1940s style suits - YouLookFab Forum

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1940s style suits

Sally

Veteran

Ever since a colleague of mine wore one, I have lusted after a wool fitted 1940s skirt suit.. I'd really like to try that style with a pair of pumps. Everytime I look for the style I find dowdy types in thrift shops. I have thought of two ideas...get a suit with the right material and try and get it altered or get someone to make a new suit for me. I can't find anything I want online and I think for something like that I really need a good fit so online is risky. what is a good way to get something like that?

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19 replies

Latest reply was from Sally

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

Have you looked at ReVamp Vintage?

http://www.revampvintage.com/m....._Code=W40s

They are not cheap but they are supposed to be very good!

Sally

Veteran

Hi
that is exactly what I'm looking for...
http://www.revampvintage.com/m.....e=W40s.but as i live in Nz was hoping to find something closer to home.

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Sally, do you have a good seamstress around? You could maybe find something that is dowdy, but can be altered to suit your wishes? Just a thought...

Sally

Veteran

Yeah that was a thought of mine initially....I thought it might be cheaper than starting from scratch. I have moved cities so will have to scout out a good alterations person...there are heaps advertising. I am going to scout around the thrift shops for a tweed suit.

Fruitful

Veteran

This is not New Zealand, but is closer to home: http://www.goldenagevintage.co.....mages.html

She blogs too:
http://gatsbyandme.blogspot.com/

anne

Veteran

Fruitful - they are gorgous!
great to hear from another Aussie, BTW

Sally

Veteran

WOW Thanks Fruitful. I think I will contact her and find out about costs etc. What a wonderful site.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Look at a site called stopstaring.com too.

rosee

Veteran

Check out your local public library for a book in the series called "Dover Everyday Fashions" for 1940s. It's basically reprinted pages from old Sears catalogues for each decade since the 1900s. There are several 1940s suits from the war period and post-war period, and it shows how the style changed. (The prices are a hoot -- $2.99 for shoes, etc.). I currently have them out and am renewing them from my local library.

Also, for fun, check out: Glamour Daze -- a great vintage website.

http://glamourdaze.blogspot.co.....-code.html

http://glamourdaze.blogspot.co.....-late.html

http://glamourdaze.blogspot.co.....ow-to.html

http://glamourdaze.blogspot.co.....drobe.html

http://glamourdaze.blogspot.co.....drobe.html

>> "The color of fashion in the early 1940's went to war as well, with patriotic nautical themes and dark greens and khakis dominating the color palates, though some morning dresses had bright floral shades.
After the war, colour became a feature once more, with shocking feminine primary colors becoming the rage, as exemplified by the glossy Vogue Covers."

It is possible to find a modern suit and tweak it slightly to have a 1940s style: just look for a shorter to hip-length jacket that is slender cut with slightly larger shoulders (but not 80s shoulders, that would be way too big), and a slim a-line skirt. I have a suit I bought a few years ago that has a slight 40s vibe, especially with the right accessories.

Fruitful

Veteran

Anne, I didn't realise you're an Aussie too! *waves*

Sally, I'd love to hear how you go. I doubt that it'd be cheap, but she seems like someone who puts a lot of care into her work and authenticity. I notice she uses tweeds and cottons whereas some of the other sites use more rayon/stretch materials. I also like her focus on everyday vintage, while some other repro businesses are all about pinup looks (I love pinup looks, just not exclusively!).

I actually happened to walk past her the other day in the street. I got very excited and blurted out the only thing I could think of: "Blog love!" then I hurried on. It actually came out as more of a shout unfortunately! ^_^,

Patty

Veteran

Let us know how this goes!!!!!

Fruitful

Veteran

rosee, I am bookmarking that blog to peruse at my leisure. Love the expression "matron's bulge"; and those shoes - be still my heart!

Sally

Veteran

Thanks for the all the websites.....its great to see that there are many people making this vintage stuff. Thanks Rosee for all the info on dressing in that era. It is fascinating ...dont know if I'd be authentic enough to go and get the undergarments.

@fruitful....great that you saw her in the street....love the comment 'bloglove.' I love her blog too.....so authentic...she really lives the dream or the era!. I am going to look at the cost of getting something done by her. Almost worth a trip to Melbourne...it is one of my favourite cities!

suzanne

Have you thought about buying a vintage vogue pattern and having the suit made to your specific measurements? I don't know if it's something that you've been having problems with, but whenever I try on authentic vintage clothing I look terrible because I'm so much taller and broader than ladies were 50+ years ago. The vintage patterns really help!

rosee

Veteran

When you get your suit, consider shoes from this source (or similar):

http://remixvintageshoes.com/

I haven't ordered from them yet, but I have read many reviews that they are very comfortable (you might need to size up for most pairs, check the measurements). I have a few pairs bookmarked for when I take the plunge.

Sally

Veteran

@Suzanne I guessed that might be the case. The suit my colleague had was vintage inspired and she thought it would be hard to wear an actual vintage suit as our bodies are different these days.

@Fruitful. I contacted the person you mentioned. It would cost $700 for the whole product, measurements , fabric and postage. Definitely an investment piece and she does appear to take a lot of care. I am going to think hard about it. The other thing is I dont know if it would suit me without wearing one. All the models wearing them appear long and slim and not full busted. I think I wouuld suit an A-line skirt rather than a pencil one.

@Rosee I"m swooning over the shoes....gorgeous.

Fruitful

Veteran

Sally, I reeled when I saw that price! Not that it's unreasonable, just too much for me - I'd definitely be experimenting with something cheaper first, too.

Perhaps you do look better in an A-line (I don't know), but I think of large busts and pencil skirts as going together (very Jane Russell) and is why I (with my small bust and laarge booty) avoided them for years!

If you make it to Melbourne, time permitting, we could have a YLF meet! I'm sure there's more of us around.

Fruitful

Veteran

OT but when I Googled Jane Russell just now I found out she died this March aged 89

http://www.abc.net.au/news/sto.....151835.htm

Sally

Veteran

Fruitful. I couldn't spend $700 unless I knew it was perfect and a real investment piece. I think I will look for cheaper options. Its not something I"m desperate for.

Yeah an Australasian meet up would be great. I've only been to Melbourne twice because my mum is from Queensland and I have family there. Its as cheap to go to Australia than to travel down to the South Island.