Flair, 1956

And here we have the Australian version of Flair. This issue celebrates the Melbourne Olympics of 1956.   By all accounts it was a simpler time: the opening ceremony was less a spectacular than an actual ceremony, and it was much easier to get in to see the events!  

Elegance, August 1967

Elegance was the title given to the Australian and New Zealand edition of Flair, which was published in London.  This should not be confused with Flair which was published in Sydney - no doubt why the London Flair was called Elegance in Australia!

Whatever.   It certainly doesn't stop the models on the cover being very mod and up to the minute - and while they aren't exactly "elegant" they certainly epitomise Swinging London!

Delineator, May 1933

This pretty outfit was drawn by Dynevor Rhys and designed for the Delineator by Goupy, "a Paris house that specialize[d] in garden party frocks".   The dress was "made in pink organza (silk organdy) with a belt of black velvet ribbon" and the hat was made from "fine Italian straw".



Celanese, 1960

These leaflets were included in an insert in the Summer 1960 issue of McCall's Pattern Fashions.  They were intended to advertise the latest "Celanese" materials available to home dressmakers - as made up in McCall's patterns.  The evening dress above is made in "leaf-printed satin of pure Celanese acetate", while the suit below is made of "Fabrex flannel of Arnel tricatetate and rayon".

Butterick Pattern Book, Summer 1954

These ladies are the picture of '50s domesticity in their summer cottons.  The photographer has even posed them behind a white picket fence!

Australian Home Journal, February 1942

Included in this issue of The Australian Home Journal were patterns for three "frocks" (including one shirtwaist, a fashionable mid-century standby).  Clothes rationing had yet to be introduced in Australia, and the dresses are cut on noticeably more generous lines cut than they would be a couple of years later in the war.

National Suit & Cloak Company, Summer 1912

Goodbye 2011!  And Hullo, 2012.  In honour of the New Year, I'm posting a page from the National Suit & Cloak Co.'s summer 1912 catalogue.  All the suits you see pictured above were made-to-measure, and cost the buyer from $13.50 for the cheapest suit in the cheapest material, up to $31.50 for the most expensive suit made in black satin!