{Style Inspiration} 1939 Spring Fashions

Yes, I'm back from my little unplanned absence, which was due to slight technical hitch (my laptop power supply went kaputt! Luckily the computer is just fine, I just couldn't switch it on til the replacement arrived). To celebrate, I bring you some fabulous pre-war early spring style inspiration from Vogue magazine, 1939. I love the incredibly detailed trend report for 1939's spring suits.




Some suits come in a wave of colour - lipstick-red jersey, for instance. An amethyst tweed suit chimes in perfectly with the grey hair of older women. Or you might mix colours - putting a cinnamon jacket with a black skirt, or a corn-yellow jacket with a navy-blue skirt. Grey is a colour that's heralded for spring - and, as a deviation from grey, try a pink-and-grey plaid jacket with a grey skirt. Plaid-and-plain is a strong contender, perhaps a blue-and-white plaid jacket with a blue skirt. Navy-blue and black are eternal.


Architecturally, spring suits are up to no freakish antics, but every one of them will give you something new to think about. Shoulders are strong, but not bombastic. Revers fairly high. Closings often hidden away under fly-flaps. A newcomer in neck-lines is the oval one shown [below]. Square neck-lines prosper. Jackets are mostly short - boxy boleros, or nipped-in basques. Here and there, a long jacket turns up - happiest choice for an older woman. Skirts stay quite short, and range from plumb-line straight ones to full, pleated or gathered ones. The skating-skirt carries on.


The trend report is even supplemented by a handy guide to the fashionable fabrics of the season. There are accessories too, but I'll save those for a future post.

{Vintage Kitchen} Sausage Cobbler (1947)

It seems like most of my Vintage Kitchen recipes so far have been from 1947 - I'm not sure particularly why, since I've consulted my entire collection of magazines for recipes.


This week I served up "sausage cobbler", which is in fact actually Toad in the Hole by a slightly more country-cottage-chic name.


I made it exactly as directed, using spicy beef sausages from the local butcher instead of pork. And obviously not in a Yorkshire pudding tin. And do you know what? It was delicious. I'm actually slightly surprised how good all the recipes I've tried so far have turned out to be - most of them are great storecupboard stand-bys, and in fact I've already made the fishcakes again since (using smoked mackerel fillets - worked great). This recipe is another that's headed onto the to-make-again list - it's dead easy, requires almost no preparation and makes great winter comfort food - the only thing I'd do differently is to caramelise the onions a bit first to add a little more flavour.

London Town

A while back I was contacted by Swagger & Swoom to ask if I would be interested in one of their bow ties or cravats. They sell a vast selection of silk and cotton bow ties in both self-tie and pre-tied, and a wide variety of cravats in traditional silk paisleys, wool tartans and more - as well as other gentlemen's accessories including braces, handkerchiefs, cummerbunds, cufflinks, and some rather snazzy socks.

With so much choice I found it difficult to narrow down my selection, but eventually opted for the London Icons design.


I didn't think I could carry off the Marlene Dietrich androgynous look, so rather than wear it the traditional way I lengthened the adjustable straps and wore the bow tie as a headband. I like repurposing items and finding new ways to wear them. I mean, I know it's hardly revolutionary, but it's good to remind oneself to think outside the box when accessorising - whether it's a scarf for a belt, a brooch as a buckle, or a bow tie as a headband.


Printed cotton bow tie (worn as headband), Swagger & Swoon; Wool cardigan, estate of a family friend; vintage cashmere sweater, charity shop; 90s skirt, charity shop; Belt, can't remember (car boot or charity shop); Gloves, Tesco; Shoes, from my own shop stock (some sizes still available - enquire if interested).


Do you have a top tip for outside-the-box accesorising?

Think Pink

Oh yeah, so I have pink hair now. I had actually envisaged a more pastel pink shade, but I wanted it done for the Vintage Mafia Valentine party at the weekend and didn't have time to order online, so I thought I'd give this shocking pink a whirl since it was what was available on the high street. I confess I'm not altogether convinced on the wisdom of the idea - I think I may have gone a bit overboard on the size of the section. I suppose I had hoped it would give me an instant effortless cool. It hasn't. But I think I like it all the same.


This is one of my very favourite dresses, and I've shown it here a few times. Sadly the delicate rayon fabric is starting to show strain at the shoulders. I've reinforced it with iron-on interfacing and darned over, but I try not to wear it too much - tough when it's so damn adorable! Unfortunately it's one of the major problems with vintage clothing, and aficionadoes are faced with a dilemma, our loyalty divided between a duty of care to preserve vintage and antique clothing, weighing against a desire to wear them and enjoy them and bring life to them.


1940s dress, ebay; Sash, made by me; Necklace, car boot sale; Gloves, Spitalfields vintage fair; Crochet tights, New Look; Shoes, Clarks via charity shop.


So... what do you think of the hair? (another outfit post coming soon)

And how do you feel about wearing delicate vintage clothing?

{Vintage Kitchen} Fish Pancakes (1947)

Today's recipe is in honour of shrove Tuesday, pancake day! I promise it tastes a whole lot nicer than it looks - unfortunately my food photography skills could do with some work. The recipe came from a 1947 magazine, which also helpfully provided instructions for pancake making.

I used tinned red salmon (which made it all a pretty pink colour) and added peas. I didn't have any prawns. Not much else to add except it was very yummy!

Because I'm basically a total novice in the kitchen (I know, how bad is that? I can bake, but actual food is a bit beyond me - hence this series) and don't even know how to make a white sauce, I consulted another magazine - this one from 1942 - for instructions.

{Style Inspiration} Eastern Promise

In honour of Chinese New Year, here are some beautiful vintage Chinese adverts and posters dating from the 1930s to 1950s - I love that in some the girls are dressed in traditional style Chinese clothing, and in others western fashions.