Buy The Golden Way - Teddys, Gowns, Step-ins!

This sweet little booklet is undated, but sure looks 20's to me...can anybody get us closer? Be sure to click twice to see all the details. (More tomorrow)

Miserable Models in McCall's - 1964

These gals look like they stayed out way too late last night, or maybe these gowns are what they wore to the party and they haven't made it home yet.

Baby-Mode - 32 Knitted Garments for Baby

This charming Baby-Mode booklet has 32 knitted garments for baby from birth to 2 years. It's undated, but maybe some of you can help figure it out. We also get Washing Instructions - remember "In No Circumstances Should Woolies Be Boiled Or Twisted"!

"Fall Ideas for the Home Seamstress" - 1934

These were True Story patterns for dresses and hats. Again all the interest was up top, just look at those collars. A pin-tucked funnel neck? Then topped off with a jaunty little hat.

Smart New York Styles That Flatter Your Figure - 1934

From True Story Magazine, these were fully made dresses you could order all the way from New York. This group seems all about the collars, each one more fabulous than the last. And at prices ranging from $3.95 to $7.85 how could you go wrong?

When I think of the days I lost...

Please bear with me. I have had one sort of tech diaster after another, but now I have my new laptop, the electricity is working in the RV and soon I'll have the new scanner program under control. The good news is I have lots of new goodies to share, so stick around!

"You've simply got to get me a new machine!"

The Wedding March - 1950 - From This Day Forward

I keep looking at these brides and think of my Mom, who was married in the early fifties. These were some high standards to meet, but I think those brides were really good at meeting standards...they were expected to be picture perfect, they were to furnish their homes with the sterling silver they received, the Groom was to be tall and well off, it was a good idea to have a couple of good looking friends or sisters to be bridesmaids, and the wedding should be held in a suitably impressive location. And you weren't suppose to need valium for a couple of years!

The Wedding March - 1950 - Bridal Drama

I am looking at these trains...they are amazing. But I wonder why they stayed in fashion for weddings long after they were worn "everyday"? I am guessing it was to distinguish these dresses from any others...this was not going to show up at the grocery store. But there are several fashion historians out there, some of whom might even read this blog. So what are some of the reasons wedding dresses look they way they do?

The Wedding March - 1950 - Lace Loveliness

This group includes a rare groom sighting. Those guys weren't very important in the overall scheme of things. Back then it was all about her, the dress and the cake.
(Let's forget about Bridezillas, Say Yes To The Dress, and all those Cake shows- we've come a long way baby.)

The Wedding March - 1950 - Satin and Lace

I'm back with a charming look at "The Wedding March" -"A Guide for the California Bride", published in 1950 and sent out to brides-to-be "upon announcement of engagement in Southern California". It's a large glossy magazine all in black and white, but it gives us a glimpse of the lush gowns these gals had to choose from.

More to come....

In which I explain...

...where I've been lately. I went home for a visit and while there some darling 2 year old granddaughter spilled water on her Grandma's laptop. Makes it hard to be mad at anybody (but she's out of the will this week). So now your favorite blogger is stuck with a tiny, old, slow back-up machine, making it near impossible to post lovelies for you. :-(
I hope to have a new machine in a few weeks, but you can help this process by going over to my store and shopping. Do a LOT of shopping. You'll get amazing patterns for everybody you know. And I can be back sooner with more fabulous fashion and other goodies here. A win-win don't you think?

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.