Since we have one for 50's and 40's, thought I'd start one for 30's. I think what I like is mid-30s. Does anyone have pictures of fashions for "stout" ladies. I'm having trouble picking patterns that will look good on a curvy figure. Also looking for info on basics, such as typical casual shoes, colored vs flesh colored stockings, ect. Are the undergarments the same as 40s? Thanks!
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1930's Wardrobe basics
- Thread starter kamikat
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Check out the vintage Lane Bryant thread. Its chock full of 30s drool worthy fashions.
Miss Josri posted this link a while ago to a late 30s catalog.
I dont have many photos, but I can post pattern images if you like
LD
Miss Josri posted this link a while ago to a late 30s catalog.
I dont have many photos, but I can post pattern images if you like
LD
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Lady Day said:Check out the vintage Lane Bryant thread. Its chock full of 30s drool worthy fashions.
Miss Josri posted this link a while ago to a late 30s catalog.
I dont have many photos, but I can post pattern images if you like
LD
OOOOOO, that flickr set is fantastic! Thanks!
P
Paul
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Have you looked in Every Day Fashions of the 30's (Sears)
The "All in one Girdle" come in around then if not a little easier, The 30's stocking I have are black or a very dark tan shade more a sort of brown, both rayon and silk were around then . Silk stocking had becoming a lot more sheer than in the 20's.
The "All in one Girdle" come in around then if not a little easier, The 30's stocking I have are black or a very dark tan shade more a sort of brown, both rayon and silk were around then . Silk stocking had becoming a lot more sheer than in the 20's.
Mrs. Merl
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Come now ladies, the other "Basics" threads took off like wildfire! Anyone, got ideas to add? I will start digging in my history books and post a list or something!
texasgirl
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1935 Montgomery Wards Catalog
I've posted these before, but thought they might be better here.
Fabric ideas
Casual
Dresses
Accessories
I've posted these before, but thought they might be better here.
Fabric ideas
Casual
Dresses
Accessories
Miss Sis
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I guess I'm finding it hard to formulate an answer since in the 30s, clothes changed alot from year to year! Usually you can date pretty accurately just from seeing an ad or photograph.
Also in the 1930s clothes were very activity specific, much more so than say during the 40s when there was a War to curtail Ladies' fashion! You had cotton morning frocks (wash frocks), Suits both tailored and knitted, Afternoon frocks both formal and informal, Dance frocks (slightly shorter length), Evening frocks as well as all your sports wear - tennis, golf, horse riding etc etc, and separates. Your clothing depended on class and wealth although perhaps this was different in the US as opposed to England.
Certainly your average middle class housewife lady would have a number of, perhaps three, cotton house dresses, a few 'good' afternoon frocks, perhaps one tailormade suit, jumpers (sweaters) and blouses and one or two evening frocks. Shoes, she would probably have an 'ordinary' pair for about the house, a 'good' pair to go with suit and afternoon wear and evening shoes. Then there are all the accessories which it was important to match to your other acessories such as gloves, handbags, hats, belts. Most magazines or books of the era advocate buying a set of accessories in one colour such as black or brown then matching your clothes to them to get the most use out of them.
Also in the 1930s clothes were very activity specific, much more so than say during the 40s when there was a War to curtail Ladies' fashion! You had cotton morning frocks (wash frocks), Suits both tailored and knitted, Afternoon frocks both formal and informal, Dance frocks (slightly shorter length), Evening frocks as well as all your sports wear - tennis, golf, horse riding etc etc, and separates. Your clothing depended on class and wealth although perhaps this was different in the US as opposed to England.
Certainly your average middle class housewife lady would have a number of, perhaps three, cotton house dresses, a few 'good' afternoon frocks, perhaps one tailormade suit, jumpers (sweaters) and blouses and one or two evening frocks. Shoes, she would probably have an 'ordinary' pair for about the house, a 'good' pair to go with suit and afternoon wear and evening shoes. Then there are all the accessories which it was important to match to your other acessories such as gloves, handbags, hats, belts. Most magazines or books of the era advocate buying a set of accessories in one colour such as black or brown then matching your clothes to them to get the most use out of them.
I agree with Miss Sis! Fashion changed a great deal, going from almost-classic-"Twenties"-with-a-narrow-belt (i.e. very very straight) to the puffy sleeves and short, full skirts of the early and immediately postwar Forties. And yes, clothes were more activity-specific. While it's not that hard to "cobble together" a Forties look (basic blouse or sweater with A-line skirt, etc.), the Thirties shape is more subtle and distinctive.
One thing I did notice. I've been making a bunch of Thirties skirts lately, and I wondered what sorts of tops were worn with skirts. I got all three of the Fashionable Clothing from the Sears Catalog books for Christmas - early, mid, and late 30s! I went through all three, looking for separates. I was very surprised at how few separates there were: Almost zero in the Early book, with more in the Late book, most in the girls/juniors sections. Moreover, when blouses were shown they were not tucked into the skirts; they were fitted to the hips and held in with belts. (Sweaters, on the other hand, except in the very early years, were very short, fitting exactly at the waist.) But unless the editors left out a lot of separates, it seems that dresses were absolutely the norm for women.
Fashion changed a great deal, going from almost-classic-"Twenties"-with-a-narrow-belt (i.e. very very straight) to the puffy sleeves and short, full skirts of the early and immediately postwar Forties. And yes, clothes were more activity-specific. While it's not that hard to "cobble together" a Forties look (basic blouse or sweater with A-line skirt, etc.), the Thirties shape is more subtle and distinctive.One thing I did notice. I've been making a bunch of Thirties skirts lately, and I wondered what sorts of tops were worn with skirts. I got all three of the Fashionable Clothing from the Sears Catalog books for Christmas - early, mid, and late 30s! I went through all three, looking for separates. I was very surprised at how few separates there were: Almost zero in the Early book, with more in the Late book, most in the girls/juniors sections. Moreover, when blouses were shown they were not tucked into the skirts; they were fitted to the hips and held in with belts. (Sweaters, on the other hand, except in the very early years, were very short, fitting exactly at the waist.) But unless the editors left out a lot of separates, it seems that dresses were absolutely the norm for women.
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Ive always associated the 30s look from 1933-1938. Before '33, there was still a heavy 20s bent, and by 39, the '40s look' was already born.
But I totally agree with the other ladies, styles of clothes were geared to the activity more so that being versatile for a wide range of wears.
A couple of things Ive found with 30s garb is they loved pleats in skirts and back pleats in blouses. LOVED.
I can show some patterns.
Early 30s
Mid 30s
Late 30s
LD
But I totally agree with the other ladies, styles of clothes were geared to the activity more so that being versatile for a wide range of wears.
A couple of things Ive found with 30s garb is they loved pleats in skirts and back pleats in blouses. LOVED.
I can show some patterns.
Early 30s
Mid 30s
Late 30s
LD
Odalisque
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texasgirl said:
/QUOTE]
I would kill to get these shoes at under $2 a pair! I need a time-machine
Mrs. Merl
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Now we're talkin'!! Don't forget that bias was a new idea at this time. I really think that - yes there are huge distinctions from one end of the decade to the other - but I think that you could often boil it down to a somewhat generalized look. I will try to keep this in my mind as I go through books and see if I can come up with what I would consider a quintessential thirties look.
Lauren
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Oh, goodness. There's just so much I'm totally overwhelmed! I agree with Sunny and Miss Sis on the logistics. By the late 30s fashion had pretty much set it's standard for women, but I think the 30s is really where we founded our "traditional" view of the "classics", with the exception of trousers being well received as womens wear (I don't think that really happened until after WWII). It probably wasn't until recently that they've been acceptable for women in the office, for example.
Sportswear really took off in the 30s- it started more in the teens, gained momentum by the 20s, and was in full swing by the mid 30s. Mostly started in College wear and France, it soon became acceptable. Think of saddle shoes and white socks... all started in the 30s. Ribbons in your hair, sweaters with collared shirts, mid calf skirts... the look we tend to think of as 1950s- it all started in the 30s.
Swimwear and beachwear went nuts, too. Newly acceptable suntans brought forth sun suits, super wide leg pants (like palazzos), tank tops, sunglasses, visors.
Knitwear was huge- from sweaters to sets, to dresses, two piece dresses, swimwear, and *gasp*, even t shirts and sweatshirts for casual sportswear.
Lingerie got luxurious. Borrowing on the 20s for it's huge leap in that direction, the 30s brought sensuous tap pant and brassiere sets even lovlier with embroideries and inserted laces- bed jackets, bias cut nightgowns, negligees, teddies. Very pretty things in peaches, greens, and ivories especially.
We still had the structured dress code left over from the last century, but towards the late 30s it started to be more relaxed. There were morning dresses, house dresses, hostess dresses, garden dresses, evening dresses, dancing dresses, sports dresses- a different dress for each occasion and etiquette told you which dress for which event.
There were "types" in dress- a HUGELY popular thing, possibly rocketed in by Max Factor promoting different "types" in makeup. The sporty type, feminine type, etc. I'll have to look up more info- magazine ads of the period have "types" as a common theme.
Asian influence was hugely popular. The "Orient" was seen as hugely exotic and exciting. Dress and makeup often took inspiration from this.
Westerns were HUGELY popular, and had influence on dress. Ranches were popular getaways for the rich and famous (who dressed accordingly in denim and snap front shirts... remember Reno in The Women), as were ski resorts (Sonjia Henie (sp?) helped make ski wear popular) and seaside resorts (for all the sun and swimwear). Cruises were at the height of popularity and you'd need hordes of outfits to be fashionably outfitted.
Women started being a mainstay in the workplace and dresses, suits, and hats appropriate for the office were becoming "new" and "modish" in their own accord. Fashionable but sensible were all the style here, but with the utmost modesty and etiquette, because you couldn't appear to be catching the attention of the men in the workplace, which many women were accused of doing.
There's just so much to share... I'm sure I'll think of more later lol
Sportswear really took off in the 30s- it started more in the teens, gained momentum by the 20s, and was in full swing by the mid 30s. Mostly started in College wear and France, it soon became acceptable. Think of saddle shoes and white socks... all started in the 30s. Ribbons in your hair, sweaters with collared shirts, mid calf skirts... the look we tend to think of as 1950s- it all started in the 30s.
Swimwear and beachwear went nuts, too. Newly acceptable suntans brought forth sun suits, super wide leg pants (like palazzos), tank tops, sunglasses, visors.
Knitwear was huge- from sweaters to sets, to dresses, two piece dresses, swimwear, and *gasp*, even t shirts and sweatshirts for casual sportswear.
Lingerie got luxurious. Borrowing on the 20s for it's huge leap in that direction, the 30s brought sensuous tap pant and brassiere sets even lovlier with embroideries and inserted laces- bed jackets, bias cut nightgowns, negligees, teddies. Very pretty things in peaches, greens, and ivories especially.
We still had the structured dress code left over from the last century, but towards the late 30s it started to be more relaxed. There were morning dresses, house dresses, hostess dresses, garden dresses, evening dresses, dancing dresses, sports dresses- a different dress for each occasion and etiquette told you which dress for which event.
There were "types" in dress- a HUGELY popular thing, possibly rocketed in by Max Factor promoting different "types" in makeup. The sporty type, feminine type, etc. I'll have to look up more info- magazine ads of the period have "types" as a common theme.
Asian influence was hugely popular. The "Orient" was seen as hugely exotic and exciting. Dress and makeup often took inspiration from this.
Westerns were HUGELY popular, and had influence on dress. Ranches were popular getaways for the rich and famous (who dressed accordingly in denim and snap front shirts... remember Reno in The Women), as were ski resorts (Sonjia Henie (sp?) helped make ski wear popular) and seaside resorts (for all the sun and swimwear). Cruises were at the height of popularity and you'd need hordes of outfits to be fashionably outfitted.
Women started being a mainstay in the workplace and dresses, suits, and hats appropriate for the office were becoming "new" and "modish" in their own accord. Fashionable but sensible were all the style here, but with the utmost modesty and etiquette, because you couldn't appear to be catching the attention of the men in the workplace, which many women were accused of doing.
There's just so much to share... I'm sure I'll think of more later lol
newtovintage
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Lady Day, I know you said this pattern is mid 30s, but I recently saw the same pattern for sale on a pattern site and it said it was postwar 40s. Which is so? From the postwar patterns I have seen, it does look kind of like the later 40s. I was just curious.
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:eusa_doh: Well, according to this site, its late 40s 1948 7062-7453 You are totally right! I was completly fooled by the pleats in the skirt and the sleeves!
Oopsie me.
LD
1948 7062-7453 You are totally right! I was completly fooled by the pleats in the skirt and the sleeves!Oopsie me.
LD
mackenzie
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I was looking at the pants Texasgirl posted and was asking myself if they would be cut on the bias?
What do you think?
What do you think?
LD, I just went through your What Not to Wear section. What I find interesting is that while many of your "what not to wear" points don't seem to apply to my 50's dresses (because I have a natural 50's hourglass figure), they definitely apply to 30's dresses. I can wear 50's princess seamed dresses, with a crinoline, but look dreadful in an early princess seamed dress. I'll take your tips in mind when looking for 30's dresses. I haven't given up hope just yet. There have to be plus sized, hourglass flattering designs out there.
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I just dont like those treatments at all, no matter the era lol. But Im glad you got some use from my crazy rantings
LD
LD
Lauren
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I say No 3. or No 2 (on the right, like you said). I've made dresses similar to the first one for myself and one for my cousin who is a larger size and they do NOTHING for the figure. Same for the one on the left in the second one.
texasgirl
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Here are a few I've been eyeing. I've never tried to sew clothing- I make qulits- but I keep thinking about learning.
My main -problem- is I have to have something for 1934- or earlier. For my reenacting.
I'm pretty curvy like you and here are a few I've saved for ideas. Any thoughts on these?
I think wrap dresses are flattering
This one has NRA- so 1933-35
Amy Jeanne's dress she made- I think it's super cute.
My main -problem- is I have to have something for 1934- or earlier. For my reenacting.
I'm pretty curvy like you and here are a few I've saved for ideas. Any thoughts on these?
I think wrap dresses are flattering
This one has NRA- so 1933-35
Amy Jeanne's dress she made- I think it's super cute.
