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1930s
Dior Goes Back in Time for Pre-Fall 2010
The Christian Dior Pre-Fall 2010 collection was all WWII French Resistance and 1930s bias cut gowns straight off the silver screen. Check out the pincurls on the model too! Can you believe that silver lamé number? If I could wear that onstage, I swear I’d learn to sing better! I like the model too, Heloise Guerin. Ahh, Galliano, how do I love thee…
Tagged: 1930s, 1940s, 2010, Christian Dior, forties, John Galliano, pre-fall, thirties, wwii
Costume Exhibit in NY at the Met
If you’re in New York before the middle of August, you absolutely MUST go see the “American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity” at the Metropolitan Museum in Manhattan. Here is a preview of the exhibit that focuses on archetypes of American fashion, including “Gibson Girls” and “Screen Sirens”.
Jesse Franklin Turner gold lamé dress, 1933
Etta Hentz Grecian style evening gown, 1944
Charles James silk and metallic gown, 1936
Nellie Harrington sweater and pleated skirt, 1928
Silk and rhinestone evening gown, c. 1909-11
“American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity” is on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art May 5, 2010 – August 15, 2010.
All images courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute Collection.
Categories: ClothingTagged: 1930s, 1940s, American Wojan: Fashioning a National Identity, Charles James, dresses, fashion, Gibson Girls, Jesse Franklin Turner, Metropolitan Museum, New York, Screen Sirens, tta Hentz
Ad for Queen Quality Shoes, 1937
George Hoyningen-Huene
Baron George Hoyningen-Huene (1900 – 1968) was a seminal fashion photographer of the 1920s and 1930s. He was born in Russian to Baltic German and American parents and spent his working life in France, England and the United States.
George Hoyningen-Huene, Lee Miller, originally uploaded by Gatochy.
During the Russian Revolution the Hoyningen-Huenes fled to first London and later Paris. By 1925 George had already worked his way up to chief of photography of the French Vogue. In 1931 he met Horst, the future photographer, who became his lover and frequent mode and traveled to England with him that winter. While there, they visited photographer Cecil Beaton, who was working for the British edition of Vogue. In 1931, Horst began his association with Vogue, publishing his first photograph in the French edition of Vogue in November of that year.
In 1935 Hoyningen-Huene moved to New York where he did most of his work for Harpar’s Bazaar. He published two art books on Greece and Egypt before relocating to Hollywood, where he earned his wedge by shooting glamorous portraits for the film industry. Beyond fashion, he was a master portraitist as well from Hollywood stars to other celebrities.
Biography from Wikipedia.
Categories: Celebrities, Vintage PhotosTagged: 1920s, 1930s, dress, fur coat, Gatochy, George Hoyningen-Huene, photographer, pictures, vogue
Olivia de Havilland
Remember this photo of Dita’s stunning hair that I posted a few days ago? Well I just stumbled across an image of Olivia de Havilland sporting a similar ‘do in the late 1940s, and had to share. If anyone knows how to create a look like this, please do let us know!
You probably know Olivia de Havilland as Melanie in Gone with the Wind. She was a fairly serious actress in the 1930s, 40s and 50s, and often played in period pieces. She also happens to be Joan Fontaine’s older sister. She is still alive today (she is 93 years old).
Categories: Celebrities, Hair, Vintage PhotosTagged: 1930s, 1940s, Dita Von Teese, forties, gone with the wind, Hair, hairdo, olivia de havilland, olivier, style, thirties
Harper’s Bazaar – Bonnie and Clyde
“Bonnie Parker (October 1, 1910 – May 23, 1934) and Clyde Barrow (March 24, 1909 – May 23, 1934) were well known outlaws, robbers, and criminals who, with their gang, traveled the Central United States during the Great Depression. Their exploits were known nationwide. They captured the attention of the American press and its readership during what is sometimes referred to as the “public enemy era” between 1931 and 1934. Though known today for his dozen-or-so bank robberies, Barrow in fact preferred to rob small stores or rural gas stations. The gang is believed to have killed at least nine police officers and committed several civilian murders. They were eventually ambushed and killed in Louisiana by law officers.” – Wikipedia
That being said, check out Harper Bazaars latest spread:





Love me some pleated pants and a Tommy Gun!


For information on the clothes and where to buy them, check out the full editorial on Harpar’s Bazaar.
Categories: Accessories, In Magazines
Tagged: 1930s, berret, Bonnie and Clyde, Great Depression, guns, harper's bazaar, men, scarf, vintage car
Alexander McQueen Retrospective Part 1: Fall 2001
In tribute to Lee Alexander McQueen, I am going to post a retrospective of past collections, from a SwingFashionista perspective. The best of Alexander McQueen for retro-loving folk. May he rest in peace. To start, my top picks from the Fall 2001 ready-to-wear show. More to come…
Tagged: 1930s, 1940s, Alexander McQueen, catwalk, fashion, forties, retrospective, show, style, thirties, tribute, vintage, wartime, wwii
Dorothy Parker: 1938
August 4, 1938. Washington, D.C. “Miss Dorothy Parker has been selected as Miss Washington and will compete for the title of Miss America at the Atlantic City beauty pageant to be held during Labor Day week. 18 Years old, she weighs 112 pounds and is 5 feet, 4 inches in height. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. Albert Parker of Washington.” Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size.
Categories: Vintage PhotosTagged: 1930s, bathing suit, beach, Dorothy Parker, vintage photo
Taking Fashion Inspiration from Dolls
I wasted a whole lot of time on this doll blog, so that you don’t have to! Check out these retro doll fashions, can you believe it? The downside is, you can’t buy any of these outfits… you know, unless you’re 6″ tall. I’d wear all of these outfits! If anyone out there is a wizz with a sewing machine and wants to recreate one of these for me, just let me know!!
Categories: ClothingTagged: 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, barbie, doll, fashion, fifties, forties, retro, sixties, thirties, twenties, vintage
1930s Fashion Illustrations
Fashion illustrations, mostly from Simplicity and Butterick dressmaking patterns, from the 1930s….
Categories: ClothingTagged: 1930s, bias, butterick, cutting, dressmaking, fashion, illustrations, patterns, simplicity, thirties, vionnet
New Zealand’s Fashion Quarterly Spring 2009
Behind the scenes photos care of Lotus Notes
Categories: In Magazines, On CatwalksTagged: 1930s, 1940s, 2009, dress, fashion quarterly, feminine, floral, forties, new zealand, retro, spring, thirties
Several ways to dance (according to each one’s profession)
Almanaque Bertrand, 1938 – Several ways to dance (according to each one’s profession)
Click image for 1911 x 1437 size.
From the Humorist: “How a doctor dances… a salesman… a dentist… a swimmer… a scello player… a phrenologist.”
Tagged: 1930s, Almanaque Bertrand, art deco, Gatochy, profession
Vintage Costumers, Seattle
Another great reason to live in Seattle! Costume shop Vintage Costumers specialising in authentic vintage styles to hire. Here’s a sampler, I think I’ll post some more later, there’s so many great things to hire!
7011 Roosevelt Way NE
Seattle, WA 98115
Monday to Friday 11am – 7pm
Saturdays & Sundays 11am – 6pm
Tagged: 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, beaded gown, Clothing, costume, fashion, flapper, forties, hire, men, seattle, suit, thirties, twenties, women, wwii
Emma Watson in Ballet Shoes (2007)
Set in 1930s London, plenty of costume inspiration to be had…
Tagged: 1930s, ballet shoes, Emma Watson, thirties
Almanaque Bertrand, 1938 – An invitation to dance
From The Punch: In the time of the Minuete… of the Quadrille… of the Waltz… and of the Fox-trot.
Click image for 818 x 1124 size.
From The Punch: In the time of the Minuete… of the Quadrille… of the Waltz… and of the Fox-trot
Tagged: 1930s, Almanaque Bertrand, Art Deco Blog, Fox Trot, Invitation to dance
De L’Officiel de la Mode: Archives
This is unbelievably cool. De L’Officiel magazine (think French fashion mag) has recently published their archives and now you (yes, you!) can read through the past editions starting from 1920!!! If you read French this should be even more amazing, but even if you don’t, this is still wonderful. Here is a screen shot of the archives:
Click here to go to the gallery!
Here is a quick preview of what you can see if you head on over to the archives. This is from 1927, #66:
Go, go now! Click on the link above and peruse through the archives of L’Officiel de la Mode! What cover do you like best? What era do you most enjoy? Let us know!!!
Categories: In Magazines, Vintage PhotosTagged: 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, archives, beauty, fashion, French, L'Officiel de la Mode, magazine























































































































































































