Every Man Needs a Sock Wardrobe and Maybe a Matching Tie 1950s Style

If your man dresses vintage and you want him to be authentic, then these fabulous 1950s Knitting patterns are the thing for you.  I am in the process of putting together several 1950s knitting patterns for men, women and children's socks and booties.  With a few ties and scarves thrown in.  So be watching the website for these in PDF format..........

 

 

How Silhouettes Change in 15 years 1950 to 1964

It doesn't matter if it's patterns, advertisements or actual clothing, when you are working with a large lot of fashion over a period of years, you learn to date certain silhouettes at a glance.

In listing these 4 patterns today, I realized that the finer points of the changes aren't just in the price, logo placement and art work, but in the width and length of the skirt and undergarments, placement of the waist and emphasis or lack of such, on the bust line.

This lovely 1950 party dress is strapless and fitted, but has emphasis on the hips with the peplum. The skirt is full but lays gracefully instead of being puffed up with petticoats. Skirt length is mid calf.



By 1955 the emphasis is on an Hour glass figure with a dropped waist (this style is often called a Long Torso), and very full skirt held out by layers and layers of petticoats. The skirt length drops to 3/4 of the way below the knee almost to the ankle.


In 1961 choose slim or full skirt under a fitted midriff with major emphasis on the bustline. Puffy skirt stars at the waist and is once again held out by layers of petticoats but the puff starts at the waistline, not below. Skirts are shorter but still well below the knee.


1964 brigs us slim but not the form fitting sheath of the 50's. This styling is softer and less structured and emphasizes the bust without being obvious. The waspish waist is gone and slim hips prevail. The skirt is still below the knee but higher than the past 15 years.




All of these and many many more can be found at www.cemetarian.com

Pumpkins Weren't Always Just for Halloween

Before Cell Phones (or even telephones), Postcard/Greeting Cards were once the main way of letting distant friends and relatives know you were thinking about them. And some icons, we accept as tradition today, weren't always what we think they were.

For instance; ever hear of the Halloween Cabbages? Well in 1910, this card was sent to a friend or maybe a sweetheart. Kinda has a Valentine ring to it, doesn't it?




And we traditionally think of Jack-O-Lanterns as lighting the porch on Halloween for Trick or Treater's, but in 1908..........these children were hiding behind the pumpkin to watch the Turkey.

Does This Make my Backside Look Big?

Body image and perception is and has been major factor in fashion for centuries. Emphasis on particular body parts change as often as the weather.

Today we'll take a brief walk through a 30 year span where body styles made some drastic changes.

In the 1930's the emphasis was on softness..........soft bodies, and soft fabrics. Non structure is seen in not only the fashions but in the beautiful models who showed the fashions. The Bust to Waist ratio was minimal and the overall look was feminine and rounded.




The 1940s was more structured and tailored. Still very little emphasis on Bust to Waist. The lines were crisper and not as soft. As women entered the workplace in the absence of men during the war, heavier materials and a more masculine flair was introduced with broader shoulders and narrower hips.


The 1950s brought a new femininity back to fashion. As women went back into the home and women's interests, the whole silhouette changed again. Now the fashion directive was on tiny waists with form fitting sweaters and huge circle skirts that emphasized the Hour Glass Figure.



The 60s started with the same Hour Glass body image, but soon morphed into a more casual feel as women worked both in the home and outside the home. We demanded comfort as well as fashion. Pants were more accepted in casual settings than they had been previously. But close fitting pants demanded longer tops to cover them (for modesty's sake).

This brings me to today's title.............I love this sweater and would wear it in a New York Minute (as a matter of fact I did wear one comparable in 1963)...........but I can't help wondering what the photographer and the company was thinking when they did this shoot.

All I can think of is today's classic question.

Does this make my butt look big?


These fabulous crochet and knitting patterns can be found at both cemetarian on Etsy and cemetarian.com

Julia Sugarbaker Rides Again!

It can happen to the best of us. That embarrassing moment (with the emphasis on bare and ass).

It happened to Julia in this Episode "Julia's Fashion Model Debut"

And then it happened with my Manikin (whom I think I'll rename Julia). I didn't notice it until I was processing the photos to upload. I think I'll leave it this way, cause it brings a bit of reality to an otherwise Fantasy occupation.



Watch cemetarian at eBay for this beauty. It'll be listed in a few days.