I just cannot believe my luck lately! Look what I found while thrifting!
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| Look at the fabulous bewinged hat! |
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| Evening silk gowns with fur or lace trim. |
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| The coat on the right has 25(!) buttons. You wouldn't want to be in a hurry while buttoning those. |
These are four issues of Nordisk Mønster Tidende, or Nordic Pattern Times, published late winter of 1919 in Norway, Denmark, Finland and Sweden. This weekly magazine was first published in Denmark in 1874, by the danish gentleman Carl Aller and his wife Laura. It was a huge success, and after only two months, even the Royal Danish court was on the subscribers list!
Over the next 20 years business expanded to Sweden and Norway, and was the first magazine in Scandinavia to have a front cover printed in color, in 1892. It even excist today as Femina in Denmark and Sweden, and KK in Norway, and still remain one of the most influential womens magazines in Scandinavia.
After what I have been able to find out, these these printed issues are quite rare nowadays. I would love to own more of them.
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| Everyday (!) wear for the young ladies, and some underthings for the mature. |
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| I really like those pleated coats (left). Lots of fabulous fur collars too. |
I am in total awe over these issues. The details in the illustrations are magnificent, and the vast number of patterns issued every week is astonishing. Each magazine is like a pattern catalog, but there are about five free sewing patterns included in a nested pattern sheet. There is also a weekly menu, complete with recipes, lots of tips for the household, different craft projects in embroidery, crochet, lace and even tatting. This is quite surprising to me, considering the end of WW1 was just months ago. It seemed that the effects of years of war was mostly seen in the kitchen. When reading through the menues, you get the feeling that it was slim pickings.
Also very interesting to see the incredibly complex craft patterns described as quick and easy!!
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| Easy lace for a chemise neckline. |
It would seem like these magazines were for the Lady of a certain standard, with housemaids and enough time and money on her hand to fill her days with embroidery and tatting :) And pattern shopping! I wish one could still order these patterns, just look at all these beautiful coats!
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| Pleated walking suit. I adore that jacket! |
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| Lovely young maidens in their winter attire. |
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| Silk and fur in abundance. Buttons and pleats, too! |
I love flicking through these issues, looking at what was the high fashion this year. It is amazing to see all the little details of the outfits. Decorative pleating, buttons, lace inserts and trims in different materials. Every pattern is described in the catalog, stating what materials are needed and yardage. There's also line drawings of every model.
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| Such lovely underthings :) |
Although this is not an era I would necessarily copy for my own everyday wardrobe, there is loads of inspiration to be found in these images. I am also inspired by the effort that went into every garment in these times. Just a simple thing like a short underbodice or a chemise, was elaborately decorated and just stunningly gorgeous. I would feel like a queen everyday if my underwear drawer was filled with things like these!
I hope you found these images inspiring!
