Fashion in Film: The British Film Annual 1949

I picked up a copy of The British Film Annual: 1949 from a charity shop this afternoon and couldn't wait to share some images with you all. Period cinema and film-related literature is a great way to get inspiration for vintage styles, and for the couple of pounds I paid this book does not disappoint. This book was put out by British newspaper The Daily Mail, in connection with the National Film Awards.

The book has a couple of pages each dedicated to a total of 54 films released in the previous year, with black and white and colour images. There are screen shots, studio portraits and promotional images. I've picked out a selection of my favourites to show you.

Valerie Hobson as Blanche Fury

Greta Gynt as Pat Parsons in Easy Money

Young actress Hazel Court

Jean Simmons as Ophelia in Hamlet

Anna Neagle as Judy Howard in Spring In Park Lane

There are, of course, some beautiful hats being worn.

Margaret Lockwood

Beatrice Campbell as Edie in My Brother Jonathan

Greta Gynt as Wenda in The Calendar

Of course, you can't have 1940s fashion without some novelty prints!

Sally Ann Howes in a beautiful leaf-motif dress.

Sheila Sim in The Guinea Pig

Paula Valenska in a beatiful leaf print with contrast collar.

Haslam System of Dresscutting: Two Books of Draftings

These two treasures are my recent covetous eBay win. As much as I am meant to be saving for Christmas buys, these come up so rarely I just couldn't hold back. There were a good twenty plus books listed as separate lots, something for which I am very grateful, and I allowed myself two. I bid on a few of them, but these were the two I came away with: books number 9 and 21. Though they have no dates they will most likely be late '40s.

If you haven't come across the Haslam systems before, it was designed as a three part drafting system, requiring a chart of your measurements, a special drafting curve/template, and a set of draftings like these. Having finally got to see the draftings for myself, however, you could easily draft these pattern up without the chart or the template, as they are very thorough with the measurements on the diagrams. The original curve templates do come up on eBay occasionally, though they can be hard to find amongst listings as people so rarely know what they are if they are found out of context. Alternatively, I came across this blog post, where you can download a PDF version to print at home! I love the generosity of the blogging community.

Book number 9 is for "Lingerie: with blouses, skirts, overalls and maternity wear".

There are several dressing gowns and house robes

Nightdresses...

Pyjamas...

And lots of lingerie, including slips, bras and different styles of knickers.

I love the pockets of this skirt, and the blouse is a classic 1940s style:

There are also some maternity styles including dresses and smock tops. This lovely swing jacket would be beautiful for non-maternity wear too- it looks so comfy!

 

Book number 21 is for "Spring and Summer" wear, and has pages of full colour illustrations in addition to the black and white sketches.

The ruffled peasant dress is so feminine and sweet.

Beautiful scalloped details. I'm also in love with the simple shawl collar and clean silhouette of the pink dress below: I'll be on the hunt for some winter fabric to make this one up soon I think.

Suits and coats. My favourite is the ruffled peplum design on the pink jacket.

Home Notes, September 1947- Free patterns

These are a few pages from a copy of Home Notes dated September 19th, 1947, including a couple of sewing and knitting pattern freebies.

I love the striped dress the girl on the cover is wearing- so bright and cheery!

Free drafting instructions for a basic short sleeved evening sweater, to be sewn in silk boucle. This pattern would make a great starting point for adaptation to so many forties styles.

The only coloured printing inside is reserved for these two adverts for mail-order patterns and fabric cut-out kits. The short sleeved blouse is certainly catching my eye!

And finally a free pattern for a "Two-way Cardigan Jumper", knit in a zig-zag ribbing with a high neckline and choice of sleeve lengths.

Butterick Fashion News, August and September 1940

As promised, two more Fashion News leaflets from Butterick. These two are from August and September of 1940.

August 1940

September 1940

 

Butterick Fashion News, March 1940

I received a lot of six Butterick Fashion News booklets in the post this morning, all from 1940/41. I'll split them up over two or three posts, but today I have spring fashions from March 1940.

More to come in a day or two! (Hopefully those will all load the right way up- literally no idea why some of these have rotated themselves!)