Two Versions of McCall Style News (from September 1947)

 As it happens I own two editions of McCall Style News from September 1947: the US edition and the Australasian edition.  One looks forward to a northern autumn, the other to a southern spring, and each version offers us a different selection of seasonally appropriate patterns.

First the cover.  The US edition features a long sleeved overblouse, perfect for cooler days and lengthening nights.

The Australasian version, on the other hand, features a short-sleeved dress in anticipation of warmer weather.  

Most of the inside pages of the US pamphlet are taken up by dresses.  These two are typical examples.  In design they are a modified version of Dior's recently released "New Look".  Skirts are a bit longer and fuller (but not to "New Look" extremes) and waists are slightly indented, but shoulder pads are still worn.  It seems American home dressmakers were not prepared to copy the excesses of Parisian fashion designers!

The pattern descriptions make much of the necklines of these models, and once again, note the long sleeves.  These dresses were designed for wearing in cooler weather.

To be worn over the dresses: two coats.  McCall's 6993 and 6982 with back flares.  No. 6993 comes with a hood, and it's "smart" to wear no. 6982 with the collar up.

On the other side of the world, the Australasian edition of McCall Style News also featured lots of dresses.  On the left is no. 6909—"Silk Suit-Dress... so useful, and cooler than a real suit".  In the centre no. 6900—"Flaring Skirt... with pockets that give you the new rounded hip look."  At right, no. 6913—"Tunic Drapery... A flattering woman's design".

There were no coats illustrated in the Australasian edition of this pamphlet.  The editors gave us a page of separates instead—two shirts with full sleeves (one plain, one trimmed with lace) and a selection of pleated skirts.

From the US: a skating costume zipped up the front...

... While in the southern hemisphere, we are offered clothes for days in the sun.  The outfit on the left is a tennis costume, and the illustration on the right depicts a skirt that could be worn over it to turn it into a "sports dress".  In the centre is a bathing suit—"side buttoned, worn over trunks.  Drawstring bra, halter straps that tie in a bow in the back."  The recommended material for the trunks is wool jersey.  It almost seems too elaborate for a day at the beach—personally I wouldn't like to swim in it!