All posts tagged: 1940s

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 …

Rate the Dress: Adrian in real life

Published by The Dreamstress

Last week half of you thought the 1913 blue and green ensemble was absolutely perfect, but the other half all had some complaint – you didn’t like the beading, or the mix of symmetry and asymmetry, or the beige lace, or the flower, or… So picky! Or so discerning! Despite the tiny bits you didn’t like, it rated a very solid 8.8 out of 10 This week we are staying in the 20th century, but returning to stripes. Adrian is most famous as a movie costumer: he dressed Garbo as Camille (not that you liked that much – it rated a 4 out of 10), and Shearer as Marie Antoinette, as well as Judy Garland as Dorothy. He also did modern dresses in films, and in 1941 he launched his own fashion house, so ordinary women could dress like movie stars. Or not. This 1944 frock with its puffed sleeves and peasant influence is more girly sweet than Hollywood glamour, but there is a place for girly sweet – if it’s done well. What do …

Rate the Dress: Sculpture and Swoops by Charles James

Published by The Dreamstress

Oh boy was last week’s Rate the Dress ever exciting! For a bit I thought that Mariana Victoria might actually be able to join Amelie Auguste as a 10/10, but then some people didn’t love it quite so much, and then we got into the whole issue of historical children’s clothes and all academia broke loose on my blog. It was awesome. By the time it was over, it hardly seemed important that Mariana Victoria’s dress, while not as awesome as Amelie’s, was also awesome, and rated a 9.5 out of 10. This week’s ‘Rate the Dress’ selection is inspired by last week’s debate, but I can’t tell you why, because that would 1) sway your vote and 2) ruin the fun. Charles James has appeared on Rate the Dress previously. He is noted for his challenging sculptural garments that reference Victorian silhouettes while retaining a distinctly fashion-forward silhouette. This ball gown is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. What do you think? Too challenging and fashion forward? Or only pretending to …