And so we reach the end of our Christmas countdown. Merry Christmas, everyone!
Lest we think that the 1970s were all polyester pantsuits and denim jeans, here is an evening dress in the grand manner from 1973. It was made by Detlev Albers in Berlin.
DETLEV ALBERS, BERLIN
Distinguished evening dress with long fringed shawl made of pure silk.
Continuing our Christmas countdown, we take a look at a gala evening dress from 1953. In some ways the 1950s was a backward-looking decade, with fashions leaning towards old-fashioned formality, femininity and glamour. However, it was also the first decade to fully make use of modern easy-care synthetics for clothing. The dress below illustrates this paradox beautifully. It would not look out of place in Victorian ballroom, but it's made of nylon!
Evening beauty in nylon. Atrima from Harrods.
If party dresses in the 1920s were youthful and exuberant, evening dresses in the 1930s were slinky and sophisticated. Here is a glamorous duo from 1933, depicted at "An evening at the casino".
ROBE en organdi ave petit collet à volants. La robe simple, décolletée avec bras nus, est garnie d'une ceinture en ruban drapé et noué sur le côté. Jupe à deux volants trѐs amples superposés. La cape est mobile et peut s'enlever à volonté.
[Organdy DRESS with small ruffled collar. The simple, low-cut dress with bare arms is trimmed with a draped ribbon belt tied at the side. Skirt with two very loose, superimposed ruffles. The cape is mobile and can be removed at will.]
ROBE en crépe Georgette vert jade. Corsage orné de découpes symétriques devant et derriѐre. Petit effet de col berthe. Robe de forme princesse, trѐs large du bas. Echarpe de mousseline imprimée.
[DRESS in jade green Georgette crepe. Bodice decorated with symmetrical cutouts at the front and back. Small berthe collar effect. Princess-shaped dress, very wide at the bottom. Printed muslin scarf.]
As the festive season kicks off and we all start celebrating, I thought it would be a good time to look at the party clothes we wore in years past. First up, some dresses from Butterick in 1923:
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4883—For Holiday dances this slip-over dress which drapes around the figure and is held in front by a hand-made chou, is lovely in moire, crȇpe satin, plain crȇpes, satin crȇpe, lace, etc. The straight skirt is joined at a low waistline.
4851—A slip-over dress of chiffon velvet, crȇpe satin, satin crȇpe, plain or printed silk crȇpe, or crȇpe de Chine, printed silks or lace has a two-tiered straight skirt with drapery and joined at a low waistline. It closes under the left arm and the long body lining has a camisole top.
4899—A full, straight skir with either five or three rows of trimming gives the tiered effect to this slip-over dress with a draped basque which has an armhole in two depths. It closes under the left arm and the skirt joins a slightly long underbody with a camisole top. There may be a straight drop skirt. Use moire or taffeta with lace edging frills and a hand-made ribbon bow and flowers, etc.
