Paris Couture Evening Gowns - 1936

Today, we'll continue our look at Paris couture from the 1930s with evening gowns from 1936.  Which is your favorite?

Madeleine Vionnet gown with white tulle ruffles.

Maggy Rouff red velvet tunic and skirt.  The tunic is completely smocked.

Elsa Schiaparelli red crepe gown with exclusive print in white.

Jean Patou black crepe with lace yoke and sleeves.

Lucien Lelong midnight blue jersey with gathers at one shoulder.

Weekend Eye Candy - Elsa Schiaparelli, 1936

Earlier this week I posted about Elsa Schiaparelli and her use of plastic zippers in the 30s.  Here is another example from her Fall/Winter line from 1935/36.  The dress on the left is a black wool knit lined in white satin.  The bodice of the dress has a white plastic zipper at the front.  Schiaparelli used the same zippers to decorate the gloves.  Love that belt with the angled buckle!

Vintage Sportswear - 1936

A typical women's riding habit from the 1930s.

When you think of clothing in the 1930s, your mind probably conjures up an image of a tall slender woman wearing a slinky bias cut evening gown. Or maybe you picture her in a floral print tea dress made of a sheer cotton or rayon that floats over a slip. But sportswear was also an essential part of most women's wardrobes. Sweater knits were very popular, as were split skirts and ski pants. Here's a look at some sportswear outfits from 1936.

For hunting and fishing, women wore menswear inspired wool suits with split skirts.

Instead of boots, spats were worn over the shoes to protect the lower legs
when walking in the woods.

A typical ski jacket and pants in heavy wool loden cloth.

Heavy wools like this fell out of favor for skiwear by the 1940s,
as snow tended to clump and stick to the fabric.

That probably wasn't a concern if you could afford fur ski clothes!

Split skirts were also popular for skating, whether on the pavement or the ice.

Here, a suggested outfit for roller skating in New York consisted of a turtleneck sweater, plaid culottes, a matching hat and belt, plaid socks, and suede oxford shoes. Sounds like fun to me!

Look Fabulous From Head to Toe - 1936

In 1936, if you found the perfect dress or suit, your ensemble wasn't complete without the right hat and the smartest shoes. Accessories can still make or break your outfit. Are you paying attention to the details?

Left: Franklin Simon fedora. Sold for $8.95 in 1936 (about $142.00 in today's dollar).
Right: Schiaparelli "Roly-Poly" cap. Sold for $10.00 in 1936 (about $158.00 in today's dollar).

Left: Pandora black doeskin shoe piped in black and gray. Sold for $12.75 in 1936 (about $202.00 in today's dollar).
Right: Stetson Shoe shop suede step-in shoe. Sold for $11.75 in 1936 (about $186.00 in today's dollar).

Left: McCutcheon's navy felt beret with grosgrain trim. Sold for $10.00 in 1936 (about $158.00 in today's dollar).
Right: Rilla Marie black velvet cap with feathers. Sold for $15.00 in 1936 (about $237.00 in today's dollar).


Left: Andrew Geller "Valora" black suede pump with black patent piping. Sold for $10.75 in 1936 (about $170.00 in today's dollar).
Right: Saks Fifth Avenue high cut pump with Cuban heel. Sold for $7.95 in 1936 (about $126.00 in today's dollar).