Old Fashioned

Nov. 3, 2009 - In Response to Your Question...

This is another response to a comment posted by an anonymous reader.

Here's the Comment:

"hey. As you might think I have a question. I am doing a fashion show for charity and I need to know what girls wore in the 1930s. Please respond asap..."

And Here's the response By Allison:

During the Great Depression, when so many people were without homes and food, fashion was certainly not a priority. Nevertheless, this era had a fashion statement, mostly influenced by movie stars and small budgets. A dress could be up to $6, a lot of money for a family in need. Still, people copied the latest fashions, in frugal ways.

Shirley Temple

Shirley Temple type dresses were in fashion for little girls. Moms and daughters both liked these dresses; girls liked dressing like their favorite little actress, and the short smock-style dress was easy for moms to sew themselves, and it didn’t require much fabric. Bob haircuts that fell just below the chin were also in fashion for both adult women and children.

Film star Helen Twelvetrees, ca. 1936-7 / photograph by Sam Hood

Popular Hairstyle - 1936

Women’s fashion often had a V-neck top, with a skirt that was straight then flared out into a fuller skirt at the bottom. A popular style hat was called a cloche hat. Its name is French for “bell”. It got that name because of its bell-like shape.

Some Girls during the 1930's

Many families could not afford brand-new, store-bought clothes, however. For that matter, many people could not even afford the material for new clothes. But if you had chickens or other animals, and you bought feed in feed sacks, you had some free fabric for the taking! Many families during the depression used the cloth that the animal feed came in to make new clothes. I have read many accounts from people saying what a treat it was to go to the feed store and pick out a specific pattern. The sacks would sometimes come in floral prints, or a different design (I heard of one that had ducks printed all over it.)

It would take 2 or 3 sacks to make a dress for an older child or adult, but for small children 1 sack would suffice. People would also take plain sacks, bleach them white, and sew them into slips or napkins. Nothing was wasted, and every scrap of fabric was used and re-used. Although it might seem a little strange to make your clothes out of feed sacks, these clothes often were just as nice as store-bought clothes, and I have read quite a few accounts of how children loved these dresses, even though they were not store-bought or real fancy.

Here is a little story told by a girl who was a teenager during the depression. This story shows how she frugally made a homecoming dress for $1.20.

"I made many of my own clothes when I was in high school, but my senior year in 1934 posed a special challenge! As graduation time approached, the high school and 7th and 8th grade students cast votes for a senior girl as homecoming queen. I had made no special plans for homecoming, thinking I didn’t have a chance. But when the votes were counted, I had won!

Naturally, I was excited, but when I told my parents I would need a special dress for homecoming, they said we just couldn’t afford one. I was disappointed, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I knew I could make the dress myself, If I could just find the money for material! I sometimes worked in the principal’s office, answering the phone and helping with paperwork, and I knew there was a small cash fund used to buy supplies for needy students.

One day I got up the nerve and asked the principal if the school could give me just enough money to buy material for my homecoming dress. He said anyone who received such an honor should be willing to buy her dress. When I explained that I couldn’t afford it, he asked “How much money are we talking about?” I replied “I think I can make the dress for $1.20.” The principal just smiled and said, “Anyone who thinks she can make a homecoming queen’s dress for $1.20 deserves a chance to try”. And he gave me the money!

A friend drove me to the nearest village, where I bought 7 yards of cheesecloth for 70¢, three packages of white crepe paper for 45¢, and a small spool of thread for 5¢. I made a foundation garment from part of the cheesecloth, hand-stitched crepe paper to the bodice, ruffled a piece of paper for a collar, and then cut the rest of the paper into strips for ruffles, which I stitched in tiers from the waist to the floor. The rest of the cheesecloth was used to make a train. My crown was a piece of cardboard covered with gold foil, and I carried a bouquet of fresh apple blossoms from my parent’s orchard. The highlight of my reign was when the mother of a younger student said, “My daughter thinks you’re beautiful and she wants to look just like you when she graduates!”"

(C)Copyright Allison @ Vintage Attic

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Aug. 3, 2009 - The 1930's

Here are some pictures of what women wore in the 1930's.

The big thing that was going on in the 30's-The great depression.

Another great reference for 1930's clothes would be to watch the Kit movie,made by American girl,staring Abigail Breslin and Chris O'Donnal.

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Jul. 24, 2009 - Soft 30's Movie-Star Finger Waves

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May. 28, 2009 - 1930's Hair

This is a 1930's hairstyle that you can do on hair that is a little bit longer. I love it!

Forever,
Allison

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