Although I haven’t been able to sew for a few year now, I have been dreaming of making a 1930s day dress. 1930s formal dresses and gowns are easy to find, but day wear is less common. If I want the most historically accurate dress, I know I will need to get out the sewing … Read More about 1930s Sewing Pattern History & Pattern Review

1940s La Pachucha Zoot Style- short skirt, long jacket, big hairAlthough the men’s suit is more well known, young women also participated in the rebellious 1940s Zoot and Zazou style. Some called their clothing “defense drapes.”   Their version was a short pleated skirt that showed plenty of leg – it was an inch or … Read More about 1940s Zoot Suit Girls, La Pachucha History

The most iconic look of war-time was the 1940s women’s two-piece suit. In the United States, it was patriotically called the victory suit. In Britain, it was the utility suit. The suit was practical and versatile, worn as often as dresses. The jacket and skirt could be mixed with other pieces, and a different blouse … Read More about Women’s 1940s Victory Suits and Utility Suits

My first love of all the vintage retro decades was with the 1940s. Perhaps because clothing was similar to that in the 1980s, the decade I grew up in, and I subconsciously wanted to relive those times? Hmm, maybe. The reason doesn’t matter, but the love for 1940s clothing, especially 1940s dresses, does. You can … Read More about 1940s Dress Styles- Casual to Cocktail

Ever since the stock market crash of 1929 and the severe economic depression that followed for most of the 1930s, fashion had been an escape. Looking to the movies, women and men escaped their difficult daily lives and imagined a carefree and very glamorous life in Hollywood. Fashion followed movie stars’ apparel both on and … Read More about 1940s Fashion History for Women and Men

  Women of the late 1940s, 1950s, and early 1960s hosted poolside “Tiki” parties or went to the nearest tiki lounge where tropical drinks with little pink umbrellas were enjoyed by all. To dress for the tiki parties women wore tropical print dresses also called tiki dresses. Many were inspired by Hawaiian life, Carribean colors, … Read More about Retro Tiki Dress – Tropical, Hawaiian Dresses

As bags and purses had established their purpose as an essential accessory during the 1940s, the importance of their role continued to progress into the following decade. By the 1950s, it was generally accepted that women would complete their attire with a fashionable handbag. Indeed, there were many social conventions dictating which purse would be … Read More about 1950s Handbags, Purses, and Evening Bag Styles

What colors did people wear in the 1930s? Knowing what fashion colors were common in the 1930s will help you create an authentic 1930s outfit. For women in the 1930s, fashion colors ranged from light pastels in spring to jewel tones and earth tones in fall. The most popular colors in all of the 1930s … Read More about 1930s Fashion Colors & Fabrics

While the 1930s provided scope for exploration of the aesthetics of bags and purses, the 1940s focused on functionality and practicality. The 1940s was the decade of make-do-and-mend, innovation, and functionality. This approach has resulted in perhaps the first truly practical bags for women, of which many styles are still worn today. The previous decade … Read More about 1940s Handbags and Purses History

1930s purses, handbags, and evening bags were essential fashion accessories for women. Practical in purpose and unique in design, they were plainly embellished but novel in shape and sculpture. Designing on a dime was the way of the 1930s, and women’s bags reflected these constraints during the day while casting them off in the evening. … Read More about 1930s Handbags and Purses Fashion