1930s autumn fashion inspiration

✯ Day 317 of Vintage 365 ✯

 

November's palette is dark, but not foreboding. It may not be quite as majestically vibrant as that of earlier autumn days, but it retains some of the same burnt umbers, inky maroons, and greys that call to mind cold, wind whipped skies.

At the same time, just as November has one foot planted in the fall, another stretches out to start embracing the colour spectrum of winter, with it's evergreen tree hues, barren tawny-brown landscapes, and pale, snowy ski hills.

Far from being dull and dreary, I find that there is a lot of subtle, beautiful inspiration to be found in the shades that the world around is presently decked out in. Mother Earth is starting to sport her neutral wardrobe as we inch closer to December and this can translate marvellously into vintage pieces for our own sartorial looks, too.

Take for example the richly lovely selection of French 1930s looks in the fashion illustration below. Here we see an array of dresses and coats in the very colours mentioned above - even the quaint (almost loafer looking) shoes are matched to the November inspired outfits.

{A timelessly pretty selection of vintage French fashions are on display in this wonderful illustration from 1936. Image via Le Petit Poulailler on Flickr.}

 

By the mid-thirties we start to see some of the looser lines of the 20s and early years of the decade give away the more structured styles would appear as time rolled on into the forties. The silhouettes are still long and lean here though, as they'd so often been during the Depression years, though in this image one picks up on a subtly feminine figure being carved out thanks to belted and nipped in waists.

Regardless of if you enjoy sporting fashions from the thirties yourself, there's much inspiration on the colour front to be gleaned from this palette of autumnal shades, which you can easily apply to your own favourite decades (just think how striking a 40s inspired pencil skirt and sweater set combo in earthy green and brown would be, or why not an 1950s evening dress pale grey or teal-kissed pine green?).

In a few short weeks nature will even more devoid of colour, but that doesn't mean you wardrobe has to be, so long as you keep November's elegant palette in mind all through the snowy months that will upon as in a flash.

Cool, sheer and colorful 1930s spring fashions

✯ Day 123 of Vintage 365 ✯

 

From the pages of the spring/summer 1938 Sear & Roebuck catalog comes a selection of the most delightfully pretty late 1930s women's fashions I've encountered in a long time. These cheerful, terrifically elegant dresses - airy as spun sugar - are paired with equally chic, wonderfully sprightly hats that help set the whole mood of these highly feminine outfits.

{Vintage 1930s Sears catalog page via juffrouwig on Flickr.}

 

I look at these three beautiful young women and I'm suddenly struck with the intense desire to transport back in time seventy three years. While 1920s and early 30s styles can be hard for me to pull off (thanks to my petite, hourglass figure that definitely does not jive well with most flapper era fashions), as the thirties rolled onward women's fashions began to change and return to more structured, tailored styles, some of which, do work for me.

These three styles seem to bridge the gap between the early 30s and war years of the 40s perfectly. They're streamlined, but still somewhat billowy and carefree; ripe with wonderfully lovely details such as ruffled collars, ribbon sash belts, and sheer fabric overlays. Two sport polka dots (which on the darling red dress are in the shape of little hearts, to boot!), and the third is a timelessly beautiful floral print that looks as though a stunning May garden has come to life on a short-sleeved springtime frock.

I would wear anyone of these looks, but am perhaps most in love with floral dress that boasts a jolly corsage-like detail in the centre of the neckline. I go weak in the knee for vintage dresses with flowers on them and would adore the chance to wear this thoroughly wonderful 1930s number.

All three looks are works of art unto themselves though, each so agelessly appealing and, I think, also rather easy to wear. While it might be quite tricky to track down these exact dresses today, similar styles can still be found online (etsy shop, Adeline’s Attic, which features an expertly curated array of vintage pieces, is one of my absolute favourite sources of great 1930s fashions) and at second hand stores that stock clothing from the thirties.

This May, why not draw inspiration, as I certainly am, from this vintage Sears catalog page to help ensure that you look every bit as lovely - and springtime worthy - today as these ladies did seven decades ago.

Lovely, very rare colour film clip of 1930s fashions

✯ Day 67 of Vintage 365 ✯

 

While there is undeniable much to be said for photos (and illustrations) of vintage fashions (and indeed, I love such things with an immeasurable passion!), it's also fantastic when you get a chance to see video of clips of yesteryear clothing, too.

Fashion show film clips provide a tantalizing look back at how vintage clothes appeared from all angles, how they draped on the wearer's figure, and (often, assuming the model walked around) how they looked when someone was moving about.

I find vintage fashion show clips to such a stellar glimpse at the past. The models in such films usually sported very au courant hair and make-up styles, in addition to the latest garments, hats, shoes and accessories - which means that they can be the perfect source of inspiration if you want to very accurately recreate a vintage look from a certain decade or even, in some instances a specific year.

Today's clip is definitely a winner for many reasons. Not only does it show an array of beautiful 1930s fashions, it features commentary by each model on the respective outfit she's wearing, and perhaps most delightfully, it's in colour. Colour (Hollywood) movies were fairly rare in the 30s, and film clips of fashion shows from that era (especially the early part of the decade) true are an uncommon site to behold.

This engaging two and a half minute 1930s fashion show film is sure to appeal to fans of the decade, as well as to vintage clothing lovers in general, as it really does feel like you're right there with the models as they describe their pretty (and may I add, entirely wearable) outfits (many of which would be perfect for the spring and summer season we're heading into now).

Vintage 365: Dazzling video of a 1932 fashion show featuring the WAMPAS Baby Stars

✯ Day 10 of Vintage 365 ✯

 

There is a number of things to love about this fantastic video clip of a 1930s fashion show that comes via one of Youtube's reigning queens of all things spectacularly vintage, Glamourdaze. First up, there's the sea of elegance that flows through the eveningwear fashions these beauties are sporting, followed by their impeccable 30s hairstyles (oh how I love those tight curls and rippling waves!), their chic make-up that would surely have charmed the fedora off any fellow of the day, and perhaps above all, the fact that these lovely ladies here were all part of the WAMPAS Baby Stars promotional campaign.

This project was spearheaded by the Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers and involved selecting (and promoting) a different baker's dozen of hopeful young women that were trying to make it big in movie industry every year between 1922 and 1934 (if you’re interested in learning more about these women, I recommend checking out Roy Liberman’s engaging book “The WAMPAS Baby Star: A Biographical Dictionary”).

Each year the group of thirteen women was officially introduced (to the public) at a big party that was dubbed "The Frolic",  and which was widely covered by the media of the day. The batch featured in this clip were the ladies of 1932 and included such (soon to be household) names as Gloria Stuart and (Fred Astaire's dancing partner) Ginger Rogers. Though over the years, other highly known stars emerged from the selections as well, including Clara Bow, Fay Wrap, Dolores del Rio, Loretta Young, and Joan Crawford.

It's fascinating to look at these gorgeous and talented women now nearly eighty years later and know that while not all of them ended up making it big, amongst this group alone two of the most famous actresses of the 30s and 40s emerged. While not all thirteen of these WAMPAS Baby Stars went on to achieve lasting Hollywood fame, I think that each of them was a star - and certainly a vintage fashionista - in their own sparkling right, don’t you?