Vintage on the Web – August 2015

I apologise for the lateness of this post. I had planned to do it over the bank holiday but as I was struck down with a cold just before it started I decided sitting in front of a computer was probably not the best plan. I did try and relax, something I find very hard to do, but did end up messing about with sewing patterns and trying to put a 1920s style dress together. As it didn’t really end up working as I’d hoped, I really should’ve just taken it easy instead. That’ll teach me! Anyway, on to the post…here’s August’s Vintage on the Web.

Heirlooms and Heritage – 1920s One Hour Dress

Now I know I featured Stephanie from The Girl with the Star-Spangled Heart blog on last month’s Vintage on the Web, but I couldn’t pass up showing you this beautiful 1920s one hour dress she made. If you’ve never heard of the 1920s one hour dress before it’s a very simple dress where the fabric is cut into simple rectangular shaped pieces and made up within an hour (hopefully!). I’ve been spending a bit of time looking at various ones made by vintage sewing bloggers and this one has got to be one of my favourites.

I’m currently looking at making my own version of this for an Autumn/Winter dress but it’s going to be slightly more complicated because I want long sleeves and a collar on it. I also want it slightly more fitted, more like a late 1920s dress, where it sits close around the hips as this style suits me much better. However, I love the pleating on the skirt part of Stephanie’s and I may incorporate this into my own version.

Nina Leen / Via Time Inc.

23 Pictures Show How Strangely Beautiful The 1940s Really Were

This post on Buzz Feed features photographs taken by Nina Leen, a Russian born photographer who studied painting in Berlin and had to flee Germany in 1939 to the United States. By 1940 she was having her photographs appearing in Life Magazine. She was particularly well known for her animal photos but took a keen interest in fashion photography after marrying fashion photographer Serge Balkin.

This fabulous collection of photos, as seen in an exhibition at Daniel Cooney Fine Art in New York City, show amazing snapshots of life in America during the 1940s. Heavily influenced by Surrealism, Nina Leen has captured fashion, beauty, the influence of Hollywood and her favourite animals in a way no other photographer would have.

Royal Vintage Shoes

Royal Vintage Shoes are a US based online shop that sells 1920s, 30s and 40s style shoes for women. This fabulous website is the brain child of Lauren, the amazingly talented lady behind the American Duchess blog. She has a real passion for all things 18th Century, creates the most incredible costumes and also produces her own range of 18th Century shoes at American Duchess Historical Footwear. However, it’s her love of my favourite eras that I love the most. Just check out the 1930s dresses she’s created on her blog and I’m sure you’ll agree.

Her Royal Vintage Shoes site offers a beautiful selection of well known brands such as Miss L Fire, B.A.I.T. and Chelsea Crew as well as a small selection of her own designs. Have a look at her 1930s Claremont Oxfords, they are seriously gorgeous! Although the site is in the US they do deliver to the UK and their cheapest delivery option is only approximately £14, if you don’t mind waiting a couple of weeks for them. I already have my eye on a couple of pairs!

La Mode Pyjama

La Mode Pyjama is a wonderful blog dedicated to the fabulousness of the beach pyjama, the epitome of 1930s summer fashion. If you love the style and playfulness of the 1930s as much as I do, then you’ll love this site. It’s filled with photos, postcards and illustrations featuring lovely ladies in all sorts of beach pyjamas from simple white linen trouser ones to the more adventurous striped, spotty or patterned playsuit versions.

And if that wasn’t enough wide trouser goodness for you, then why not check out Giant Pants of the ’30s?

Rosabelle Hat Free Pattern + Tutorial from Elsewhen

The more I explore the 1920s and 30s the more I fall in love with the hats. I’ve always been a huge fan of cloche styles anyway and have two modern ones that I’ve worn the last couple of winters (although they look so much better now with my shorter hair!), however, I have been looking at making my own. If you’ve ever looked into making hats it’s a mind field. There’s all sorts of materials I’ve never heard of, and don’t even get me started on the price of hat blocks!

So, instead, I’ve been looking at simple sewing patterns for hats and came across this lovely one by Elsewhen Millinery. You can purchase it, along with many other hat patterns, from her Etsy shop, however, by clicking on the link above you’ll find it for free at the Sew Mama Sew blog. I can’t wait to have a go and I’ve already ordered some lovely faux suede fabric samples for ideas of fabrics.

Vintage Everyday: Fashion in The 20s & 30s

I love the Vintage Everyday blog, they have so many amazing and interesting posts all featuring original photos and videos of the everyday past. I follow them on Facebook and know that if I click through to the one post they’re talking about I’ll end up spending hours looking around the blog at many others, so approach them with caution!

This particular post caught my eye for obvious reasons, but my god, just look at that dress! I’d probably sell my entire family to be able to wear any of the stunning outfits within this post. They really are incredible and just about everything I adore about this era. Be warned you’re likely to swoon at every single one.