fashion history
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Suit-A-Long- Original Period Instructions
Hi there! After all these years, it’s come to my…
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The Life and Death of James McCall
James McCall was the founder of McCall Patterns, and while…
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How to Sew a Bias Facing for a Neckline Ribbon Casing
This tutorial is for Wearing History Resto-vival #R162- The late…
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1955- “Pattern Companies Include Designs by Big Names in ‘Haute Couture’”
I came across this article today while researching a pattern…
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Musings: Historical Accuracy and Paper Sewing Patterns for Early 20th Century Sewing
I always believe it’s wonderful to choose our own adventure…
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Circa 1916 Tunic Skirt Pattern
Photo visual for the waist treatment of the Wearing History…
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1910s, 1916, fashion history, pattern line, pattern preservation project, repro patterns, vintage patternsPattern Preservation Line: New 1916 Evening Bodice- Behind the Seams
I’m very excited to announce the fourth pattern for the…
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Sold at Auction- Regency Era Dresses
The Kerry Taylor Auction House recently had an incredible collection…
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Introducing the Pattern Preservation Project-
What happens if you’ve been blessed with amazing historical resources,…
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1915 Fashion- Skirts “Short” and Voluminous
This article comes from the October, 1915 issue of the…
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Little House on the Prairie Crocheted Cap- Historical Inspiration
This is a bit of a wacky post, and outside…
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An Early Republic (Regency) Era Portrait, a Cap, and Volcanoes
I finally remembered to come back and share photos of…
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Fashion & Beauty Advice and a 19th Century Bra Advert, July 1898
Here is an “early” brassiere. Interestingly, it has straps to…
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Summer Shoes & Mourning Advice, July 1898
Both of these come from the same page in a…
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1898- Ribbon Trimming for Hats
If there’s one thing iconic about 1890’s hats, it’s got…
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Fashions of 1910- New Princesse Gowns
This great (somewhat long) article is from the June, 1910…
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Victorian “Tear Catchers”- a Frequent Myth
Every so often, this image, or similar images, make the…
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1910- Irish Crochet Trimmings for Dresses- AND the Sahlin Perfect Form
It’s time for a pattern freebie! Although this is quite…
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Gauzrib- Knitted “Vest” Underwear, 1910
If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you’ve probably…
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This is Not AI. Sun Valley, 1946
I’ve been trying to spend less time online. It’s been…
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1937- Cutex Nail Polish Shades, Fashion, and Celebrity Marketing
I love a paper doll, and this ad for Cutex…
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1940’s Rayon Panties- An Alternate to Satin Tap Pants
Did you know that 1940s gals weren’t just limited to…
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A Period Overview of AC131- 1920 Side-Tied Blouse
Pattern #AC131- Circa 1920 Side-Tied Blouse. This pattern is from…
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McCall Fashions, February, 1945
If there’s one thing I inherited from my mother (and…
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French Fashions from October, 1908
It has been a while since I posted anything for…
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1928- Embroidered Organdie
This pretty little image is from The Modern Priscilla magazine…
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October 1908 “Corsets Stella”
An Primary Source Example of Variety and Bust Support in…
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Contradictions of Fashion- the Form Fitting Dress and the Gigantic Hats of 1908
If there’s one thing I love as much as fashion…
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Video Lecture: Circa 1914 Bodice- Antique Example and Pattern Study
In this video I share a bodice I purchased from…
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Priscilla Fashions, 1928- Distinguished by Smart Simplicity
I just got a really, REALLY cool new toy thanks…
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Free Patterns– Pretty Yokes For Knit 1910s Underwear
I have been meaning to post this for over a…
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Fashions for February 1913
The following images are from an original issue of Needlecraft…
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Cottage Core- Why the 2020s are the new 1920s (or Earlier!)
Ok, so yes, I did make a silly title, but…
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September 1904- The New Coats and Wraps
I have another lovely page from the Ladies Home Journal.…
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Sept 1904- Mrs Ralston’s Chat About Autumn Clothes
This comes from the September 1904 issue of the Ladies…
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Wet Feet! 1857 Warning Against Fashionable Shoes
Excerpted from “The Art of Preserving Health and Beauty- Essay…
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Washing (Laundry Tips)- May, 1857
Here’s a very interesting little article from 1857 about the…
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Hints on Pressing Seams, 1912
Random information about pressing seams, buttonholes, and hatpins from the…
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April 1912- Fashions and Fabrics
I recently came across a whole slew of 1910s-1920s Needlecraft…
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WWI Fashion- Skirts and Blouses- 1918-1919
Here are a few lovely pages from the John Wanamaker…
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A Talk with Worth About Clothes- August, 1913
It seems like Worth is all the rage in the historical…
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Dresses I Saw at the Races- August, 1913.
I love crazy 1900s-1910s high fashion styles, and none are…
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Reigning Men- Menswear Exhibit at LACMA
Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending the Reigning…
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A Primer: 1930’s-1950’s Trousers & Pants For Women
One of the most desired articles of clothing in a…
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Vintage Inspiration: 1936-1937 Winter Blouses & Skirts
I case you’re not on my Facebook page, you may…
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Finished Project: The Plaid 1869 Dress
Last year, several of us were shopping in the LA…
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The Practical Shirtwaist, 1904.
Sharing another lovely image from 1904. Here are more shirtwaist…
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Shirtwaist Designs, 1904
I just got a few lovely old Ladies Home Journal…
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Textile Inspiration- Pairing Dress Fabrics, 1939
Hello all! Long time no post! I’ve been a bad,…
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Keeping Warm in the 1930s: Rain and Snow
I’m a bit under the weather today, so I figured…
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Keeping Warm in the 1930s- Overcoats!
Now that’s we’ve taken a quick look at what goes…
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Keeping Warm in the 1930’s- Socks and Stockings
I’m so glad that so many of you loved the…
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Keeping Warm in the 1930’s- Knit Underwear
It’s abnormally chilly here in San Diego! This cool weather…
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December Pretties- Millinery & McCall’s Magazine 1908
Hope you’re having a lovely weekend! Here’s some pretty things…
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Miroir des Modes, October 1907- Blouses
Sharing some more images from the Mirror des Modes, October…
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Mirror Des Modes- October 1907
I recently acquired a lovely bound book containing issues of Le Mirror…
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Autumn Suits, Bedell Catalog 1912
I don’t know what it is about this Autumn, but…
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Pretty Corset Ads from The Delineator, 1905.
I’ve been working on and off on a new pattern…
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Paris is Dancing Mad: McCall’s Magazine, September, 1913
What is inspiring you lately? One of my current inspirations…
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This Easter’s Hats and Bonnets- Ladies Home Journal- April, 1897
If you’re following me on Facebook you may have seen…
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1900s, 1910s, 1910s Blouse, edwardian, extant garments, Extant Garments, fashion history, vintage collection
Extant Garments: 1910s White Blouse Part II
Happy Monday! I hope your weekend was splendid! We had…
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French Dames in Boudoir and en Fete- 1912
Hello! I hope you had a lovely weekend. We had…
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1912 Illustrators Answer How Future Women Can Dress Better
Hello! Is it really Wednesday already? Today I’ve got a…
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W.B. NuForm and Reduso Corsets, 1911
I got a fun little package in the mail today…
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Catalog Inspiration: 1912-1913 Corsets
Hope you had a lovely weekend! I started making a…
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Fashion History Study Resources- A Quick Overview
Happy Monday! I wanted to post a special little post…
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Under-Structure- Changes in Silhouette from the 1920s to the 1950s
Thinking on proper foundations is somewhat of a new territory…
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For Golden Days on the Beach, 1934
Mmm! Summer swimwear! And 1930s swimwear at that! I thought…
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>Two Dresses, 1879
> My bustle dress I was working on is all…
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>Inspiration- 1908 German Fashion
> These images are all from a 1908 German pattern…
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>More Lingerie Dresses, 1911
Here are more lovely Edwardian lingerie dresses from around 1911…
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>A Strong Argument in Favor of the New Summer Dresses- 1910
> Click on the image at right for a larger…
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Silk and Lingerie Frocks, 1911
I’m amongst those in a flurry of inspiration due largely…
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>Slacks- First Fashions of the Year- 1942
> Aren’t these two pages positively delicious?? These are both…
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>Spring Inspiration, 1936
> Happy Saturday! Isn’t this such an uplifting image? …
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>What Real People Wore- 1930s Fashion Show
>My good friend Kathy (of Blitz Visage Makeup Artistry) sent…
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Fashioning Fashion- at LACMA
I was really thrilled to be able to attend the…
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>Leg-O-Mutton Overcoats, 1936-1937
>One of the love/hate relationships I have with the 1930s…
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Great 20s and 30s Stockings in Catalogs- or debunking some common stocking myths
>The Vintage Baroness has been posting some really wonderful stocking…
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>Finally a real life sample! The 1940s Sailor Playsuit
>One thing crossed off of my sewing list! Hurrah!It seems…
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>Shorter Dresses Call for Glamorous Hosiery- 1939-1940
>After a day of tech woes, I get to bring…
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>Alpine Whimsy, 1940
>I find it highly fascinating that “alpine” or “Scandinavian” or…
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>Robe en Batiste, 1900
>I thought I’d share this lovely Robe en Batiste from…