A Season for Travel

"Portraits of Fashion" by Flexees Foundations. Vogue, November 15, 1940.

A classic tailored ensemble will carry you to your destination in style.  It is a fashion for all locales, all climates, all seasons.

Miss Gene Marshall

Chic Gene Marshall is all set to go places in a smartly tailored suit ensemble.  Jacket, gloves, and brooch are from Ashton Drake.  Scarf from Mattel.  Hat, skirt, earrings, and styling are from The Couture Touch.  Cocoa Rose Gene Marshall appears courtesy of Monolithic Studios and Ashton Drake.

Photo Credit:  Collection Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris.

A chic woolen suit by Jacques Fath perfect for everyday wear around town.  The double-breasted jacket style with vertical pocket detailing was a favorite of Fath's until 1945.  Photographed in Paris, circa 1942.

Resources:

Vogue, November 15, 1940.

Fashion, The 20th Century by Francois Baudot.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Honey....We're going to be late for Thanksgiving dinner at Grandma's house!

Wishing You a Safe Holiday Filled with Family, Food, and Friends.

Photo Credit:  Vintage Buick ad from Vogue, November 15, 1940.

"Hollywood Director"

This 1946 fashion ad for a Rosenblum tailored suit pays homage to lady directors in this illustration titled "Hollywood Director" by artist Ben Stahl.

Wearing a casually chic ensemble, Monolithic Studios' actress turned director Miss Ivy Jordan is hard at work on the set of her new film.  Jerkin, belt, and styling are from The Couture Touch.  Shirt is from Robert Tonner's Brenda Starr Collection.  Skirt is from Sandra Stillwell.  Gloves from Ashton Drake.  Cigarette holder is from Mystyna.

Credits:

Harper's Bazaar, October 1946.

Lady Director Ivy Jordan appears courtesy Monolithic Studios and Integrity.

June Seasonal Accessorizing

Welcome summer by incorporating prints into your wardrobe.  Wear dresses in classic dotted fabric.  Brighten a dark solid dress with collars and matching cuffs in cheerful florals.

Jazz great Violet Waters steps out in D.A.E. Originals' delightful pink dress punctuated with tiny black all-over dots.  Gloves and re-shaped hat are from Sandra Stillwell.  Styling from The Couture Touch.  Heat Wave Violet Waters (newly coiffed) is from Integrity.

An advertisement for rayon fabrics shows the extensive range of prints that were available in the 1940s.  Photo courtesy Sew Weekly.

A pink floral collar with matching cuffs revitalizes film star Gene Marshall's basic black dress [Dark Desire].  Dress, belt, waist corsage, gloves, earrings, and newspaper are all from Ashton Drake.  Hat, detachable collar/cuffs, and styling are from The Couture Touch.  Warmest Wishes Gene Marshall is from Ashton Drake.

A Bright Forecast

The Fashion News for 1941:  Bright, stimulating colors to lift the spirit.  

You can easily boost the morale of a plain dress by simply introducing accessories in vivid colors.

Monolithic Studios' film star Gene Marshall revitalizes a basic black dress with bold color accents.  The multi-colored, wool boucle, belted plastron accented with a silk bow at the neckline is paired with a dramatic suede topper, color-blocked purse, and embroidered suede gauntlet gloves.  All from The Couture Touch.  Dress is from Ashton Drake.  Custom cigarette holder is from Mystyna.  "Symphony in G" Gene Marshall, enhanced with an Integrity articulated body, is from Ashton Drake.

From the 1941 issue of British Vogue, this Wolsey fashion ad highlights the bold color trend for apparel as well as accessories.

Miss Marshall makes a bold fashion statement with a royal blue jersey turban and matching suede gauntlet gloves.  Her own Little Black Dress is punctuated with felt confetti dots.  The 1/4" and 1/8" circles were cut from wool felt scraps using a classic 1-hole punch available in a variety of sizes.  The circles were then just finger pressed to the bodice in a random fashion.  Dress, necklace, and purse are from Ashton Drake.  Hat, gloves, and belt are from The Couture Touch.  Scottie is from PD Root.  Love, Paris Gene Marshall is from Ashton Drake.

Must Haves for Updating a 1940's Wardrobe

Photo from the cover of British Vogue, September 1941.

The use of florals and bows in women's apparel were popular fashion trends during the 1940s.  Both were the perfect choice for giving new life to old clothes as well as uplifting morale during the war years.  From the pages of vintage Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, here are ideas for embellishing with flowers and bows.

Not your traditional way to wear flowers, but delightful indeed.  A small bouquet tucked into a belt at the waist.  Rembrandt dress ad from British Vogue, 1941.

And don't forget hats.  A bunch of violets with the stems still attached are perched on top a flaring, blue, silk satin snood from Lilly Dache.  The flowers are repeated in the corsage on the jacket.  Photo from Vogue, 1941.

Three suits accented with bow trim from Charles Armour, Inc., New York City.  Eve Tartar hats.  From Vogue, 1943.

Four small strategically placed bows accented with jeweled clips add interest to this suit-dress from the Doctor Dress Company, Inc.  Photo from Harper's Bazaar, 1942.

A black, silk crepe dress from Traina-Norell is accented with a marvelous brooch mounted on ribbon bows.  Bonwit Teller ad from Harper's Bazaar, 1942.

The same brooch appears in this color photo by Rawlings for Vogue, 1942.  Tailored ensemble from Traina-Norell.

Love this idea for a bow accented necklace.  La Tausca Pearls, New York.  Hat by Lilly Dache.  Photo from Vogue, 1942.

A cherry red wool suit-dress from Jacqmar features a turned back lapel to reveal an oversized velveteen bow.  Illustration from British Vogue, 1941. 

Say It with Pearls

Who wouldn't love a gift of an elegant strand of genuine cultured pearls.  However faux pearls have long been popular as an affordable alternative.  One of the premier manufacturers of faux pearls during the early part of the Twentieth Century was Richelieu.

From the October 1942 issue of Harper's Bazaar, this Richelieu ad shows three chic choker styles referred to as a duchess collar.  And by the way....LOVE the hats!

Film star Gene Marshall endorses the look with a twist on the stylish duchess collar.  Two separate pearl necklaces are combined to create her 4-strand choker perfect for the jewel neckline of the top from A Lady Knows, all from Ashton Drake.  Hat, gloves, cabochon pearl earrings, and fur muff are from The Couture Touch.  White Orchid Gene Marshall is from JamieShow.

Inspirations: Accessories

The accompanying part of a costume, known as accessories, serve both a functional as well as an aesthetic need.  They are the costume completers.

Vogue magazine has long been considered the ultimate fashion authority.  Here are some inspiring ads for fashion accessories from inside the pages of vintage 1930's and 40's issues.

Sensible yet stylish walking shoes, perfect complement to a tailored suit ensemble.  Circa 1936.

This uniquely styled handbag was available in black, brown, and important new fall colors for 1938.  I'll take one in each color please!  

Belts were a popular fashion accessory in 1939....and beyond.  

Wonderful stitching detail highlights these sueded cotton gloves.  Circa 1941.

Smart and comfortable shoes for 1943.  Love those oxford styles.

There are many ways to tie a scarf.  Here's a stylish solution for a bad hair day, circa 1943.

High fashion has moved down from the shoulder to the arm, yet still hands free.  New proportions for 1947.  Handles designed to take your arm.

Now you might be asking yourself, where are the hats!?!  Click HERE for more inspiring vintage ads.

Vogue is a Conde Nast Publication.