinkled forehead that you have cultivated! (1905)

The Twist - All About The Craze That Rocks The Nation - 1963

A whole magazine devoted to the Twist! It doesn't get more hip than this!
(A repost from March, 2010)

"They call it the Teenagers gift to the Top Hat and Tails Set! It's that swinging, swaying, wiggling, waggling wonder dance that has turned out to be the greatest movement to hit the hi-toned playboys and playgirls since the Social Register rang up its first 400 names. Every party in every penthouse from Park Avenue to Sutton Place is now a Twist Party! Every mink coat that meets a dress suit immediately asks Do You Twist?" It's become the thing to do, old man, don't cha'know?"

It's hard to know just what to show you from this fabulous magazine...it's all just so hip! So let's concentrate on the fashion...

Don't you feel like turning up the music? Let's Twist!

...adding to the happiness and efficiency of 1,100,000 women each month

Found on the back of a McCall Kaumagraph Transfer pattern #425 - Script Alphabet. Do you wish to save money, keep in style and be happy? Pretty good deal for 50¢ a year!
(this is another 'I'm still on vacation' repost from February, 2009)

Stout Women May Wear Draped Skirts

From McCall's Magazine, July 1913.
"The graceful model, illustrated on a woman of full figure, will convince the most skeptical that women of avoirdupois need not shun drapery."