Extant Garments: 1910s White Blouse

One of my goals this year is to start sharing some images of clothing I have in my vintage clothing collection.  My collection of antique and vintage garments is not large (I have friends with much larger collections), and has been routinely gathered together, then let go, then gathered together over the years until what I have left is mostly what I love and what gives me joy.  Since I started off with vintage and antique clothing and costuming with the early 1900s, and especially with Edwardian “whites”, I’m happy to finally have a proper excuse to bring to light some of these loved pieces and share photographs with you.

I believe this blouse was a gift from a friend, and it’s got very neat little construction details that I hope to share across a few posts.  Today I’ve got basic photos of the blouse to share and I’ll go a bit more in depth next time with interior or close up shots.  This blouse was one of the blouses I examined when putting together the 1910s Blouse Pattern.

Most of the blouses I have seen of this age are quite short-waisted and this one is no exception.  High waisted skirts were de rigeur at this time, so that could be one excuse why.  We also have to keep in mind that proportions have changed in the last 100 years.  I’m not one to buy into the “people were shorter back then,” idea (though, no doubt, we have changed in stature over a longer period of time), but there were short and tall people just like today.  We take into account changes in diet and in undergarments (grown women at this time most likely had some sort of corsetry starting somewhat early on in their lifespan) and I believe that’s where a lot of change comes about from.  I’m somewhat derailing from train of thought, so back to the blouse. This is pretty simple in design and is accented mostly with embroidery and pintucks, with a very simple lace accent at the squared neckline and edge of sleeves.

You can see here the hang of the sleeve and the pintuck accents.  You can also catch a glimpse of the placement of the shoulder seam, which sits back farther than shoulder seams once we get into the “vintage” eras and today.

This blouse buttons up the back and has an interesting shape at the back, with the center back where the waist is stitched to place with a band being shorter than the rest of the waist, which draws in with a casing and ties.

A little detail shot of the pintucks, embroidery, and lace

And here you can see the hand worked eyelets.

More photos coming this week of interior shots and other details.

Have a lovely weekend!

10 Comments on Extant Garments: 1910s White Blouse

  1. Lauren R
    March 24, 2012 at 1:49 pm (12 years ago)

    It is really beautiful, and I am so glad you posted these photos. It helps me compare yours to the one I just got, and see the similarities and the differences.

    • Lauren
      March 26, 2012 at 9:18 am (12 years ago)

      Thanks! Isn’t it interesting to see how similar they can be and how different? I love that!

  2. Jenny
    March 25, 2012 at 3:03 am (12 years ago)

    Thanks for posting this. I shall look forward to seeing the insides too. What amazes me is that this started off as a plain piece of cotton lawn and that all the details – embroidery and pin tucking etc have been added by the maker. So clever and such a beautiful blouse. I like the way the sleeve hangs longer at the back and is the sleeve seam a little forward of where we place them now?

    • Lauren
      March 26, 2012 at 9:15 am (12 years ago)

      Thanks! I agree- it’s so inspiring what was done to an essentially plain and basic fabric!
      It does hang a bit longer at the back than the front. The sleeve underarm seam is forward of the underarm seam of the bodice. It’s quite common in several blouses I have seen and have even read in period articles that it was common to have the underarm 1″ to 2″ forward of where the sideseam of the blouse was. I have some more shots of that coming up in future posts :)

  3. Emily
    March 25, 2012 at 10:47 am (12 years ago)

    That is gorgeous! I have a blouse from 1916 that also has that little rectangle at the back shorter than the rest, I wonder why that is?

    • Lauren
      March 26, 2012 at 9:16 am (12 years ago)

      I’m not sure, actually, but I’m so interested to hear that yours has that as well! I’ll keep my eyes peeled in the old magazines and books and see if I can’t track some information down :)

  4. Erin
    March 25, 2012 at 5:44 pm (12 years ago)

    I really do love how beautiful a white blouse can be when it has lots of feminine details and the 1910s are the perfect showcase of that.

    • Lauren
      March 26, 2012 at 9:17 am (12 years ago)

      I agree! I *love* the detail of the vintage white garments. :)

  5. Casey
    March 26, 2012 at 5:18 am (12 years ago)

    Gorgeous! I have a few 1900s/1910s blouses in my collection and they have to be some of my favorite pieces. I really adore the horizontal pintucks on the sleeves–such an elegant detail on the semi-sheer fabric. :)

    • Lauren
      March 26, 2012 at 9:17 am (12 years ago)

      Thanks! I agree, Casey! The blouses and “Edwardian whites” are my favorite part of my collection, too! :)

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