It was May of 1937 and new fashion styles were popping up like daffodils after spring rain: grosgrain ribbon was made into blouse trim; paisley print was sewn into every article of clothing imaginable; belts were woven together for a new look; and eyelet embroidery was back in vogue. With all these fresh styles, anyone who was crafty with a needle and thread could duplicate these new fashion ideas with reasonable ease.
Grosgrain Ribbon is enjoying a phenomenal revival and deservedly so because it is practical as well as smart, and especially so in white, black and navy. Grosgrain makes caps, entire hats, scarfs and belts – trims all edges of frocks and suits. Put on with matching thread by machine.
Paisley Prints are everywhere and are used for head bands, belts, blouses, dresses, house coats, pajamas, bathing suits, accessories – even to cover buttons. The belt shown here is made of two belts with pointed ends, cut on the bias. The belts are whipped together across the back to make them seem one.
All-Over Embroidery is used on net, on wool – on everything from organdy to chintz that is effective and adaptable for frocks and accessories. The bolero jacket, twisted belt and head band give good examples of a favored use of all-over embroidered linen. Two one-inch-wide double bands twisted together make both belt and the head band. The latter is tied i a knot at the top of the head. The belt has the ends raveled to make a fringe.
Bands Of Piqué or grosgrain ribbon are used to trim many jacket blouses. The contrast is sharp – either the blouse is light with dark trim, or dark with light trim, preferably the latter. Scarfs of amusing and charming prints add liveliness to such blouses. “Rich man, poor man” buttons seem essential to the severity of the fashion.
Eyelet Embroidery hints of the Nineties, yet it is as new and cheering as tomorrow, especially in the short-sleeved, short-peplum, square-neck blouses. Many of these are trimmed with grosgrain ribbon. Most often they are white, worn with black. Later in summer they will be used less formally with pastel skirts made of firm cotton.
Hand-Blocked Prints are favored in blouse jackets with tucked-sleeve fulness and grosgrain ribbon trims, especially those with the new slide-fastener closing. These are worn with suits, or with a separate or matching skirt. The ribbon matches the most prominent color in the print. The neck is cut high at the back and is bound. Such blouses are usually short and beltless.
Net Topcoats, a summertime coat, – call it what you will – is ideal to wear innumerable times over print frocks. It gives the feeling of a coat and protects your dresses wonderfully, especially when you are riding in a bus, taxi, or your own car. Made of a firm cotton net that keeps its shape very well, the coat is usually fitted rather snugly through the waist, although you do see many cut in an exaggerated swagger. In all cases, the neck, sleeves and edges are bound with grosgrain ribbon, and the ribbon makes the ties at the neck or at the neck and waist. Many younger women are having bolero jackets and wrap-around skirts of the cotton net made for wear with print dresses. These protect the dress and also give a swanky appearance. The skirt is cut with a high waist and a front tie, as in the illustration below left.
Print Dresses that are made quite plain in the bodice, with a flared skirt, and a jabot of the print, promise to be the most popular type for general wear. Dress shops show these ranging in prices from three dollars and ninety-five cents to one hundred dollars, practically all the same style. The difference in price is determined by the quality and beauty of the fabric, the workmanship, and the prestige of the shop. Such dresses are easy to make and very desirable.
Sunday-School Neck Trims. Many shops advertise dresses “for Sunday School wear,” and invariably they have a trimmed neckline that you know would make a smart accompaniment to a chic and becoming hat.
Most of these neck trims are of fine Swiss or organdy, with Val lace whipped to a narrow-rolled hem. Some have tiny buttons and some have grosgrain ribbon bands and bows; others are made of fine batiste embroidery.
Many collars are made of two or three fine handkerchiefs – with or without lace-trimmed edges – cut and arranged so that as many as four corners are placed over one-another.
Make plenty of new neckwear. Buy sheer fine quality fabric and dainty lace and whip or zigzag the lace on so that it is beautifully done. Don’t be afraid to use yards of lace to get the effect you want.
And by all means put your neckwear together so that you can take it apart to launder it, because much of its flattering beauty comes from its crisp freshness.
The above “fashion news” article was copied from an original Home Arts Needlecraft Magazine, May 1937 (in my private collection).
