I hereby present a reprieve from "A Week of Vintage Vogue Knitting" for all of my readers who don't know a knitting needle from a crochet hook.
For frugal women living during the Forties and Fifties, a functional wardrobe would often consist of a couple of dresses for the daytime, a couple of dresses for the evening, a few co-ordinating skirts and blouses, a suit and a coat. Period. Well, of course, unmentionables would be added to this list, but as their name implies, they are not to be mentioned and, as such, I have opted to omit them from this post for the sake of modesty. As I do, however, plan on a number of future posts relating to this topic, I will be sure to refer to the subject of such posts as 'knickers" to avoid any confusion.
Hmmm...it appears that I have wandered off my chosen posting path. To continue...
Twice a year, women from this era would choose one or two colours for their seasonal accessories and work their entire wardrobes around them. Yes, this means just a couple pairs of shoes (gazp!) a handbag, gloves and a couple of belts, to be repeated for the spring/summer season and again for the fall/winter.
You don't believe me? Take a peek at this recipe for a "Colourful Coordinated Wardrobe."
There's a lot to be said for the seasonal "Capsule Wardrobe" concept, not the least of which is the minimal strain on one's pocketbook.
Stay with me for a moment...imagine that you have chosen a colour for your spring/summer accessories and that your entire wardrobe consists of the items shown above.
Imagine that you have made all of the garments yourself and that therefore they are all one-of-a-kind and fit you like a glove, hiding the bumps you're not proud of and emphasizing the ones you are proud of.
Imagine how well you care for these garments because so much of you has gone into producing them (a whole lot of blood, sweat and tears if you sew like I do!)
Imagine looking into your closet and knowing that everything co-ordinates. EVERYTHING.
Now...imagine me hanging my head low, realizing that I really, really need to practice what I post. More on my thrifting addiction later. More sewing, less thrifting. That should be my motto for the last half of 2009.
xox
Elle
