Musings from Marilyn

Posts Tagged ‘fashion’

I found this vintage 1961 Advance sewing pattern for a Barbie Doll Wardrobe, and wow, is it ever fabulous!  The pattern is licensed by Mattel (makers of Barbie) and includes 6 super stylish fashions.   I was struck by how very Mad Men these styles are, and how Barbie was always on the forefront of fashion from the very beginning.  I could definitely see Joan or Betty in these!

The designs are for a:

1. Sun Dress – with poufy petticoat attached.
2. Oriental Sheath – wiggle glamour!
3. Strapless Party Dress – fab poufy evening gown.
4. Oriental Kimono – fashionable wrap-around.
5. Sports Separates – tennis, anyone?
6. Coat – this is the bomb.
7. Panties – oh yes, the panties; can’t forget the panties!

This particular pattern is kind of poignant because it looks like the original seamstress was somehow interrupted in the middle of making the doll wardrobe.  Most of the tissue pattern pieces have been cut and carefully refolded.  However, there is one pattern where it includes some black satin fabric cut and pinned to the pattern pieces.  They never got around to finishing it up.

I like seeing vintage patterns that were actually used.  Many include notes, calculations, fabric swatches,  and magazine clippings; a somewhat more intimate peek into a certain part of their life.  I even found a pair of really sharp small scissors in one pattern, which I use every day.  Sometimes they can be a treasure trove.

What is interesting about this pattern is that it is geared toward young girls doing the sewing of this Barbie wardrobe for their doll.  Folksy step-by-step instructions, with lots of helpful advice and pleas to “ask your mother” if you run into difficulty.  This was a time when most women sewed and girls were taught the basics of sewing in Home Ec classes; there was a general assumption that most females had sewing knowledge.  My mother was an excellent seamstress and sewed most of her wardrobe, and for me and my sister.  I was required to take Home Ec classes growing up in the 60s and 70s.  I did learn to sew, but it never “took” for me and I gave it up.  I do, however, appreciate those who do sew.  I love vintage sewing patterns and have quite a big collection of them.  They are a valuable scrapbook of vintage homemaking fashion history.  And in the words of Advance Patterns:  “Sew Now….Have Fun”. 

~Marilyn Huttunen

It’s been just over a week since the lovely royal wedding of Kate and William.  I thoroughly enjoyed the wedding; thought it was sheer perfection, not over the top with that fairy tale imagination that makes me want to barf.  You see, I think that Kate is secretly a practical fashionista.  But I think that her down-to-earth, decidedly un-fairy princesslike practicality is revealing itself pretty quickly.

They only had a quick weekend honeymoon, and then it was back to the military for William, and back to being a military housewife for Kate.  This was quite impressive to me.  I actually think honeymoons are highly overrated, especially after a royal wedding.  I’m sure with all the pomp, circumstance, and intense media attention for months on end, going back to their small home on the island of Anglesey must have felt incredibly freeing.  I feel that just getting back to some semblance of normal (or as normal as royals can get) is a great start to a marriage.

Then we see the pictures of Kate grocery shopping!  How ‘normal’ can you get?  Yup, pretty much all of us grab that shopping cart (or trolley) every week and do the mundane task of shopping for groceries.  Of course, she looks fabulous, even while doing a decidedly housewifely task.  Dressed in French Sole ballet flats, Hudson skinny jeans, long-line white cashmere sweater (jumper) and a green frilled shrug shawl – she looks incredibly chic.

It will be a delight to follow Kate’s escapades in the years to come.  If they are more of the commonplace variety, all the better.  We need more practical levelheadedness in this world.  And if she looks stylish while doing so, it will give us all a kick in the pants to make an effort to look good while running around doing errands.

Even though you are a royal princess, Kate, I admire your willingness to jump into the daily flow of everyday life with a smile on your face.  And from one Practical Fashionista to another, I say: Good on you! 

~Marilyn Huttunen