Fashion History - Ladies' Fashion Designs of the 1930's With Pictures
Historical and Cultural Influence on Fashion of the 1930's
Here are the historic fashion design trends of 1932. The pictures of these vintage dress styles were offered to the readers of the Ladies Home Journal in May of 1932. Most of the fashions illustrated were for dress patterns as many women of the Great Depression made their own clothing.
The world, then, was deep into the grip of the Great Depression. It was a terrible time with a 25 % unemployment rate. People who did work often had their hours and pay reduced. Others worked harder for less pay. Tent cities and shanty towns grew in areas around the country where refugees looked for work. Nearly half the banks in the United States failed, and withdrawals even at safe banks were often restricted due to the fear of bank runs.
Fashion design moved toward simpler lines to reflect the simpler lives of the public. However, there was a great interest in the glamor of the wealthy as well as in the glamor portrayed by Hollywood. People dreamed of the luxurious past, but lived with a new economic severity.
The magazine displayed the types of clothing that regular middle class women appreciated. Just like the middle class magazines of later years, LHJ portrayed the kinds of fashion designs that most women might actually wear or hope to wear - not the expensive, out of reach costumes of the more stylish magazines.
Over the top outfits of the Roaring '20's were in mothballs. Fun, Bohemian inspired clothing trends and extravagant clothing designs went out with the Stock Market Crash. The party was over. Yet the fashions of the 1930's were attractive and feminine and quite beautiful.
Women's fashion design had taken a turn toward cleaner, simpler lines that reflected the new austerity of a bad economy. Notice the limited color featured in the pictures. Magazine ads of the Great Depression showed far less color than they do today as ink was expensive. Most fashion illustrations in magazines showed the clothing in sketch form rather than photographs.
Historic Fashion - The Sleek Silhouette of the Early 1930's
Historic Dress Design of 1932
What to wear in 1932
Paris was the fashion leader of the day and fashionistas declared that the public was in a 'chastened mood,' due to the tanked economy, and no longer wanted extravagance. Simplicity and straight lines were the order of the day with a 'transition from hysterical luxury' toward a more placid existence.
Waistlines were up in 1932 as opposed to the previous year's normal waistlines. Cotton moved from the back porch and was featured in chic town suits.
Recommended popular fabrics included:
crepe de chine
crepe satin
crepe mongol
percale
georgette
plain and printed chiffon
tweeds
In 1932, people wore hats and no ensemble was complete without one. The season's fashionable hats perched on top of the head and were accented with the addition of flowers or bows. Hat brims were narrow, turned down in front and up in the back, and worn at a rakish angle.
As waistlines rose, shoulders broadened with some dresses and suits featuring shoulder pads. The aim was to slenderize with clean, straight lines and a neat, tailored cut to dresses. Some designers approached a 'mannish' look to their clothing lines. Diagonal lines were popular with many of the top fashion designers.
Jackets were short, bolero style in both sportswear and evening wear, though a few suits were shown with longer jackets to slenderize.
The dress patterns offered suggested the appropriate age for wearing the outfits but most were for ages 14 - 20. After age 20, what was a gal to wear? No answer to this question was presented.
The wordage used to describe fashion was a bit different in those days. The word 'frock' was often used instead of the word, 'dress.' And if the outfit was supposed to be worn for good times and fun, it was referred to as 'gay.'
Evening gowns were often mentioned. Even middle class women wore evening gowns back then. A popular look for evening wear was modern Grecian, a classic, yet romantic look with dresses cut on the bias creating a sleek elegance.
Historic Fashion Design - 1932
Hisotric Dress Patterns of the 1930's
The lovely gray outfit at the right looks like a suit but is a one piece dress with the high waist typical of 1932 fashion design. The red scarf offers a jaunty note to the clean lines of this attractive frock. Pattern design by Shiaparelli.
The black dress with a red belt is by Bruyere of tailored chiffon. The crossed bands accentuate the diagonal, a slenderizing touch.
Notice that both models wear hats, dur rigueur for the well dressed woman of the time.
Historic Fashion Design of The Great Depression
Sportswear - 1932
The gray dress at right features a loose, draped collar and a popular new accessory, a soft, crushed scarf. Pattern by Lucille Paray
The red print dress is by Shiaparelli. The slenderizing bodice and diagonal lines accentuated the clean lines and tubular look that was prominent in 1932 fashions. Note the smart buttons added as trim.
Sportswear of 1932
The 4 sportswear dress patterns on the right were featured as 'what to wear when you play.' Suggested fabrics were rough surfaced, ribbed, or nubby.
1) The neckline is high as is the waist. The dress features an interesting, diagonally closed bodice with large buttons. Notice the flared sleeves. By Agnes Drecoll.
2) A simulated bolero jacket with short sleeves combines with box pleats in front to give this dress a jaunty look. By Agnes Drecoll.
3) This attractive suit is great for business, travel, or street wear. Suggested fabrics include silk jersey, or cotton tweed. Notice the longer jacket length and the belled sleeves. By Chantal.
4) The tailored look of this outfit with contrasting bodice and skirt is highlighted by the addition of a scarf that is buttoned down at the waistline. By Lucile Paray.
Fashion Design Circa 1932
Historic Fashion of the Great Depression
The company, Authentic Paris Patterns offered these attractive fashion designs for dresses made with chiffon.
1) This combination of plain and printed fabrics with cap sleeves, a rounded neckline, diagonal seams, and the note of ruffle at the side made this dress both fun and dressy. By Joseph Paquin.
2) This afternoon dress is made of two shades of the same color fabric with a snug bodice and high waistline. By Agnes Drecoll.
3) A printed chiffon with loose collar and a soft, crushed belt by Joseph Paquin.
The picture on the right was not presented as a fashion sketch but as an illustration for a short story.
In 1932, women did occasionally wear trousers for certain activities though not for day to day wear. The young lady looks quite sporty in her jodhpurs, one of the only women featured in the magazine to be shown wearing pants.
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 | Illustrations and instructions for creating dress designs of the 1930's. Amazon Price: $16.95 |
 | More clothing designs from the Great Depression for men, women, and children. Including 300 illustrations from the Sears Catalog. Amazon Price: $18.95 List Price: $29.95 |
Ladies Home Journal, May, 1932
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Comments
alek - I love the fashions of the 1930's and was so excited to find this magazine while rummaging around in my closet. I love the movies of those days too. I'd love to add some old personal pix of my relatives, but they don't scan very well. Thank you!
Hi, Dolores. Since I'm older than dirt, I do remember this era. Although I wasn't old enough to wear this style of dress, I remember my mother and grandmother in them.
I also recall hearing the stir when the movie star, Marlene Dietrich, wore her version of women's slacks that were cut straight and slim like men's pants. Imagine? Women wearing pants! Thanks for the memories.
Fun trip back in time.
I love those styles-- very cool hub!
I love anything about something "old" and "vintage", I found this through your hub. These all good to remind us again how beautiful in the past. Very interesting topic. I love this and Vote Up.
Prasetio :-)
drjb - I think they made a stink about Kathryn Hepburn wearing pants too. But I'm pretty sure that women wore pants occasionally for work and horse back riding and such. I have a few pix of my mother in pants. Thanks!
Thanks, Loria! They may have been tough times, but the outfits were cute!
Carolina - you'd look so cute in one of these frocks, haha. Thank you!
Prasetio - thank you so kindly. I am in a vintage craze myself maybe it's because I am becoming vintage haha!
Great hub. Love those 30's fashions. I often work with people who have wedding photos from this period - I can always spot a 30's wedding from the wedding dress!
I'm loving this, Dolores Like drbj - I was alive then, born in 1932 in fact. Mother and my older sisters wore these styles, of course. My eldest sister, Harriet, was into fashion design and I've run across a few of her own illustrations. My own illustrations of my designs were in the 50s and got lost along the way.
But - I own a treasure trove of original watercolor fashion illustrations from 1936, sent out to a customer in Waco, Texas, from Marshall Fields in Chicago, - for her to select her wardrobe and place her order.
They're exquisite, some even include the actual fabric swatches and most have the price jotted on them. My second eldest sister, Ruth, found them in an antique shop, unframed - along with the letter from the store to the customer. She knew my passion for fashion design and illustration, so got them for me as a gift. I had them framed and they grace my loft-hallway at the top of the stairs, on the wall visible to the living room with its vaulted ceiling. I have a photo on one of my webpages which shows a few of them. I'll put the url on here.
Gorgeous pics and love the video, too! Those are some truly classic dresses and loved the slacks introduction that 'stunned' the world!
Jane - I actually wore a wedding dress from the 1940's. I love the vintage look and could find no dress nearly as pretty as my mother's lace over satin. Thanks!
Nellieanna - I looked at the fashion illustrations in the background of the page you provided a link to. You really should do a hub featuring those old illustrations. They are divine! Thanks for including the great link.
Audrey - Once again, I almost got lost on youtube, and can become obsessed with it. It's so cool that we can share these wonderful videos on our hubs. They really add to the content. Thank you for stopping by!
This is a beautiful hub, and I always love reading about fashion from the 1930's.
What a wonderful idea for an article. I love the vintage fashions. You did a marvelous job of description and the picture are great. I especially liked the lead in. Voted up and awesome.
Sweetie Pie - yes, I love the whole culture of the 1930's - fashions, movies, and music. Thanks for stopping by!
KoffeeKlatchGals - thank you so much, I really appreciate that.
I think that I would wear some of them now if I had the chance.
Sarah - I love those styles of the 1930's. Of course it was a rough time for people, but those ladies who could sew were able to give themselves a bit of a lift, making themselves look so attractive in the sleek dresses.
I remember playing dress up at my granmother's house as a child. She had some of these dresses and shoes we would wear them. Love it. Thanks for bringing back some great memories
Granny that must have been so much fun! I liked the ones with the small prints, my friend's grandmother had a few and I swear she still wore them in the 1960's. Or managed to find dresses just like that! Thanks!
It is always a good idea for us to go back to history and learn how people do things back in the days. We bring these vintage styles out from the past improve or twist it to make something new.
I think it is what fashion designers have been doing every once in a while, get the inspirations,recycling and renew, of what already created long time ago into totally new designs, and they make a living out of it.
Wonderful hub!
Radina - you are so right about how fashions come back. It's cool to see an old style return with a new twist. Thanks!
I love those old styles,I love the fashion of the 1930's.
Thanks for sharing this with us.
Shlowmow - thanks! Glad you like the hub!
Most of them are really cool and beautifully designed.
Today, many designers are repeating these designs with some new experiments. But old is always gold.
10 upon 10 for this hub. Thank you :)
Wow great hub I liked it.
myster!ous - glad you liked the hub. I had a great time putting it together!
tim - I love the sleek, tailored look of these dresses and have always loved 1930's styles. Thanks!
nikitha - thank you!
Beautiful and timeless fashion! Love this hub - thumbs up
Hi Dolores, these pictures are fabulous..as a lover of the the 20's and 30's, I really enjoyed this hub. (thanks for the link by the way)
Cheers
Yeah, the good old times! I love your hub, great job!
steph - thank you! I certainly enjoyed creating this one!
Jane - I love your hub on 1920's fashions. It's so much fun to check out the old looks!
muriah - well they were not the best of times. But there was still an interest in fashion!
Wow, what a neat article! You really can't find much information out there on styles from that era so it makes for an especially interesting read. Nicely done!
We are both interesting in fashion, so this Hub was very interesting for us.
Pat's grandmothers (both born in the 1890s)always dressed in whatever was fashionable. They were both gifted seamstresses (one worked in couture) and made their own clothes. She has photos of both of them in these styles - although one of her grandmother's was really a bit too broad to suit this slim style.
The trousers are also interesting. When the 2nd World War broke out, women in England were called to join the Land Army to take the place of agricultural workers who had gone to fight. Their uniform included trousers very similar to those shown in the photo. We went to an exhibition last year about the Land Army that included films of women now who had been in the Land Army, and many of them said how much they had liked the uniform.
Lender - I wish I had more old magazines. I love this stuff. Thanks!
2 Patricias - cool that you have the old photos of the grandmothers. I have a few from the 19 teens and 20's. My great aunt used to go into fashionable stores, try on the clothes. If she liked an outfit, she would turn it inside out and study it. Then, she'd go home and copy it. The sisters were quite fashionable because of Tonte Dot's talents.
Thanks for stopping in. I guess it was WW2 that really put women in pants. I have an old photo of Bette Davis in pants, from 1934 or so, so it's out of copyright. I should put it on here.
This was fascinating. You put a lot of research into it and was mesmerizing to go back in time to experience how fashion has evolved. Great work!
Dink - glad you liked the hub! I love to look at the way fashion reflects society, it's fascinating.
Fashion nowadays has paved its way not only to those who could afford it but to everyone. We have plus size dresses and we have cheap but fashionable ones. Fashion must be universal and not only limited to those who could afford it. Love your hub Dolores.
jeanie - I think that's always been the case. As I mentioned, these dress styles were patterns for women to make the dresses themselves! Thanks!
Dolores I love this hub. The pictures remind me of those placed on the covers of patterns. My mom was a professional seamstress and she made her own patterns, but if she needed a little inspiration, she would at times, go to the store and look at the pictures of the patterns. That's all she needed to do was look and vualah a beautiful creation was made. My whole childhood I was dressed with these beautiful outfits and I thank God for my mom. BTW neither of us were born in the 30's but the nostalgia of it all brought endearing memories. Also, I just want to thank you for the awesome video. Like I said earlier, daughter of a seamstress you look at every detail on a particular garment. After all Quality is in the details don't you think?
Anyways, thank you again for this wonderful hub. God bless you, Lorena
OMG I just looked at the videos for the second time, this time with volume and you are playing my all time favorite Glenn Miller song, second favorite is Skylark. Thank you again.
lcg - oh, I love Glenn Miller too! I have always admired great a great seamstress. I have a very few photos of my great aunt and grandmother in beautiful clothing my Tone Dot copied from designers back in the 19teens. I'd love to use them in a hub about those days but don't think the pix would scan well - they are rather small. Thank you!
Ah, don't I wish people "dressed" these days. What a wonderful fashion era. Very few occasions to dress this well. I often feel I was born in the wrong decade. I love the clothing, architecture and lifestyle of the past. I absolutely, love hats. I just feel out of place here in Florida, when I do dress up. Informal is nice, but getting dressed up with a matching hat is fun. Thanks for bringing the best of the past, present.
Kim - thank you very much! I often see lovely outfits presented in stores and catalogs but rarely in real life nowadays.
A very well-planned and nicely illustrated hub! I enjoyed it a lot!
extremely nice and beautiful hub! Thanks for sharing!
Very nicely put together hub and about one of my favorite periods in design history. Good job.
THANKS FOR THIS HUB...I LOVE THE CLOTHING FROM BACK IN THE DAYS...FOR BOTH MALE AND FEMALE...VERY CLASSY WARM AND SEXY MAY I ADD..I LOVE HOW IT SHAPED A LADY'S FIGURE WITH SUCH RESPECT. I WISH THAT WAS OUR NOW GENERATION STYLE LOL..I HATE THE PANTS DOWN LOW LOOK. GREAT HUB..
Patrick - thank you for your nice comment.
Moxyl - glad you liked my fashion hub!
Heart - yes, the styles of the 1930's were so classy and I do love that sleek look. Of course you won't see the pants hanging down look in any fashion magazines. Fashion ain't fad. Thank you for your nice comment!
Love looking at fashions form long ago. It amazes me how things come back into style. Good hub
SJ - thanks! Those dresses are attractive!
Great article. This was a very interesting Hub. It is always fun to see how fashion has evolved.
mysisters - thank you - I love checking out historic fashions!
Exquisitely done! I love the fashions and designs from the 1930s and you have showcased some really awesome styles.
Bev - thank you! I love the 1930's styles, so quiet after the crazy styles of the Roaring 20's. 1930's dresses were so sleek and feminine.
The styles of this period were so elegant! It's amazing how far we've come and how the later part of the century we started to shy away from wearing hats.
Ebower - yes, the fashions of the 1930's were so simple yet elegant! And the hat thing? I think a woman looks so finished in a hat. A hat really brings an outfit together. But I can't stand to have one on my head unless it's 20 degrees.
yuor hub is fantastic, though I am not born in the 1930s, I am really fond of the fashion design at that time, so amazing and so elegant!
Very interesting and great pics! I saw it come up on my wall when I published my latest hub. :) Voted up.
jseven - thank you. I love the fashions of the 1930's. Despite the Great Depression, the styles were so elegant!
I am a high school student and I just wanted to say that this was SOOOO helpful!!! Thank you so much for putting this up!
Very interesting hub.Fashion before is unique and very passionate. Thank you for sharing your ideas Ms. Dolores, keep up the good work!
Great styles, especially the pic of the woman in the red dress with the diamond shape in the mid-section. I would love to see my lady wearing something like that. ;)
30's style is really dashing.it can rock at any fashion era
i need info about fashion since the 1930s!! for my article!!!anyway thx!
very pretty pics from the past
Ava - thank you, glad you could use the info!
Mecz - thank you!
Jason - thank you! I love these styles too, very flattering and sleek.
sujata - thank you!
susannah - notice how they all wear hats. Back then, you wouldn't be caught dead dressed up without a hat. Thank you!
jessica - gee, I'd be interested in seeing your article.
shalay - wish I had more. And too bad that the magazine was sort of falling apart, it's gone now. There was really no saving it. Thank you!
Hello Dolores,
Reading this hub is so enlightening. It feels like bringing me back to those very old days that I didn't have any idea of haha. Every detail explained and showed how women and people of before and in general put value on modest dressing, as if there was no room for exposing much skin! I truly wonder how revealing clothes came into view when it all began with something conservative. Change has really a lot to do with things.
I remembered one of my organized fashion shows where I featured long ago clothing and my "volunteer" fashion models were women born in the those years (1930's and 1940's) so it was a show of grandmothers! I was happy realizing I made the right fashion statement at that time. 2003 wasn't that too long ago.
Thank you for this and I'm linking :-). Voted up!
This is a beautiful hub, and I always love reading about fashion from the 1930's.
Tonipet - I love vintage fashion and I imagine that your vintage fashion show was a lot of fun. When I was a teenager, lots of old women still owned some of their old, favorite outfits from the past...so much fun to look at. Thank you!
louromano - thank you!
Welcome always Dolores. Yes the show was all fun as my grandmother models pulled out some of their oldest outfits along with accessories and shoes. Their excitement made all things fun and the six meters runway was filled with lovely grandmas from the past, not to mention their different sizes, heights and styles. You could imagine that fun!
You just made me smile. Thank you too for the warm reply.
All the best!
alekhouse 19 months ago
Love this. I was born in the thirties so, of course, wasn't wearing grown up clothes then. But I have lots of pictures of my mother in this type of dress. My father was a musician so I am very familiar with ther music and the musicians of that time. Thanks, Dolores, for a walk down memory lane.