After looking at the advertisements
last week, it's now time to look at the actual sewing information in the 1926 edition of
Vogue's Book of Practical Dressmaking. It starts with - an advertisement of sorts for Vogue patterns.
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| This emphasises the exclusive nature of Vogue patterns |
This is followed by a table of contents with a difference.
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| Showing where to find information on different parts of dressmaking |
The reasons for learning to sew include cost savings, but there are also several other factors as well.
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| Sewing is fun! Sewing is easy! Discuss |
After all this, we get down to the nitty gritty, starting with how to cut out.
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| Beginning at the beginning |
As with the 1930s edition, there are several spreads on the order of work for various garments.
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| Making a dress, step by step |
Many of the sections relating to specific areas of construction are two-page spreads, with the first page covering the basics and the second giving more complex examples.
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| Sleeves, part one - setting in |
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| Sleeves, part two - related techniques |
In this way, the book does a good job of providing something for both beginners and more experienced dressmakers alike. I'm not sure if complete beginners would start off with a Vogue pattern but if they did, the book offers some suggestions.
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| From ultra-simple to slightly more complex |
The pattern instructions may have been
"drawn from life", but the section on how to take measurements certainly wasn't - even by 1930s figure-drawing standards it's absurd.
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| No-one is that shape |
If your measurements didn't match up to the ideal, there are several pages on how to alter patterns while keeping the Vogue lines.
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| This is followed by six pages of diagrams and examples |
There's sound (if probably largely ignored) advice on sewing machines and getting to know the attachments - even now I haven't tried out all of the attachments which came with my vintage machines. I was surprised by the suggestion that in 1926 most new machines came with a light attached.
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| Several useful tips in here |
Finally, another advertisement, this time for
Vogue itself.
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| Buy Vogue! |
I don’t know about anyone else, but now I really want to read the
"Guide to Chic" for the
"Small, Fluffy Woman"!
How fascinating that they show the image of a maid holding up the clothes in one image! I don't think you would see that in an American journal.
ReplyDeleteThat's a really interesting distinction, thanks Lynn. For all the suggestions that a shilling a fortnight was a widely affordable sum, I think that British Vogue readership in the 1920s would definitely have been women who had at least some 'help' at home.
DeleteYes, I also noted the cuff smocking as a possible technique to try. Although not on a 1920s dress - I have never been able to make that era work for me.
ReplyDeleteSmall and fluffy just makes me think of Pomeranian dogs!