Woman's Home Companion -1956 -Advance Patterns to Make Your Sewing Easier

Each of these stunners takes less than four main pattern pieces (some may have interfacings, ect.) No reason to delay...get sewing!

Woman's Home Companion -1956 -If You're Stout

It's a sweet dress, but I don't think there's much slimming about those lace saddlebags on her hips!

Woman's Home Companion -1956 - And there's no hidden trick!

"If you look closely, your own good style should tell you that one wears a style featuring the new 'long torso look'." If you can figure this out you might have what it takes to be a Fashion Counsler and earn up to $100.00 in a month!

Woman's Home Companion -1956 - Spring in New York - Coats and Hats!

"Coats for rain or shine...hats bloom with flowers"

April showers do bring spring flowers but they can also spoil many an Easter parade or party. We know that we cannot do anything about the weather but fortunately something can be done about spring coats. Nowadays they can do double duty as raincoats, day and evening, in such a way that you can be protected as well as pretty. Even such fragile fabrics as linen, brocade and white satin can go out in the rain. And they relegate the Burberry to its proper place-to men.

The five day coats [shown above] in charcoal corduroy, in blue and white checked linen, in yellow burlap, all by Lawrence of London. Black whipcord coat (in center) from Main Street; pink in a finely woven cotton called Element cloth by Bonnie Cashin for Harris. Men's traditional Burberrys from Brooks Brothers.

The five coats shown above are for 5 p.m. and after. Lawrence of London again made three; the butterfly print on shantung, the gold brocade and the white satin. The violet printed taffeta is by Helen Van Vliet for Town Creations; the cape-collared black coat by Bonnie Cashin for Harris.


When the sun does shine in April, it's sunny enough to call for one of the new big, flowery hats. The English garden printed taffeta hat is by Adolfo for Emme; the out-size straw with poppies atid field flowers and the chrysanthemum-petaled toque from John- Frederics; the coral-pink hat trimmed with matching roses is by Lilly Dache, the lavender-blue flowered Manet-type hat is by Sally Victor. Dresses by Karen Stark for Harvey Berin.

Woman's Home Companion -1956- Attack of the 50 ft. Woman!

I'm not really sure what the message here is...why is the giant scary woman standing there looking at the trio of Stepford wives who are swinging on a tray? I am confused.

Woman's Home Companion -1956-Mom and Daughter Matching Dresses

This is a good example of a fashion trend that's gone by the wayside, the Mom and Me matching outfits. These "party-pretty" dresses are made of Dri-Smooth, a "living cotton" by Cranston and illustrated by Lucia.

Woman's Home Companion - 1956 Suits for an Easter Parade

"It's news to wear shades of one color" These are clearly not the wasp-waist look we think of with the fifties...but here in 1956, we can see the sixties coming around the corner.

All pale beige, contrast of textures-a color scheme right for most women. This version is a leather skirt, a leather and tweed jacket-- you can clean the leather with warm water, soap and a damp cloth. Bonnie Cashin for Milton Sills. Strap pump from Deb, bag from Coronet.

Mixture of neutrals-a color scheme that's every woman's fashion. The gray-beige silk suit with high-bloused back, by Montesano & Pruzan, is accented by warm brown-beige in a hat by Amy, a strap pump from Marshall, Meadows & Stewart.

Yellow-most popular high-key color, here used in varying degrees of intensity. Suit in white and yellow tweed mixture from Jablow. Lizard bag from Lucille de Paris, Monet jewelry, tie pump from Bally, bulky hat by Adolfo for Emme..

All-red for the adventurous-dramatic color co-ordination for the woman who can carry it. The coat has a skirt to match; Bardley. Matching shoe from Valentines, is cork-textured leather --smartest material of the year for red shoes. Harmonizing tones in Walter Florell's hat, the alligator bag.

Blues are becoming, turquoise is lovely with gray hair. Shantung suit with polka-dot scarf by Adele Simpson; a straw hat by Sally Victor: linen pumps from Bonwit Teller dyed a deeper shade of turquoise than the suit- a new style note.

Girls Spring Dresses - Woman's Home Companion 1956

Make these Cottons an Easter Treat

An Easter egg hunt, a trip to the circus, lunch at a fancy restaurant-all the Easter festivities are exciting but the biggest treat is the pretty new clothes. Here are dresses to delight any lady-grown-up and pintsize alike.

Advance Printed Pattern 7920 Child's sleeveless jumper dress with unpressed pleats, high scoop neckline. The middy top buttons on-the tie at the neckline is grosgrain ribbon. Fabric by John Wolf.

Advance Printed Pattern 7939 Child's dress with a pie-cut neckline, tiny sleeves, a velveteen sash. There are diagonal self-bands of fabric on the gathered skirt. Fabric by John Wolf.

Advance Printed Pattern 7938 Mother's dress is an exact replica. Her sailor hat is by John-Frederics.

Advance Printed Pattern 7898 Child's dress in a sunny color frosted with eyelet. It closes in back, has a big sash, gathered skirt. Fabric by John Wolf.

Advance Printed Pattern 7946 Child's dress with an Empire waistline is sleeveless (there's a flared coat and hat included in pattern also). Ribbon trim is nylon for easy washing. Fabric from ABC. Children's hats by Richard Englander. All the fabrics we show here have Cranston's new Dri-Smooth finish that resists wrinkles. We washed all these dresses in our own laundry by machine, using warm water, a nidd detergent, We found that a short time in the dryer helped to make them more wrinkle-free and a quick touch-up with a steam iron was all that was needed.

Glamour Magazine 1944 - Merle Oberon for Maybelline

The final image on the back cover is the lovely Merle Oberon. Actually before 1944 when this picture was published she had been in a car accident that scared her face and "Oberon suffered even further damage to her complexion in 1940 from a combination of cosmetic poisoning and an allergic reaction to sulfa drugs. Alexander Korda sent her to a skin specialist in New York City, where she underwent several dermabrasion procedures. The results, however, were only partially successful; without makeup, one could see noticeable pitting and indentation of her skin."[see link above] Yet with the help of Maybelline she looks flawless here.

Glamour Magazine 1944 - Girdlslax - Combines Utility with Charm

"Home Front Fighters choose Girdslax. You're millions strong, you feminine warriors! Your ammunition, the assembly line, the riveter's gun, the welder's rod! Your uniform, Girdslax...cut, for fit, like a man's slack...combines utility with charm."

Strong words for women! They also list in tiny print at the bottom "Trikskirts, Swurlskirts, Slax Suits as other work clothes for those feminine warriors.

Glamour Magazine 1944 - Everyone's looking at you...

...and of course you love it, you're so completely right in your Sporteens jacket and skirt.

Glamour Magazine 1944 - Sweater Girls In Action

Wow. What is she really selling?

Glamour Magazine 1944 - A Snap Of A Suit

Young Recruit for your Spring Offensive...a snap of a suit, a LEEDS HI-HO JUNIOR...for the young in figure, the young in heart, as well as the young in years.

Glamour Magazine 1944 - "Textiles At War"

Fabric Dream Of Tomorrow - Heavenly Rayons Today!
The Textron company was making parachutes and they show up in the edges of this lovely illustration. I can't make out the artist's name.

Out of the midst of war's grim necessities will arise the beautiful, amazing new Fashion Fabrics of Tomorrow. From Textron's filmy parachutes and gossamer mountain tents, from the steel-strong fibers of tow ropes for gliders-will come exciting, fabulous new fabrics to adorn you and your home in the new synthetic century ahead. Bathing you in light and loveliness. Protecting you from cold and dampness. Warding off staining and fading. Beautiful, fragile and fantastically enduring! In the glamorous fabric world of tomorrow- remember the new name Textron!

To inspire your scissors today, Textron offers you for divinely draping evening gowns and blouses, for slim, sleek underthings- luxurious Textron Satins of finest rayon. For tailored suits and coats there are exclusive Textron Lining Twilis and Serges of rayon. Glorious lengths of fine, firm weaves in the most flattering and exciting colors. You can be lovely as a dream today-in Textron!

Glamour Magazine 1944 - The Shoes!

Send A Ration Coupon...you're gonna need it to get these fabulous shoes.

Glamour Magazine 1944 - Unforgettable -that Christy Look

"Of course, your time is at a premium now, but the brave still do deserve the fair! So save a handful of minutes every morning - another handful every night and help yourself that radiant, fresh look - the look HE won't forget."
And "Join the WACS and have a hand in the war."

Glamour Magazine 1944 - Shocking Stockings!

The idea here was to "make the legs more eyepealing", "made for wear - but also to make them stare". Seems to be working!

Glamour Magazine 1944 - It's "Good Behavior" that counts

For slips that is. Especially if we are talking about Movie Star Slips...this model is "Winged Victory" and it "behaves well when you stand, sit, walk or run". (I wonder if they actually tested women running while wearing these slips? I think not.) But the illustration is lovely, she looks like she could fly. (Bet they didn't test for that either.)

Glamour Magazine 1944 - Pregnant? This Is What And What Not To Do

The good thing about 1944 was that there were clear rules to follow, all you had to do was keep track. Just remember that " A smock fairly shouts B-A-B-Y. A dress won't blab the news." Heaven forbid you should forget "No pinhead hats for pregnants. Balance your bulk with width."
See how easy that is?

Glamour Magazine 1944 - "This is the way to dress your young"

"Hollywood Patterns and your own nimble fingers make these gay sugar and spice nursery fashions."
Pretty illustration is by Lisl Weil an artist in many beloved books. Hollywood Patterns were popular for small fry and big stars too!

Glamour Magazine 1944- The Mobile Coat- Styled Six Ways!

This is a good lesson on how to take any quality basic coat and re-fashion it six different ways. You just need to use your "old fur coat", military braid, wide belts, or ocelot or a shaggy fur cape...great ideas!

The Mobile Coat. Glamour's cure-all for tired-winter-coat blues. Mobile-"quickly responding to any stimulus ...changeable, versatile" (Webster). The perfect year-round, quick-change coat. Photographed here with Calder Mobiles-the fluid sculpture exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art. This Botany wool coat with a button-in, quilted lining, has an amazing virtuosity with accessories, as shown below. Fitted, buttoned way down...a fine facade for fur, braid, belts. Gold, red, blue. aqua, green, black. Sizes 10 to 20. $39.95. Altman's, N.Y.; The White House, San Francisco; R. H. White, Boston. Coty's medium lipstick.

1. ADD A FUR FACADE this winter: a weskit and a matching beret made out of your old fur coat.

2. MOOD MILITAIRE. Swing along next spring in epaulets and a jaunty fourragere made of braid.

3. BEDECK WITH BRAID for that extra-festive look. For subtlety, match coat. For drama, contrast.

4. ENLIVEN WITH LEATHER -wide leather belt, huge leather bag, trim walking shoes, a debonair air.

5. FEMINIZE WITH FUR. Ocelot, leopard or stenciled lapin for collar, buttons and gauntlet cuff.

6. SLINC, ON A CAPE or a stole of shaggy, fur ... it's perfect with the unbulky lines of this coat.

Glamour Magazine 1944 - More Ads and Designers!

"Your Label For All The Things You Are" , "This dress can go with you from office to canteen, from campus to date", "The junior miss who cuts her fashion teeth...becomes a purist for fine tailoring and a sticker for for perfect details" but don't forget to "look pretty, please!"

Glamour Magazine 1944 - For The Girl With A Job

We are going to spend some time in 1944, looking at what a gal with a job was wearing and doing. She was doing it looking fabulous!
Many of the ads in this issue show the labels of the fashion houses or name the designers. Let's start with a few of these examples.