Peasant Blouses, Dirndl Skirts (Wakes, Spring-Summer 1947-1948)

In the late 1940s "peasant" skirts and blouses became very popular for casual wear.  Usually consisting of dirndl skirts in brightly coloured prints and puff-sleeved blouses that could be worn on or off the shoulders, these outfits were popular for picnics, the beach, and informal daytime parties.

Here are a few examples as advertised by Wakes of Melbourne in 1947:

ELASTIC TOP'D AND CUFF'D BLOUSE in 'Celanese Celshung'.  To sun or show your shoulders by day or night, just slip elastic top to shoulder point.  Sweet puffed magyar sleeves, frill and bow finished.

DANCE WITH THE WIND DIRNDL, TREMENDOUS SKIRT.  Multi-gore skirt with huge hem, fluted drape in Wakes exclusive spotted bow printed cotton linene.  Zip back placket, interlined corselet band.

ROSEBUD BAYADERE BRAIDE ON 'CELSHUNG' ELASTIC TOP PEASANT BLOUSE.  Sun or show off your shoulders by day or night in this launderable peasant blouse.  Elastic too on peasant puff sleeves.

FLORAL BORDER DIRNDL SKIRT.  LAUNDERABLE MULTI-COLOR SPUN RAYON in gay colors to make a peasant skirt with daisy-chain border.  Double waistband, full gathering all-round.

DRAWSTRING COTTON PEASANT BLOUSE.  A fine white cotton banded by boilfast cotton bias.  Wear as illustrated or with suncatching loveliness of bare shoulders.

"SIESTA", SUN-LOVING COTTON DIRNDL.  Exclusive-to-wakes print on colorfast cotton linene.  Lazy old peons drowsing beneath their sombreros, against desert cacti, make a gay border.  Sombreros and little cacti complete the print.  Gathered-all-round dirndl, button waistband, zip placket.

DRAWSTRING BLOUSE, LACE SLEEVES.  A combination of fine cotton lawn and all-over lace.  Wear the cute drawstring neckline high or low.  Oval drawstring back and puffed magyar drawstring sleeves.  Longer tuck-in length.

COLORFAST COTTON CORSELET-WAIST, BOW-BORDERED DIRNDL.  An exclusive-to-Wakes border print, with with color-spotted white bows encircling hem, more tiny bows on skirt and a collection of coin spots.  Many gored skirt with a tremendous width hem.  Lined corselet waist, zip placket at back.