All posts tagged: 1930s

Retro cuddlies

I found a couple of vintage knitted stuffed toys recently and just had to have them (or at least have them for a little while). They didn’t come together, but are about the same size, and are the only two knitted stuffed toys I have ever come across, though I have seen lots of patterns for them. I don’t know a lot about them, as knitting and toys aren’t my areas of textile expertise by a long shot (if you do, please speak up!), but though they were too cute not to share. The first one dates back to at least the 1940s, and probably a little earlier. Isn’t it adorable! It’s just so cute and simple and cunning! It’s pure wool, and, except for the beak, is worked all in one simple stitch – very characteristic of early 20th century knitted items, including toys. I’ve seen patterns for similar stuffed toys in pre WWII women’s magazines, but haven’t seen this exact pattern. It doesn’t look like it was every really used or carried around …

Historical costuming monkey business

Published by The Dreamstress

I’ve been watching White Zombie, the original ‘living dead’ film. Made in 1932 on a shoestring budget, it starred the newly famous Bela Lugosi as the zombie master and Madge Bellamy as the titular ‘white zombie’ who “filled his every desire” according to the movie tagline. Yes, this was definitely a pre-code film! Madge wears a series of fabulous ensembles: a tropical appropriate traveling outfit, a to-die-for wedding dress (pun intended), a quaintly old-fashioned frock, and a trailing 1930s does medieval shroud. The quaintly old-fashioned frock caught my attention. It looked so 17th century. I loved the idea of a 17th century inspired early 1930s dress. So I went looking for images of it. I found these: Isn’t that very 1920s does mid 17th century? The sleeves, the bows, the metal lace trim? I wonder what the full view looks like? How charming! How quaint! I had no idea that the 17th century was such a big influence in the 1920s! But wait…what’s this? That’s Madge Bellamy all right. And that’s definitely the same dress, …

Rate the dress: Lanvin does green and gold

Published by The Dreamstress

Last week I presented a 1860s dress that Daniel dubbed “daft as a bucketful of monkeys.” It was pretty excessive: all those ruffles and frills and poofs! The rating divided you into two groups: those of you who like “almost stupidly romantic and frilly” (as Libby described it) and those of you who thought that it looked like it was hiding a roll of toilet paper. The lovers of feminine froth outweighed the naysayers just enough to bring it in at a passable 6.3 out of 10. This weeks ‘Rate the Dress’ takes us from almost saccharine sweetness to avant garde sophistication. The MFABoston holds this Lavin designed green harem-panted evening ensemble with gold Celtic knot inspired gilded-leather trim, clearly designed for the fashionista who wasn’t afraid to take risks. The outfit teeters between frumpy and sultry: the lack of sleeves would show off fashionably toned and tanned arms, but the details of the deep armscythes might draw attention to your armpits, which aren’t usually the most attractive bit of our anatomy. The light, flowing …