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Weekend reading: vintage sewing, painting your upholstery, and the Chanel supermarket
The other day, I shared this gorgeous spread from a French pattern catalog from 1956 on Instagram.
It made me realize that Instagram is the perfect place to share some of the gorgeous vintage patterns, books, and illustrations that I’ve collected over the years. This catalog in itself is absolutely stunning and brimming with inspiration.
If you want to see more, head on over to instagram and follow me. I’ll be sharing way more images from these books over the next few weeks. They are pretty incredible and I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to share:
Follow me on Instagram for more vintage inspiration all month!
Here’s some reading for you. Have a great weekend, friends!
- Last week, I wished this US manufacturer had more bra-friendly designs. I spoke too soon because now there’s a collection for busty gals!
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Why red carpet makeup looks bad in real life. It’s always good to have a reminder that the women held up as beauty icons are so carefully constructed that they literally do not exist as we see them.
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I had no idea you could paint upholstery. What a cool DIY.
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One of my mantras in life is “do the work.” I’d never really thought about how time working non-glamorous jobs (like working in a warehouse or in a service job) contributes to an ability to get things done, even when you don’t want to.
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So many cool fabrics and details at the Chanel supermarket.
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Nobody knows or cares if your clothes are made in deadly factories. Thanks to Stephanie for sharing this link last week in the comments.
By the way, how is everyone doing on their knitcation plans?
Comments
rita
June 13, 2014 #
Are magazines like that worth a lot of money? Are they useful? Back then women wore very pointy bras and girdles. Aren’t the patterns drafted all wrong for now?
Sarai
June 13, 2014 #
It depends on what you mean by useful. These aren’t even the patterns, just the catalog. I like them because they’re pretty and inspiring and have lots of cool details.
rita
June 13, 2014 #
I have a lot of magazines like this from the 50’s and all the dresses pictured come with the patterns as well. They’re ALL on just several sheets COVERED with patterns. You have to find which lines belong to which dresses. And of course, you have to figure out if you’ve gotten all the pieces you need. They really assumed quite a lot of sewing experience from their readers. It wasn’t like the hand-holding type patterns now-a-days. So, I guess, you’ve never seen this type of thing? I’m not sure what’s keeping me from using these patterns. Really I’m afraid they’re not going to fit, I guess. They don’t come in all sizes either. So you’re only going to be using the dresses that are in your size, or that you feel you can resize.
Erin
June 13, 2014 #
The instagram link is not working
Sarai
June 13, 2014 #
Fixed.
Debbie
June 13, 2014 #
I look forward to your Weekend Reading post as you always have really good articles and links!
As to my Knitcation, one Mabel finished, one cut out and I printed off the Moneta pattern last night. The fabric for the two Moneta’s is washed and ready to go!
sara
June 13, 2014 #
I too really enjoy your weekend reading selections. Always some thought provoking reads! About Chanel, I think a lot of those details verge on bad taste, just like the Supermarket show itself. Seriously, even the coat lining matching the blouse, which seems like a pretty inoffensive concept, hurts my eyes. Some of the fabrics are beautiful, but I don’t like what he did with them.
RavenNemain
June 13, 2014 #
One of those reformation dresses reminded me I’ve been pondering how to alter Moneta to do an open lower back. I feel like the bodice would lend itself well to that look.
Amanda
June 13, 2014 #
I’m really looking forward to the Moneta sewalong this week! I’m done tracing and cutting out the pattern pieces – and might do a quick bodice muslin this weekend to test out the fit. :)
I love these posts, too – Fridays are always tough to survive at the office, and these links always brighten my day (along with that second cup of coffee to get me through the morning!). BTW – is there a link for the “do the work” article mentioned above? I’d love to read it!!
Thanks again, Sarai! And happy weekend!!
Sarai
June 13, 2014 #
Ack, I am full of linking fail today! I fixed it. :)
Here’s the direct link: http://out-of-the-bag.blogspot.com/2014/06/knuckle-down.html
Ruth
June 13, 2014 #
I enjoy reading these posts and am also interested if you have a link to a “do the work” article?
Just last week this came up when discussing the hiring of a new staff member with my manager.
Give me a person who has worked a manual labour job or grown up doing physical work in a family business anyday over someone who went to university and straight into a professional position.
Nora
June 13, 2014 #
It’s worth remembering that fabric factories can be dangerous, and the majority of sewists in the US do not know (or care) where their fabric is from either. Although garment factories are probably by and large worse than fabric mills, it’s worth asking about the environmental and human consequences of fabric production, from field to factory.
Sarai
June 16, 2014 #
Very true, Nora.
Fabric Tragic
June 14, 2014 #
Like the other readers I do enjoy your weekend selection. You’d love a selection of vintage pattern drafting magazines I was given that belonged to a workmates mum. They were written by an Australian designer, Enid Gilchrist, and I blogged about them here:
http://fabrictragic.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/a-belated-christmas-treasure-troveenid.html
Your french catalogue reminds me a lot of them! Thanks for sharing.
Sarai
June 16, 2014 #
Beautiful!
Catherine from Canada
June 16, 2014 #
I love how feminine the short hairdos look!
What was the rational for this style of short hair, do you know? I mean in the sense of: war-time outfits were less full and the skirts were shorter to economize on fabric. Is there a similar economic/social change reason for the short hair?
Fascinating!
Sarai
June 16, 2014 #
I don’t know, though I think some short hair of this period was very much inspired by styles from Italy.
Terry
June 17, 2014 #
I don’t know what it is about the style of the ’30s – ’50s that I love. It could be because my mother was such a fan that I grew up watching those movies. Anyway, I went antiquing last week and came across an AMAZING dress from probably the early ’50s. I’d never seen one like it in person. It was too small for me so I went home without it. I couldn’t stop thinking about it so I drove BACK the next day (only about a two hour trip) to get it. I am in the process of downsizing myself, but even if it never fits, it will be on my dress form, giving me smiles upon smiles every time I look at it. I loved your post today. :)
amy w
June 20, 2014 #
The ‘do the work article’, it would be interesting to see how chores people had to do when they were a kid translate to how they work when they are adults. Growing up in my house of 6 people, chores were not gender-based, everyone scrubbed toilets, washed dishes, did laundry, and yard work was for everyone. A couple of years ago at work, our Directions of Operations (2nd highest person in the company) cleaned out our mini-fridge after a power outage caused everything to melt in the little freezer. It spoke a lot to what kind of person he was, because he could have very easily told one of us admin people to clean it up.
And like the others I really enjoy your Weekend Reading posts. They are always so interesting.