How To Put On A Bra

Do you know how to put on a bra? "Figure authority Henry Plehn" gives advice here from Cover Girl Fashions Magazine from 1947. ( How does one become a "Figure Authority"?).
Remember..."Each breast should point outward to the right and left".
(a repeat post from 2010)

Santa's Brownies - 1947 Music

For a Jolly Christmas!

 

How To Put On A Bra

Do you know how to put on a bra? "Figure authority Henry Plehn" gives advice here from Cover Girl Fashions Magazine from 1947. ( How does one become a "Figure Authority"?).
Remember..."Each breast should point outward to the right and left".
(A repost from June, 2010)

Are You Neglecting Your Most Important Feature?

"Are You Neglecting Your Most Important Feature?" "It's so easy to give your eyes their full share of beauty-magic - with MAYBELLINE!"
"Then behold the difference! Your eyes are so much lovelier!"

Something to Remember - Vita-Fluff Shampoo

You don't even have to show her hair...you just know that Vita-Fluff will make hair look like a orchid. Or something. Anyway it's a nice picture of the flower.

Custom Scarfs - 1947 Cover Girl Fashions

These beauties were from Custom Scarfs Inc. in New York (215 West 40th Street if that means anything to anybody). They were also known as Wesley Simpson Custom Scarves. He was very a very influential designer of textiles, and was married to Adele Simpson. He commissioned famous artists and designers of the day for his scarves and other printed fabrics.

In searching this company I found that Linus Pauling bought 2 scarves and one stole (he wrote a check). And there is another ad here from the Miami News.

I wish we could see these clearer, or better yet, see them in person. It wouldn't it be great to match the scarfs with the designers? Any guesses?

How A Dress Should Fit - 1947

If you want a vintage pattern to fit well you need to go by your measurements, since sizing changes over time and even between the different pattern companies. So you need to know how to measure correctly for the era you are trying to re-create. This mid forties Simplicity Sewing Book gives you some guidelines.
Be sure to wear all the right supportive undergarments and shoes. You're on your own for the hair-do!

"If you check your pattern with your measurements and make adjustments before cutting your fabric, fitting your dress will be easy.
Try your dress on right side out and stand before a long mirror. You should have a basting thread from top to bottom in the center back and front (unless there is a center opening serve as well to check the perpendicular line).
Keep the picture of the garment before you while you fit. It can be tacked to the corner of your mirror. You need pins and a tape measure also.
Pin the shoulder pads in place before you begin your fitting.
These diagrams show how your garment should hang. If seams or darts must be taken up or let out to gain the desired effect, pin the corrections and transfer the change with chalk on the wrong side after you take the garment off.
Lengthwise threads of the material down center front and center back should be perfectly straight and perpendicular to the floor. (Except in a bias cut dress).
Crosswise threads Should be straight across figure and parallel to floor at bust and hip.
Underarm seam should fall in a straight vertical line from the center of the arm pit to the floor.
Regulation shoulder seams should be directly on top of shoulder, sloping neither to the front nor the back.
Garment should be loose but without wrinkles at the bust line to give ease, and allow arm to move freely. About 4 inches larger than bust measurement is usual allowance.
At a point about six and a half inches below the top of the sleeve the crosswise grain should run parallel with the floor and the lengthwise grain parallel to the underarm seam. It should allow for movement of upper arm It should be without wrinkles. Darts or gathers in long sleeve should come at the elbow.
Skirt should fall straight down from hips allowing ease to sit and not pull or cup up under when standing."

You don't know how attractive you can be!

"Truly, you don't know how alluring you can be until you have read this booklet."
"Surely you want more out of life! -attention, admiration, affection. You want to present the real you to those whom you meet. You want to make the most of your features, your skin, your hair, your body, your clothes, to appear at your best always, to be an interesting individual and not just "another person." let me show you how!"

BEFORE-"I was underweight, thin, lacking in energy and vitality," says Mrs. Virginia Lee Higgins of Louisville, Kentucky. "Then, after reading your ad, I decided to take the Powers Home Course to see what it could do for me . . ."

This is a sample of the famous Powers "Photo-Revise" One of 60 individualized features of the Powers Home Course, it showed Mrs. Higgins a new hair style, how to apply her make-up correctly, how to achieve new charm, loveliness.

AFTER-"'Now, my husband calls me his "personal Powers girl"!" says Mrs. Higgins, after completing her easy, 7-week Power Home Course in which she learned, in the privacy of her own home, the beauty secrets that have made "Powers Girls" famous.

Cover Girl Fashions Magazine - 1947 - A Cover Girls Wardrobe!

One of the things I like about this magazine is that they name the models...in this case they show off Jane Cartwright and her wonderful 1947 wardrobe.

Bowling Dresses - Designed for free action!

"Over 2,000 teams wore these Paul Prescott's during the 1946-47 bowling tournaments. "
Do you have yours?

Todays Woman Magazine March 1947 - The Ads!

Todays Woman Magazine March 1947 - The Fashion!

Let's look at some 1947 fashions...lots of fabulous suits!

Copper buttons, a flared back and a deep collar for chilly-day warmth give triple interest to Ceil Chapman's coat of Anglo woolen. Sizes 10 to 16. About $45. Saks Fifth Avenue, New York, Beverly Hills, Chicago and Detroit. Elizabeth Arden's April-May springtime make-up.

Todays Woman Magazine March 1947 - Hats!

Ok, Kids...I came across a treasure trove of cool old fashion magazines. We'll start with Today's Women from March 1947.

Step In Style - Cute Shoes from 1947!

"Now that summers here again you'll want shoes for fun and shoes for sun, shoes for dancing and romancing-shoes to bring the spotlight to your feet.

Sandals for the summer are as popular as ever. Wedgies, flats, platform, ankle straps, high, high heels, cutout vamps, and two toned shoes are all in vogue. And you'll find them in colors to match any dress in your wardrobe from gray to brilliant hue, from beige to radiant red.

Materials are new, too! You'll find cool looking nylon mesh shoes, softer leather and better quality suede shoes, Irish linens and gaily printed cottons, and satin for evening.

The new shoes do something for you!"

"Peasant Surprise" - A Slack Suit from Betty Co-Ed of Hollywood - 1947

"A TWO-PIECE suit! Boxy bolero jacket and matching slacks with detachable suspenders ... both trimmed with colorful peasant embroidery. Smoothly tailored to fit perfectly and flatter your figure!"

Suit-Able Accessory...Trim but not Prim...this brow-revealing, brightly ribboned hand-crocheted Beret is packable. - 1947

"BERETS shouldn't be dull, and this one has no such ideas. See the tilt to the side, the new be-ribboned effect, It makes a difference, a very smart difference. Select your favorite shade of Hiawatha Belastraw and crochet yours now."

MATERIALS;

Hiawatha Belastraw Art 35, 2 tubes
Steel crochet hook No. 00
3 Yards plaid taffeta ribbon 11/2" wide


CROWN

With double strand of Belastraw, ch 4. Join with sl st into ring. 1st rnd - 7 sc in ring* 2nd rnd - Work sc and dc in each st around (14 sts - 7 increases). 3rd rnd - *Sc in next sc, thread over, insert hook from right to left around post of nexl dc and draw loop through, (thread over and draw through 2 loops) twice - dc made around post of dc. Repeat from * around (7 points). 4th rnd *Sc in each st to next dc, sc in dc, dc around post of same dc. Repeat from * around (7 increases). Repeat 4th rnd thus increasing 7 sts each rnd until piece is about 12" across. There will be 1 st more between post sts on each rnd. Work sc even until 2 1/2" from points.


BAND

1st rnd - *Skip next sc, sc in next sc. Repeat from * around. Work sc for 1 1/2" decreasing if necessary for headsize. Trim with ribbon as illustrated using double thickness of ribbon for loops.

Summer Sundresses Play Suits, Telling Prints - Modern Stylist - 1947

A few more wonderful pattern from Modern Stylist Magazine, with summer outfits and lots of ruffles from 1947.

"Suave accent...from noon to dawn...a regal Beaded Handbag...eloquently beautiful, hand-crocheted by you."

PARIS INSPIRES the hand-made Beaded Bag . . . impeccable in bronze, iridescent blue or jet black Hiawatha Beads . . . elegant in jewel like colors for after-dark fashions. Melina designs for you enchanting beaded handbags even more precious than the ready-made product, yet costing only a small fraction of what they might if purchased. Start one while on vacation. You'll treasure it for the rare look it attains through years of wear. The directions below are easy to follow.

SPECIAL DIRECTIONS
Read Before Starting Work

Bead crochet should be worked rather tightly (beads should be close but texture pliable) using No. 9 steel crochet hook. Unless otherwise stated, 1 bead is slipped into place before each single crochet stitch.
Slip 2 bunches of beads onto HIAWATHA Bead Twist. Start work. When all beads have been crocheted, cut Bead Twist and fasten off leaving 4" end. String additional beads, then tie Bead Twist (4" from end) into same stitch where last bead was worked. Insert hook in last stitch and continue work, crocheting over ends for several stitches to secure.


MATERIALS:

Hiawatha Beads, 40 Bunches
Hiawatha Bead,Twist Art. 750, 3 spools
Steel crochet hook No. 9
Round Box Llning 4 1/2" in diameter


BOTTOM

Without beads, ch 4. Join with slip st into ring. Slipping 1 bead into place before each sc work as follows: Ist rnd - 6 sc in ring. Mark beginning of rnds. 2nd rnd - 2 sc in each st (12 sc - 6 increases). 3rd rnd - *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st. repeat from * (6 increases). 4th rnd - Increase 6 sc around (not over previous increases). Repeat 4th rnd until piece measures 4 1/2" across. Work I round even. Next rnd - Work through front loops only for turn.

SIDES

Through back loops, work 1/2" even. Next rnd - Through front loops only, without beads, sl st in each st around. Next rnd Through both loops, with beads work as follows: *2 sc in each of next 2 sts, se in next st. Repeat from * around. Insert marker. Work even through back loops until sides are 3 1/2" from marker. Next rnd - Rather tightly work sc in next st, *skip 1 st, sc in next st. Repeat from * around. Work 1" for band, decreasing if necessary to fit snugly around top of box Iining. Fasten off.

COVER

Same as Bottom until 5" across (instead of 4 1/2"). Work 1 rnd even. Work 1 rnd through front loops only for turn. Through back loops work even to I" from turn. For edging slip 4 beads (instead of 1) before each st. Last rnd - Slip 1 bead before each st. Fasten off.

HANDLES

Without beads, make 3" chain. With beads, sc in 2nd chain from hook and in each ch until row is 2 1/2". Join with sl st into ring careful not to twist. With beads to outside work sc tightly around for 15 1/2". Fasten off. Finishing - Pad cover with cotton batting so that beading fits snugly. Sew in place. Pad bottom of box the same way. Slip box into beading inserting several thicknesses of cotton batting around sides to pad shirred section of bag. Sew beading at top and bottom of box. Stuff handle round. Make two tabs for bottom of handle as follows: Make 2 1/2" chain, join into ring and work beading for 6 rnds. Fasten off. Draw ends of handle through tabs and sew in place as illustrated.

"New York Fashion Letter" from Karen Stark - 1947

This is Karen Stark.
"Among the ten foremost fashion designers in America today."
I thought you might be interested in her 1947 view of the fashion world.

New York Fashion Letter

"Formality of fashion is the keynote of the new Fall trends. American Design is entering a new phase, one of contemporary Victorianism.

The new and coming style is based on two principles, length and shape. Naturalness of shoulders, emphasis on hips and waistline, and more emphasis on femininity. This Fall season will bring fashion talent, imagination, and skill to its highest peak because designers now have the freedom of line and fabric which has long been denied them by restrictions and regulations during the war and the present reconversion. Once again we have the dreamed of almost legendary fabrics that can be molded into silhouettes which give a feeling of formality and elegance. Once again the shimmering satins, rustling taffetas, and lush brocades reminiscent of an almost forgotten era of ease and opulence. This use of stiff fabrics for late afternoon and evening lends an aura of elegance and charm. Formality in daywear is stressed by a softer, rounded look. Shoulders will be padded to appear natural and round. Hips will be emphasized by slight padding and intricate drapings.

Of keenest interest to everyone is the exciting new skirt length, for the much rumored longer skirt will be a definite reality in the Fall collections. This new length adds dignity and grace to any skirt; whether it be reed slim with long clinging lines, where the art of drapery and supple folds achieve the utmost of graceful expression, or exaggeratedly wide and romantic.

Afternoon and evening clothes will run the gamut in elaboration of design by fine detail, exquisite French laces and magnificent embroideries, to enhance the contour of the body lines.

The fashion conscious woman of today takes pride in presenting herself in the most pleasing manner possible and intelligently selects those fashions most suitable to her personality and way of life. Fashion must be dictated by the individual, not the individual by fashion, and the coming trends present such a variance of silhouette that the ultimate effect can only be one of great chic and distinction.

I believe in the feminine woman. I believe in clothes that bespeak charm and gracious living, clothes that not only flatter but dramatize woman's inherent loveliness."

Height of Fashion + Tigress Stripes! - Modern Stylist Magazine - 1947 Part 2

These are wonderful patterns, but they are also mysterious. The number is all that's given, I can't figure out if these were just their own line of patterns. If you know more please share!