Don't overlook ancestors lives during the early 20th century.

If Elizabeth Bennet had indulged in a bit of frivolous fashion magazine perusal, what advice might she have read there and what images might she have seen?

Selection of two figures who are obviously having some sort of conversation.... (From a fashion page Delineator May 1918)

The July 1914 issue of McCall’s magazine coincided with the start of World War I. From this point on, there were many changes in women’s fashion as

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Once I knew what the One Hour Dress was, I saw them everywhere. http://theclosethistorian.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-one-hour-1920s-dress.html Go search on 'one hour dress 1920s'. Go ahead, I'm here all week. https://youtu.be/VImcfqrqWKQ is the You Tube ad for the book (original link is dead) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/163561029X/ but here it is on Amazon. There are a million variations on the One Hour Dress. I based my pattern on this image I found online, which turns out to be from a pretty nifty pattern on Etsy. https://www.etsy.com/listing/154191896/1920s-one-hour-frock-pattern-updated Give her your $3, you won't be sorry. the alder shirtdress does it too It's a pullover design of the early 20s, a tube with a horizontal slash at the hip that gathers the side fabric extension into the main body as a skirt. A one piece pattern that is easy to draft, uses fabric very efficiently. Probably easy to make from flour sacks. The versions out there are generally pretty dumpy, but if you look at the illustrations using this style, there's a lot of sweet details. The slash goes from side to side, and is wrapped with the same white cotton on the vertical appliques Another slash across the center front, with the red bias finish making either belt loops or something to pull your dishtowel through (seen it both ways). In both of these examples, the seam is on the 'right side' and is covered with a different fabric trim. The One Hour dress is on the upper left with the boatneck and the flowers You're just laying the pattern over prepleated/tucked fabric here Dear reader, of course I made one... Yes, you are drafting your own pattern from a formula and measurements. I should mention that the Superboard isn't the most accurate for cutting precise measurements; the grid gets shortened lengthwise with the folds in the board. But it gets the job done drew a neck hole based on my head shoulder seam line started drafting from the neckhole out. A plastic sword makes a good paper weight/spreading device ripped to grain up the fabric, folded it crossgrain and doubled The one pattern piece laid out Marked a front and a back neckline; will cut both for the back and then one for the lowered front I could have used the minimal scrap for a facing for the neck line, or pockets I haven't added pockets. Yet. thread gathered the skirt extention to tack it to the bodice (seam G for those of you playing along at home) I put black bias tape over the gathered seam G (sewed that with the seam allowance to the right side). Also finished the neckline with the stuff. All the bits for this came from the stash, for once. All the interior finishing was zig zag stitch over the seam allowance. Period would have been pinked, but rayon can be ....capricious. It is waaaaay too wide (the bodice should be your chest measurement plus 2", NOT plus 8". I also need to find a better place to take photos and find another face to make in those photos. On the other hand, it's rayon so it's drapey and the finished object isn't out of scale for the period. Kinda a William Morris rose. It's a sack dress, without darts or extra cuts. It's kinda sweet, kinda frumpy, and I plan on wearing it tomorrow night to the theater. Not the theatre.

INSOUCIANCE. Création Jean Patou. Slim green dress buttoned down the front to a little velvet flounce. New prints and notecards of a 1923 couture illustration by Joujou (Germaine-Paule Joumard), editor of the French fashion magazine "Très Parisien, la mode, le chic, l'élégance." Images are from a scan of an original hand-colored pochoir print, which we cropped and digitally enhanced for maximum clarity. (Any flecks are from ink spatters on the original.) MATTED ART PRINTS - Fit standard frames: ★ 4x7 print (1st photo) is matted to 8x10 inches. ★ 6x10 print (2nd photo) is matted to 11x14 inches. Printed with inkjet pigment inks on heavy opaque paper. Off-white matte; backing board with label. All acid-free. Sealed in a clear acetate sleeve. CARDS: Bagged: Set of blank 5x7-inch notecards (3rd photo) and matching envelopes, sealed in a clear acrylic sleeve. Cards are white, printed with inkjet pigment inks on heavy 80-lb acid-free cover stock. Envelopes are opaque white with square flap. Boxed: Six 5x7 cards & envelopes in white cardboard gift box with clear lid (4th photo) fastened with vinyl loop (shipped flat to Canada).

As I discussed in my Everyday Edwardian overview, the best way to bring a bit of Edwardian style into your day-to-day life is best to take your cues from a current Edwardian-era drama. In this case, it’s the first two … Continue reading →