Harper's Bazaar, November 1947

This roomy winter coat adorns the cover of the British edition of Harper's Bazaar, but as the country was still very much in the grip of clothes rationing it is doubtful that many women were able to afford a garment like this.  Life must have been difficult for glossy publications like Harper's Bazaar during the forties: devoted to fashion, frivolity and conspicuous consumption they found themselves in a world very short of all these commodities.  Still, their readership could always dream.   This issue contained lots of fashions in the style of Dior's New Look - glamorous and not-quite obtainable!

Golden Hands, July 1975

Oh, what typically '70s trousers! High-waisted and tight at the top, they flare out until they almost cover the wearer's feet at the bottom.  They are worn with a blouse with a pussy-cat bow - a style that remained a conservative staple for work or daytime formal wear through the 1980s.

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!