1950's Patio Dress: Close up

This patio dress from the 1950's is a classic type. It features the signature tiered skirt in tiny pleats lined with rows of silver and turquoise rickrack and woven trim, called a 'broomstick' style.

Early 60's Fabric & Fashion: American Fabrics Magazine, 1961: Creslan, Vycon, Zantrel, Syl-mer

American Fabrics magazine has a wealth of information on fabrics and fashions from the era. This 1961 publication says alot about the 1960's. At the top of the list would be the increased use of synthetic fibers and finishes to create better performing, color retention and easy care apparel.

Gilbert Adrian: 1950's Suits by California Designer

This 1950's newspaper advertisement for suits is a great showcase for fashion designer Gilbert Adrian.  This regional ad appeared in 1951 while he was at the very height of his career as a fashion designer with a salon that catered to Hollywood's young and fabulous. The fashion illustration is drawn to capture all of the style details that Adrian was famous for, in a layout that uses two suits in different scale, thus calling attention to the larger image. As was common at the time, the artist is not credited.

Gilbert Adrian, American Fashion Designer: 1947 Suit Jacket, Part 2

This black wool jacket by the California designer Gilbert Adrian represents a significant contribution to twentieth century fashion design. By all of its details, along with the silhouette, this design is a classic Adrian piece. The wide shoulders still reflect the Joan Crawford styling that Adrian would ‘invent’ for her movie characters in the early 1930's, long before Paris showed the wedge silhouette.

Retro Swim Suit to Sew: Vogue 9255

Clockwise, from top left: Vintage Shaheen pattern, Tiki print, blue hibiscus

Finding a good vintage swimsuit pattern is hard to do. How to sew a retro style swim suit has just been made easier with modern sized Vogue 9255.  It seems to offer just the right style for sewing up a two piece bathing suit in a retro style. This vintage reprint sewing pattern is perfect for cottons and quilting fabrics too.

Glibert Adrain, American Fashion Designer: 1947 Suit, Part 1

Looking closely at a 1940s vintage jacket by Gilbert Adrian can help us understand its style and silhouette. Originally from a 40s suit, this press photo of designer Adrian’s black wool jacket from 1947 shows fashionable accessories on the model, such as her dark gloves. At that time, hair and hats were often small and fit close to the head for a more modern post-war look.

Valentio, Couture Designer: Website and Virtual Museum

Valentino, the couture fashion designer, has an amazing website and virtual museum full of beautiful couture fashions and inspirations.  The designer's web site shares some great visuals in keeping with the creative traditions of the house, along with press releases, interviews and published articles.

The Valentino Gravani Virtual Muserm with over 5000 photos and documents.

(Have fun with this--and let me know what you liked the best!)

Madame Bruyere: 1930s French Couture in the U.S.

1930's Dress from Bruyere Couture of Paris

This 1930's dress was designed by a French woman who had formed her own couture house in about 1929.  Madame Bruyer (1881 – 1961) was raised in rural France, moving into Paris when she grew older.  As a young woman she worked for several known couture houses, Lanvin being the most famous. 

Let's Talk About: Product Design for Your Target Customer

Do you want your clothes to sell?  Designing fashion, accessories or other products to sell requires several steps in the design process if it is going to sell. Meeting and topping the competition is difficult. But with a good foundation of research in the development stage, a salable item can be produced that should sell to the desired consumer.

Fashion from 1949 to 1980: A video review of styles and trends

Take a little vacation into the past--below is a youtube peek into fashion history from 1949 to 1980:



It's a great way to sit back and take in 30 years of fashion styles, one year at a time.

The illustrations at top are from a French fashion magazine during this era, can you guess the year by watching this video?

(1963)

Five Easy to Sew Prom and Party Dresses from the 1950s

Here's how to sew five classic prom or party dresses from the very early 1950's (and late 1940's).  By using one of the current sewing patterns here, these styles can be made for today's parties, weddings and proms.  I also included the cute swing coat jacket shown here as a party cover-up.

1940s Fabric: American Fabrics magazine from 1949

Fabric design in the late 1940s showed a strong influence from fine art and artists of that era. Whether the design was created for 40s fashion or home decor, textiles were often patterned in painterly designs.

1940s Fashions: American Fabrics magazine from 1949

This post features fashions from 1949 as seen in "American Fabric" magazine. These 1940s fashions were shown to support the growing textile and fashion industry that followed World War II. Inside this issue are full page advertisements from the 40's of fashions using new textiles that were used to promote textile manufacturers.  Many of these ads were also seen in "Vogue" magazine co-sponsored by the fashion designer or label and the textile brand.