Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Patterns of the Past-Ladies' Dresses from 1921


Patterns from the April, 1921 issue of Needlecraft magazine. Compare these very simple-looking dresses with ones from 1914 to see the radical transformation of middle-class women's clothing in the Western world in the years spanning the First World War.

But despite their apparent simplicity, these frocks would have been constructed around either a body lining or a buckram foundation belt, in order to give them the required shape. For more information on early 20's dress foundations, please go here and read the Woman's Institute booklet on Tight Linings and Boning.

Left-click or go to my Flickr account for a larger image.

3 comments:

Packrat said...

These are almost to the more modern shape and style. Just a more little tweeking. We have pictures of my grandmother and her sister in dresses like these. Of course, they were home made. Thanks for sharing. I'm always anxious to see what you come up with next. :)

Shay said...

I'm always anxious to see what you come up with next.

Funny, my mother used to say that a lot.

Ladytats said...

shape?? you need boning to for that shape? I am glad we don't have to wear all the undergarments our mothers and grandmothers wore. and we have air conditioning now adays.