More 1924 Fashions - Graduation Frocks, Wash Dresses and Clothes for the Younger Generation.

Frocks for Graduation, simple wash dresses and what to put on the children are all addressed in the Good Housekeeping magazine from May, 1924. Remember; "Simplicity should mark the dress for graduation, but the Class Day and Promenade frocks may be more elaborate." (What were Class and Promenade days? And why could they be fancier?)
"Not so many years ago, women who wanted attractive, smart wash dresses had to make them themselves. So it was with children's clothes - only by having them made especially for her could the mother be sure of dainty materials and hand stitchery."
Luckily they go on to explain that you could now find them in shops with well-known trade-marks. So much easier!

In The New York Shops - Fashion and Lingerie Suggestions for 1924

Here we have "Many Suggestions for the Trousseau and Sports Clothes for the Outdoor Girl" from the May, 1924 issue of Good Housekeeping Magazine. There is a focus on "the sports clothes which at this season burst into full bloom as far as cut, coloring and other characteristics go". But it should be noted that "the scarf is delightfully characteristic in red with silver braid, but if one prefers, it may be had in a more conventional old blue and silver braid". But take heart, "in either case the frock is decidedly smart". And that, of course is what we are aiming for.

Then we can't ignore the underthings. "The New York Shops Display Lingerie of Divers Materials and Varied Trimmings".We have charming nightgowns, a costume slip, an envelope chemise, and elaborately embroidered set of drawers, all in "lovely colors".

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."

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!

"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)

Kestos Brassiere Vest -"...supplies the discreet restraint that every dancer needs." - 1932

"...the result would be perfection."
(This a repeat post from December 2009)

Butterick lowers the cost of patterns to 10¢, 15¢, 20¢ - 1905

"Butterick makes announcement of one of the most radical moves in the history of paper patterns". In 1905 they lowered the prices!

Looking at Good Looking Men - Esquire 1968

If you think the gals had to work at looking good in the sixties just think what the guys had to go through. They had to find the "innest" thing in boxers, decide between the Water Buffalo Astro Thongs or the all leather Calais. What do you wear under your lace up swim suit, a foam rubber swim cup or elastic brief? Does your collar have a high flare roll? Do you want your Formal Turtleneck in Maize or TV Blue? And your "tapered hipster swimmers" been syncopated by Bill Miller? But your Ruffled Shirt requires No Ironing!

Paris Fashion - 1955 Spring Lines on Street Corners - Givenchy and Dior

"Spring Lines on Street Corners" from Realities Magazine May 1955
"Four out-of-doors ensembles from the current collections"
Photographs by Sante Forlano

"No 1332," an ensemble by Givenchy with a new formula: a three-quarter coat, sleeveless and boat-necked, in a warm beige tweed, worn over a wool jersey suit in the same shade. The silk umbrella is by Vedrenne.

"Anglomanie:" two pieces that look like three are something to sing about, A long-torsoed dress by Dior in black and white Glen plaid becomes an almost classic suit when its jacket is buttoned up. New points: the longer back of the jacket over the pleated skirt. Worn with a yellow straw beret.

"No 4298:" a wide stand-away collar with its triple-fold bow is the headline news of this natural Glen plaid suit by Givenchy. The collarless three-quarter coat in a darker beige fleece is straight and simple. the cap matches the suit. Her leather bag is by Hermes.

"The A Dress," a pearl for the oyster: a dark gray flannel suit by Dior. The long double-breasted jacket, slit on the side, pyramids over a wide-pleated skirt held out by a petticoat. Hat in white felt.
(Photograph taken in front of Marius restaurant, 9, rue de Bourgogne, Paris)

Good Housekeeping - 1934 - Hats Turn To Oddly Shaped Brims, And Jackets Go To Any Length

"SPRING has come and almost gone, Spring fashions are now familiar to us all: the smart navy-blue frocks with touches of white or gay color; and jacket of the same or a contrasting, checked material. The plain tailored suit with a tailored blouse is a different and favorite type. Hats are of infinite variety and shapes, the sailor meeting high favor, through tending to be flat as a pancake, as are the many irregularly shaped berets.

But it is to summer and hot-weather fashions we now turn. Here they are: gay, wearable, and attractive-silk suits, print dresses, large hats, trailing evening dresses of organza, and satin cape jackets, and feminine little capes of sheer fabrics.

The month of May is important with its weddings, graduations very near, Decoration Day, often attended by sports and all sorts of gayety. For street wear choose the silk suit or print dress, to be cool and smart-looking. Get yourself one or two ribbed cotton sports dresses , with a separate short swagger coat, also of cotton. It can be white over coral, yellow, or blue, and just right for sports and the country club. You will almost surely need and want one new soft afternoon dress of chiffon for those "don't dress" occasions. Get a trailing organza, net, or lace evening dress, with a transparent, high neck in the front, low cut in the back, and with a long scarf worn across the front of the neck with fluttering ends hanging at the back. Choose satin for the evening cape, which may be long or three-quarters length. Pay real attention to such important details as the new, warm beige shade of stockings; white or beige gloves to suit your costume; bags; sports shoes and sports jewelry with sports clothes; the more important pin, bag, and pumps for afternoon wear; the pale shades for evening clothes (there is less white and less black); and last but not least, and at all times of the day - morning, noon, and night -see that your hair has the new look, but adjust the stye to your face.

Some day I'm going to write a whole article entitled, "No Style Without Fit." Some women spend much money on clothes, and neglect to have them properly fitted, and then they wonder why they do not look stylish or smart. So remember, it's the cut of clothes, fitted to you, which gives smartness.

And now a word of caution regarding the type of clothes you choose. Unless you are very sure of yourself, do not go to extremes; but, on the other hand, buy the dress of the season - the dress with the new features. Be with the new style instead of lingering with the old, Here are points to look for in buying.

Our Paris Editor, who has been seeing everything new as it arrives, and has watched both the American buyers who have selected the models imported to America and the French women buying for themselves, has seen definite indications of what is being chosen and, therefore, accepted as the Style of the Spring and Summer of 1934. One interesting comment she sends me is that the American buyer and the french woman are choosing more nearly the same things nowadays than they have in the past.

The soft silk suit, either printed or plain, will be popular. Here we find much fine workmanship and feminine details, such as cascade revers instead of stiff ones, or pleating in frills or on edges, or puffed sleeves, or skirts with pleated sections, or capes and capelets instead of jackets.

This year there is a fight between back interest and front interest which is amusing to watch. Many designers have concentrated on back interest. Perhaps, on the whole, the "backs" have it. For the majority of evening skirts that are not the same on all sides have their movement concentrated in the back. The top of the body, however, tells another tale. Here we find many creators concentrating interest at the back of the neck-the hood, which is applied to coats, sults. and capes, But also, in quite a number of houses, there is some touch of interest just below the belt in front. There may be a bow or a basque or godets or a frill or even a panel of pleating up the front of the skirt.

Schiaparelli keeps all her width across the top of the body in the majority of her models, though some of her evening ones have eccentric movement in the backs of the skirts; even her plain suit skirts have little drapes, knots, folds, or circles of shirring at the bustle point in some cases. In a number of coats and suits she still uses the "Stormv Weather" line, in new interpretations. Prints of all varieties are in for a definite revival, for both day and evening clothes, as you see."

"Black paper panama is the Bourbon hat at top, trimmed with twisted black satin ribbon. Thin navy wool makes the coat; a multi-colored printed crepe, the dress of the ensemble, at left, from Schiaparelli. Checked black-and-white taffeta is the jacket; black satin, the skirt, of the Patou suit next. Jackets unlike in fabric and in color are new. "

Good Housekeeping - 1934 - Winship Swim Suits

"Winship Swim Suits do fit...and perfect fit emphasizes proper styling."

"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.

Hackett-Carhart "Uncommon Goods" - 1905

Isn't he a fine specimen of a man? He must have looked at their "Style Book showing the authoritative fashions for men and boys." Or maybe he sent away for the "set of drawings"..."that show the characteristic poses and physical development of the American athletes who made the year 1904 great in the annals of athletic history."

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.

Styles for the Little Ladies - 1940