Accessories à la 1948

Here are a few lovely items from the 1948 Sears Roebuck Catalog.

I was a bit obsessed with 1948 for the past month and meant to share some of these between construction posts, but the sewing took precedence!

And while these items are certainly not what I would consider to be the height of fashion or evening elegance, I would not mind having some of these lovelies in my closet!

Some of these bedroom slippers are gorgeous, and some of them look like something I could buy in Sears.

Look at these hats!  

So many amazing choices.

More hoodies!

And even more exquisite and over the top choices!  Did these ladies have an entire closet dedicated to hats and hatboxes?!

These purses are adorable!  Although I am not sure how I feel about "suede-like plastics."  What do you suppose that material feels like?

[Images from 1948 Sears Roebuck Catalog]

My Kind of Hoodie

I thought I would share a hoodie or two from 1948.  They are infinitely more chic than any contemporary hooded outerwear I have ever seen.

There is even a dress with a removable hood, and it is plaid!  It really doesn’t get any better than that, does it?

Rain or evening appropriate . . .

Short  . . . 

Or long . . .

They all look so sophisticated!

[Images from 1948 Sears Roebuck Catalog]

Les Chaussures

If you would bear with me just a bit longer, I am not quite ready to let the 1920s go . . .

One of the problems with trying out a new style is that so many of my accessories are not quite right.  

Unfortunately, I do not have much in the way of 20s-style shoes - let along something that will work with a gray dress.  Luckily, I remembered my silver heels.  They were purchased to complement this dress along with this silver snood a few years ago.  I was never very happy with the look, but these silver slippers sure have come in handy.

I expected to see more t-straps in a 1928 catalog.  What is clear is that the mary jane was extremely popular.

And look at all those cut-outs!

The detail work is sensational. 

Who says novelty hosiery is a new thing?  Those flapper girls really knew all about style!

[Images from 1928 Sears Roebuck Catalog]

The Dropped-Waist Dress: Très Chic or Terribly Unflattering?

Today I thought I would continue with my 1920s fashion research.  I know that there are quite a few people out there that avoid the dropped waist look because they believe it is rather unflattering.  And to a certain extent, I agree.

Seeing as I have a rather long torso, the silhouette actually makes me feel right at home – a design that accentuates what is already there!  However, I have wide hips and a relatively small waist, and I like to accentuate the smallest part of my body.  The flapper look does NOT accomplish this.  

But why should I let that stop me from enjoying a wonderful part of fashion history?

Yes, it is arguably one of the least flattering looks for most female figures, but seeing these illustrations side by side makes me appreciate how amazing the fashions really were.

It amazes me how many different looks can come from the same basic silhouette.  The addition of a ruffle or some lace here and there, or a section of pleats and pintucks does wonders for the drop-waist look of the 1920s.  Or how about a sash and a floppy bow?  Buttons, buckles and brooches also add extra flash to the look.

When I think about the amazing fabrics that they were made of, I wish I had an entire closet full!  And these are just day dresses - the evening looks are spectacular.  One day I will have to make a gown based on one of the amazing designs by Erté.

I think it is interesting to note that these fashions look the same on children, young adults, and adults alike.  In fact, it is hard to tell which pages are catering to the young and the not so young unless you read the fine print. 

The Victorians were the first to create fashion specific to a younger generation that looked nothing like what adults of the time were wearing, only to have designers make an adult woman look just like a young girl with no curves a couple of decades later.

The pattern I have been working on is Vogue 2535.  A bit shapeless, yes, but it is also unlike anything else I have, which is making for a fun project.  

What I did not find were any scalloped hem dresses in the 1928 Sears Roebuck Catalog.  But perhaps Sears was not quite as up to date as Vogue?  Makes sense to me!

[Images from the 1928 Sears Roebuck Catalog]

Vintage Textile Envy

I have been working with contemporary patterns for a bit, although nothing ever seems to look current on me (the evidence may be found here, here, and here).  So I decided that it was time to go vintage, and even further back in time than my current 1940s/1950s obsession, just to shake things up.  Since I recently have discovered a love of the 1930s, I decided I should head even further back to the 1920s.

And where does a project begin?  With the fabric, of course!  Well, not always, but for a bit of inspiration, I though it was as good a place as any.

And here is a bit of my 1920s research.  While I wish I could shop the Sears Roebuck catalog, this is mainly for fun and because my fabric has been chosen.  I really am trying to be a good girl and use yardage from my stash, only purchasing extras like lining, thread, and buttons as needed.

"Sheer and dainty crepe," "perfect charm by the yard" taffeta, and pages and pages of rayon and silk in the most beautiful colors and prints are what I found.  Ginghams, florals, and abstract prints abound.  Crepe de chine, velvets and velveteens, metal, and brocades.

I can’t help but think of The Great Gatsby.  Although the era may have been filled with conspicuous consumption, it sure made for some lovely textiles.  And how about those incredible cocoon coats made of scrumptious patterned velvets?  Not to mention all of those amazing hats!

And I just love all of these patterns!

But for now, I am going to concentrate on the rayon on my sewing table and my vintage reproduction pattern.

[Images from Sears Roebuck Catalog, Fall 1928]

Shoe Fetish

I rarely go shopping for clothes anymore (fabric shopping, well, that is another story!).  Every once in a while, I will spend a few hours looking for lovely things in the department store only to be disappointed by racks and racks of poorly made garbage.

And I know I am not the only person who sees a cheaply or poorly made garment and thinks about how easy it would be to sew something up that is ten times as nice.

The major exception is shoes.  I do not have the slightest idea about how to make shoes.  And while I would love all of the creative possibilities that would open up, I imagine all that glue and leather would not be very fun to work with.

I am still looking for a pair of fabulous green shoes.  Red and purple are relatively easy to find these days, but the perfect pair of green shoes has evaded me.

It seems that the color was very popular in 1948.

And the standard colors are incredibly detailed.  Crossed straps, perforations, rosettes, and scalloped edges add extra special touches that are often missing from shoes these days (unless you have a whole lot of money to spend).

So now I would like to make my request that someone invent a time machine so I can travel back in time and grab bunches of these fabulous shoes.  And I promise to bring back your favorites as well!

Do you think the leather would age in the travel back to 2012?

[Images from Sears Roebuck Catalog, Spring 1948]