Paris Fashions for French Seamstresses - 1953

I just got some French women's magazines, this one les Veillees des Chaumiers which Google translates as Evenings Thatched Cottage. This magazine started in 1898 and continues today aimed at senior citizens. But this issue from March 7, 1953 looks to be read by a young housewife. And a stylish one at that. Here are some patterns you could order for the slim skirt with fabulous pockets, the blouse with amazing scallop bodice or the collection of spring jackets, each one a treasure. 
(I don't speak French at all so if someone can help out it would be appreciated.)

They Keep Your Trousers Trim From Every Angle

"Trousers are more securely fastened with Lightning zips" and goodness knows we all want that. So check your slider pull for the name "Lightning"! 

Two Cases Of Good Husbandry

So when's the last time you saw an ad that quoted Virgil? 

(Don't miss that the shirts have an "eternal air of correctness", and that the pyjamas add "a lot to the pleasure of sleeping" and "If It Shrinks We Replace"!)

"Good Husbandry (the first of blessings, according to Virgil's Georgics) is to know how to separate wheat from chaff: how to select sound stock: how to choose good things that last well."
 "Like many of the best things of life - claret, wood and leather are examples - Clydella does more than last well: it improves with age: it weathers. This is a good reason for buying shirts, and pyjamas, in Cydellas."

"Clydella Town-and-Country Shirt"
"These are also weekend and everyday, winter and summer shirts. They have no close season. They are smooth, slightly on the lightweight side: hence their eternal air of correctness. They are made in a good range of close checks, dogstooth such as you see here, and plain colours. 49/6

"Cydella Pyjamas"
"These have a softness and lightness - and yet a great warmth - that adds a lot to the pleasures of sleeping. They may be had in both flamboyant and discreet stripes and in good straight colors. 59/6 Your usual store should have their Autumn stocks in now."

Make your own Lilly Dache Circle Hat! 1953

Here's a little gift to start your New Year off right. A full size pattern for a Lilly Dache Circle Hat! There are tons of styles and ways to wear this, you'll have so much fun picking out fabrics and trimmings...you're welcome!
(Oh, and if you scroll all the way down there's an extra treat)

And as an extra bonus, here's how to make Lilly Dache Scarves.

My New Years Dress

Just a little something I whipped up.
I hope you are looking so well this New Years!

Dressed For A Party - For Girls and Gals! - 1953

Bring in the new year with some party dresses for girls, toddlers and ladies from Family Circle Magazine, 1953.
Looks like everybody was ready for a good time!

Holiday-Wear Patterns and Smooth Underlines! - 1953

I think these may have been suitable for holiday shopping, they don't look like party dresses, but I do know to get this look you need the right underwear!

"My new sewing machine was a wonderful gift" says Mrs. Zelco - 1953 Family Circle

My goodness that Helen is a lucky gal. Don't you wish you'd get a new sewing machine for Christmas? If only you had a swell guy like Stephen around!
Oh and don't worry.."Young Stephen is so accustomed to the whir of the sewing machine that he pays no more attention to it than he does to the vacuum cleaner."

"Helen and Stephen F. Zelko Of Cleveland, Ohio live in an apartment on the top floor of Steve's parents' home. They did the painting and decorating themselves, and when they were ready to choose curtains. draperies, and slip covers, Helen realized she could save money by making them herself-if only she knew how to sew. She could, of course, take sewing lessons and then rent a sewing machine. But why rent a machine and reduce the saving to be made by home sewing?
Helen Zelko's dilemma was resolved when Steve suggested that she pick out a brand-new modern sewing machine - one that would also be attractive as a piece of living-room furniture-as his Christmas gift last year. Sewing lessons at the store where she bought the machine would be included in the purchase price.
One problem remained for Helen to solve: She had to arrange for someone to take care of young Stephen while she went to her department-store sewing class. His grandparents, who live downstairs, both have daytime jobs, but Helen's mother and several aunts volunteered to baby-sit while she took her lessons. Helen wanted to learn to sew correctly to avoid time-and money-consuming experimenting, and she says she wouldn't have trusted herself to take on so many ambitious home-sewing jobs if she hadn't first learned how to run her machine efficiently."

Butterick - 1953- Gifts for the Whole Family!

But you better get busy if you're going to make those Eisenhower jackets!

It's Butterick for the Greatest Selection of Christmas Gifts! - 1953

Might still be true...are you sewing for Christmas?

Dolls and Aprons from 1953 Buttericks

Keep all the girls happy!

Holiday Excitement - Butterick Patterns - 1953

"...look as gala as you like."

Butterick 6738-Look delightfully feminine in this dress that has all the magic, yet isn't too bare. Size 16, 3 5/8 yds. 45 in. 12 to 20. 50¢. 6711 -Gay stripes for a party dress. New , "standaway" neckline does wonderful things. 16. 4 1/2 yds. 39"; 3/4 yd. collar. 12-18. 50¢. 6769-Faille dress with a festive note... ribbon laced through the wing collar. Size 16, 4 1/4 yds. 39 in. Sizes 12 to. 20. Price, 50¢.

Butterick 6714 -The season to go all out ... with that great flatterer - lace. 16, 3 yds. 35" lace, 2 yds. 39" (slip), 1 3/4 yds. ribbon. 12-18. 50¢. 6737-For soft wool ... a dress to wear with or without a petticoat ... to look as gala as you like. 16, 3/8 yds. 54 in. 12 to 20. 50¢. 6735-Velveteen sheath plus add-on accessories. See what white touches do! 16, 3 1/2 yds. 35" nap: 3/4 yd. 39" trim. 12 to 20. 50¢. 6770-Very new: slim-flowing lines, back-diving "standaway" neckline. Size 16, 4 yds. 39 in., 1 yd. contrast. 12 to 18. 50¢. 6768-Crisp ottoman punctuated with white. It's the favorite "big collar" dress. 16, 41/4 yds. 45"; 3/4 yd. 39" collar. 12-20. 50c. 6736-Just the dress for your best shade of pastel jersey. Fits beautifully, softly. Size 16, 3 1/8 yds. 54 in. Sizes 12 to 18. Price, 50¢.

"Your personal holiday excitement"

Just a grand dress from 1953...fancy or casual, it's a snap to make!

"Butterick 6796-Your personal holiday excitement ... the dress you'll wear to family dinners and rounds of parties... the dress that fits like a dream and looks like one ... and, above all, a pattern that is a snap to make up in any of the store's exciting fabrics. Size 16, 5 yds. 45 in. or 6 3/4 yds. 35 in. lace; 11/2 yd. 39 in. decorative binding. Sizes 12 to 18. 50¢."

"Timeless Wardrobe, all for $100.00" 1953

In 1953 dollars you could get all this for under $100.00, now you couldn't get one piece for that...but the rose is still free, because you have chic and wit!

"Combine fashion and personal wisdom and you have
something money can't buy. Combine a bright red coat,
a smoke gray suit, a black faille dress and a simple
gray tweed and you have clothes to take you
anywhere, any time. Consider the delightful factual
sum of money spent, $99.14 and you have a small miracle.
All accessories, even the fashion-conscious cummerbund
taffeta scarf and narrow-silhouette bag are included!

The red rose was handed to you by an admirer-for your chic and your wit."
By Wilhela Cushman - Fashion Editor of the Journal

Beautiful red coat of satiny wool, lined with Milium, $34.00, by Irving Finker. Rayon-velvet beret, $1.59; plastic-calfskin bag, $2.95; gloves, $2.95.

Fashion of gray tweed, a wool-and-rayon dress, with a white collar and black satin bow and belt, $14.95, by Clara Blatt. Rhinestone clips on the beret double for earrings ($1.00). Gloves are washable rayon, $1.00. Gloves are washable rayon, $1.00.

Your afternoon and dinner dress is a separates-fashion in black rayon-and-cotton faille, by Nellie de Grab. Skirt, $8.95; top, $5.95; rayon-satin cummerbund, $1.50; rhinestone pin, 40¢.

Year-round suit of charcoal-gray rayon-and-acetate ribbed weave, $19.95, is worn under the red coat all winter. The rayon-taffeta tie, $1.00, is for the suit or coat. The felt bonnet-cloche, $2.95, is interchangeable with the rayon-velvet beret.

"The Hat - That flatters and hugs the head" - 1953

From The Ladies Home Journal in 1953

"New hats are small and sleek, made of glamour fabrics - fur, satin, velvet, and jewel toned velours. Definitely pretty - fashion says, this fall."
By Ruth Mary Packard

Black broadtail beret with braid, made for an autumn-leaf-red wool suit, both by Hattie Carnegie. This sleek little hat is perfect fashion for black costumes or any bright color.

Blond velvet beret and gloves match collar of Hattie Carnegie's suit, bag by Ben King.

Winged toque in satin and velours by Christian Dior - New York, worn with Maximilian's mink jacket, bittersweet velvet gloves.

Passementerie on satin - Lilly Dache's horseshoe helmet worn with Tina Leser's costume of black velveteen with green taffeta bow-blouse and long taffeta gloves.

Pleated wool Paisley in a new turban by Gladys and Belle, with matching gloves, jersey costume by Hannah Troy.

Leopard-velveteen cloche by John Frederics, bittersweet dress by Lotte, Koret bag.

Ruby-red pillbox with a rhinestone pin by Hattie Carnegie. Bracelets of black fox circle the black capeskin gloves.

Beginner's Luck - Easy Vogue Fashions from 1953

Just look at these very cool Vogue patterns from 1953...choose your favorite!

""Sewing bees" are back in favor...with a honey of a reason! Joining friends for an afternoon or evening of needlework is so sociable and so common-sensible. Beginners in the teen and young-married set, and experts, too, tell us of pooling talent and equipment - steam iron, button-hole attachment, sleeve board, even a group baby-sitter. Everyone gets more done at less cost, and pinning up and fitting are so easy with friends to help. These patterns are easy in any case, for either a first-timer or a practiced hand. Not only simple to make, all are so beautiful they put sewing bees in our bonnet. We can't choose one favorite; we think you'll want to sew them all up."
By Nora O'Leary - Pattern Editor of the Journal

What could be prettier than a slim camel-color wool-gabardine dress? Note the easy-to-fit dropped shoulder, trim round collar. "Easy to Make" Vogue Design No. 8107, 12 to 20.

Separates are a "natural" for a beginner. Try a pretty wool-jersey blouse, Vogue Design No. 8054, 12 to 20. Quaint flowered corduroy skirt, No. 8109. Both "Very Easy to Make".

Practical "winter cotton" in a short sleeve classic. Vogue Design No. 7768, 12 to 20. Angora-and-wool jersey bolero, stripe lining. No. 7912, 12 to 20. Both "Easy to Make".

For quick results...for your first try...a simple skirt cut in four gores. Search for a wonderful plaid, wear it with your favorite sweater. "Very Easy to Make" skirt, No. 8092.

For your first fall dress make a brown-and-white tweed. This dress is bound with braid. "Very Easy to Make" Vogue Design No. 8108, 12 to 20. The fringed stole, No. 8101.

This navy serge could be made in an afternoon. The ribbing, available in dime stores, looks professional. Add novelty belt. "Easy to Make" Design No. 8083, 12 to 20. Hat, No. 7929.

"Variety fitting the hour, the need and your personal flare" 1953

Variety Fitting the Hour from Ladies Home Journal in 1953.

"Beautiful future for black with white, bittersweet and flame...for wool with satin, velvet, fur...Variety fitting the hour, the need and your personal flare."

"Black is the significant color, from slipper satin and broadcloth to tweeds textured or flecked with black. The white accent may be fur at your neckline, a satin turban, a taffeta blouse. Bittersweet is a flaming color, the exciting extra in your plan. You can wear it in a coat, or sparingly in a pair of gloves. Maple-beige, charcoal and Puritan gray are quiet shades inviting imaginative accessories. Stand-away collars leave the throat bare or are filled with ropes of gold. (Rhinestones set in gold have a new sparkle.) Gloves are longer, often pulled above the elbow, or over long tight sleeves. The newest bag is the wafer-thin box."
By Wilhela Cushman - Fashion Editor of the Journal

Black broadcloth suit with white mink, by Adele Simpson, turban by Gladys and Belle.

Broadcloth and satin - the v-neck sheath with panels in motion by Christian Dior - New York. Worn with satin-bow hat, rhinestones, long capeskin gloves, pointed-toe sandals by David Evins.

Winter suit with short lynx-lined coat by Lo Balbo.

Plaid tweed bolero costume with satin, by Jo Copeland.

Maple-beige camel's-hair-and-wool jacket suit, Alvin Handmacher.

Wool-and-alpaca coat by Nat Bader, satin hat, leopard muff by I. J. Fox.

Empire bolero suit by Omar Kiam of Ben Reig, muff-bag by Selma Robinson.

Hattie Carnegie's pink-and-black flecked suit with matching hat, blending velvet scarf. Worn with rhinestones, cocoa suede gloves, pagoda suede bag.