Fashion Fabrics from 1940

[Snookie]

I did some research today at school, and I scanned the fabric pages of the 1940 Spring/Summer Sears catalog. Don't miss the "Gone With The Wind" page. Enjoy!

 

[Snookie]

 

[Lotus Leroux]

Oh, if only we could find rayons in such great prints today!
And for only 55 cents a yard!

I always wondered what Sharkskin is...I have seen it listed on some of my vintage patterns as a recommended fabric.

Thanks for scanning these!

 

[Snookie]

I've been wondering about sharkskin lately too - and is this the same stuff they made sharkskin suits out of later on?

And how about that Paradise cotton at 13 and-a-half(!) cents/yard?

BTW, I posted the pages in the order they occur in the catalog, if anyone cares.

 

[Lady Day]

And how about that Paradise cotton at 13 and-a-half(!) cents/yard?

I know! I was looking at the 'half' cent thing too! lol For cotton!?? *sigh*

LD

 

[LolitaHaze]

Thank you for posting these!!! :eusa_clap I really like the Carefree Cottons dress.

 

[Hamilton_Honey]

Bless you for this post! Treasure trove!!:eusa_clap

 

[Daisy Buchanan]

What a great post. I just adore these fabrics. They were so much fun. It seems that back then gal's could really go far out when it came to really busy, fun and interesting fabrics. Now-a-day's, although some materials are still nice, there seems to be a lack of fun and shall I say "playful" fabrics that can take a plain old dress from the doldrums to "wow".

 

[Polka Dot]

What a great reference post! I love all the rayon prints, especially the "Gone with the Wind" line. It's cute that they used to have fabric tie-ins to big movies.

Thank you!

 

[humblestumble]

Thanks so much! I always have such a hard time picking out fabric because I just don't have the eye for it, but with this post, I'll have a better time choosing fabrics for the era I love so much I do wish some of these were still available, but we'll just have to buy from what is out there.

My dad actually has a half-cent. I think it's also called a wheat penny. It's got a boat on one side and a wheat thing on the other side.

 

[Snookie]

Wow, I've never heard of a half-cent (or wheat penny) before. I've heard of a ha'penny(sp?) in the Christmas carol and in Dickens, but I figured that was a peculiarly British thing.

As for the fabric, I was planning to print out some of these pages and take them with me when I go shopping. It's so easy to get overwhelmed by the choices (and wishing that the fabric looks vintage!) that I end up choosing prints that are completely wrong.

 

[Elaina]

A lot of times on the specials like that, you'd have to buy a minimum of 2 yards, so it's really 2 yards for 27 cents, but it sounds better per yard.

 

[RaasAlHayya]

To me, a lot of the calicoes and quilting fabrics at Hancock Fabrics and JoAnn look quite vintage.

--Leslie

 

[BonnieJean]

Thanks SO MUCH for posting this--as someone said earlier, its a great reference. I love all the fabrics, but I'm particularly drooling over the "ready-made" dresses the models are sporting. I'd love to have an entire vintage wardrobe with these dresses!

 

[Snookie]

*bump*

 

[Miss 1929]

Great pictures!

I love those plaid woolens! I am trying to find a green and brown plaid to make a swagger suit, and having no luck. All the greens these days seem to be olive and chartreuse, which looks like liver damage on me. I want emerald or forest!
Also wish they still made metal cloth... all the plastic lame's are so stiff. I want to make a wool and lame dress a la 1934. With lame sleeves and yoke. Anyone seen any metal cloth?

 

[CanadaDoll]

Brilliant thread!!!! Thanks for posting this, and bumping it

 

[Miss Sis]

Thanks for bumping this up - I love the Gone With The Wind page!

(Just watched it at the weekend - Sigh! I love Vivien Leigh)

 

[kerry]

Wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing and bumping
Kerry xxx

 

[Last_Chael]

Thanks so much for bumping this up, it's such a great thread!! I think I'll have to print out the pages for my inspiration book

I LOVE the dress on pg 371! It's absolutely adorable!