Bead Coiffure - 1865

This beautiful woman was in the 1865 Lady's Friend Magazine. She is showing her "Bead Coiffure". Imagine the elaborate work, not only with the beads, but weaving them into her hair. Lovely.

Aprons - Glamorous and Practical

McCall's Needlework & Crafts magazine from 1956 shows apron patterns worthy of your time. The Bavarian style asks for a lot of cross stitching. But the iron-on roses are easier and the pattern makes up for "mature figures". 

Gearest Rain Gear Going - 1966

The Ladies' Home Journal in 1966 gave some groovy advice for your next raincoat! 

Restoring, Renewing, Restyling Sweaters in 1942

"Making over the old and discarded into new and useful articles a stimulating, profitable and patriotic experience, growing in interest with each achievement."
This is from the Singer Make-Over Guide published in 1942 and 1943, during World War II. But the ideas and skills work for today too.  Have you upscaled a sweater? Here's how. 

A Household Treasure for every Fashion-wise Woman

In 1954 the Craft House catalog showed you how their new Pearl and Rhinestone Setter "makes studding your garments with exciting sparkle and glamour more enjoyable than ever."
So get out there and stud! 

They Keep Your Trousers Trim From Every Angle

"Trousers are more securely fastened with Lightning zips" and goodness knows we all want that. So check your slider pull for the name "Lightning"! 

Two Cases Of Good Husbandry

So when's the last time you saw an ad that quoted Virgil? 

(Don't miss that the shirts have an "eternal air of correctness", and that the pyjamas add "a lot to the pleasure of sleeping" and "If It Shrinks We Replace"!)

"Good Husbandry (the first of blessings, according to Virgil's Georgics) is to know how to separate wheat from chaff: how to select sound stock: how to choose good things that last well."
 "Like many of the best things of life - claret, wood and leather are examples - Clydella does more than last well: it improves with age: it weathers. This is a good reason for buying shirts, and pyjamas, in Cydellas."

"Clydella Town-and-Country Shirt"
"These are also weekend and everyday, winter and summer shirts. They have no close season. They are smooth, slightly on the lightweight side: hence their eternal air of correctness. They are made in a good range of close checks, dogstooth such as you see here, and plain colours. 49/6

"Cydella Pyjamas"
"These have a softness and lightness - and yet a great warmth - that adds a lot to the pleasures of sleeping. They may be had in both flamboyant and discreet stripes and in good straight colors. 59/6 Your usual store should have their Autumn stocks in now."

Century - Old Fabrics

In the February issue of Theatre Arts Monthly in 1929 we find an ad for Old Arts. G. O. Neddrie offering Century Old Fabrics.

 "Embroideries, velvets, brocades and damasks of the the XV to XVIII Centuries from the looms and cloisters of France, Spain, Italy, Flanders and England in Gothic, Renaissance and the designs of the masters during XVII and XVIII Century. Fabrics that will lend warmth and color to any room in the inimitable shadings that only age can impart."

I thought this might have been aimed at stage set designers or for costumes. But then I read the next part and I think they were advertising to the upscale folks who were around the theatre. 

"These fabrics are also ingeniously adapted to modern utilities: Book Ends, Picture Frames, Paper Baskets, Cigarette Boxes, Humidors, Cushions, Wall Hangings, Table Runners, Boudoir Boxes"

So now I am heart broken to think of how many priceless fabrics were made into Cigarette Boxes.
(I wasn't able to find out more about G. O. Niddrie, but it was a very prestigious address. Any of you know more?)