I opened the book for the first time the other day, I can't remember why. But I'm freaking out over the photographs inside. Wow, I want to wear these clothes!
Especially this suit. I love the hat, too. Wish I had time to make something like this for my sister's wedding in September, but somehow I doubt it would look quite so stunning on me:
The best part of the book, however, are the scraps of paper and clippings inside it. Here is a newspaper ad I found inside it, along with a few bits I found in another book I have.
Isn't it fun to get little peaks at someone else's life?
Just yesterday I bought McCall's Complete Book of Dressmaking in an antique store! The cover is slightly different from yours (mine is from 1951). Weird that you would blog this today!
ReplyDeleteThose notes left in the book are like a little time capsule. Can you imagine having your mom buy you patterns in "chubbette" sizes? Oh geez, talk about a self-esteem killer.
ReplyDeleteAnd you could totally pull off that suit. You should go for it.
That's so awesome. I remember reading about an art exhibit that someone once did with all of the scraps of paper found inside library books.
ReplyDeleteI found a huge recipe notebook filled to the brim with recipes cut out of 1950s french and german magazines and hand written notes. It's been such fun digging through it and pondering the life of the woman who put it together.
What a find!
I love the dresses!!
ReplyDeleteI love the dresses!!
ReplyDeleteI love the second dress but I know that it would look like that on me! haha This is a really neat find.
ReplyDeleteThey put Nicole Kidman on the cover! lol
ReplyDeleteThat last dress is such an Audrey Hepburn dress - love that style.
I know, that "chubette" thing is so sad and funny at the same time. I felt a little guilty laughing at it, knowing that some poor little girl somewhere was probably scarred for life with that label.
ReplyDeleteThese are fantastic images! I love that the calendar design is still pretty much the same as today. And those models, they give today's skinnies a run for their money... unless that is just some mid-century photoshop going on.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, and if you make that suit... show us!!
Oooo! I love that book! What a treasure!
ReplyDeleteOh my! Could you imagine if they still labeled clothing with chubbette sizes!?! I just read an article on how American clothing sizing system has fallen to the way side to the vanity sizes we have on the racks. The article pulled 10 size 10 pants where the waist differed up to 4'' (!) and the hips 5''(!).
ReplyDeleteYou've *got* to watch the 1959 version of "Imitation of Life"! Lana Turner wears the most spectacular clothes in it! The pink pants outfit with the flowing, long jacket is my favorite...
ReplyDeleteoh I love finding treasures like that!
ReplyDelete...the "chubbette" has me chuckling and horrified....and not sure which takes precedence?
Wow! They are fabulous, aren't they? I'll take one of each!!!
ReplyDeleteI thought of you this week when I saw Oliver + S at a fabric shop in SLC, UT. Have a beautiful weekend.
The suit would be lovely on you! I hope you get a chance to make something like it.
ReplyDeleteso Audrey Hepburn, those clothes... and they would look fantastic on you! They really made beautiful clothes back then, when curves were a "good" thing. The bodices fitted and the shirts full (to twirl) or just around the hips with a little "blousing" ,,sigh...
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