Do Your Christmas Shopping Early - 1924

In 1924 the nice people at the Montgomery Ward Company sent out their Fall/Winter catalog to show you everything you could want or need. Here they give you suggestions for Christmas gifts. Choose from watches, rings, silver set, cuff links, pens, clocks and pearls. I would like the beaded bag with tortoise shell frame, thank you very much. 

More 1924 Fashions - Graduation Frocks, Wash Dresses and Clothes for the Younger Generation.

Frocks for Graduation, simple wash dresses and what to put on the children are all addressed in the Good Housekeeping magazine from May, 1924. Remember; "Simplicity should mark the dress for graduation, but the Class Day and Promenade frocks may be more elaborate." (What were Class and Promenade days? And why could they be fancier?)
"Not so many years ago, women who wanted attractive, smart wash dresses had to make them themselves. So it was with children's clothes - only by having them made especially for her could the mother be sure of dainty materials and hand stitchery."
Luckily they go on to explain that you could now find them in shops with well-known trade-marks. So much easier!

In The New York Shops - Fashion and Lingerie Suggestions for 1924

Here we have "Many Suggestions for the Trousseau and Sports Clothes for the Outdoor Girl" from the May, 1924 issue of Good Housekeeping Magazine. There is a focus on "the sports clothes which at this season burst into full bloom as far as cut, coloring and other characteristics go". But it should be noted that "the scarf is delightfully characteristic in red with silver braid, but if one prefers, it may be had in a more conventional old blue and silver braid". But take heart, "in either case the frock is decidedly smart". And that, of course is what we are aiming for.

Then we can't ignore the underthings. "The New York Shops Display Lingerie of Divers Materials and Varied Trimmings".We have charming nightgowns, a costume slip, an envelope chemise, and elaborately embroidered set of drawers, all in "lovely colors".

Bridal Fashions from 1924 - Good Housekeeping

"Bridal Tradition is Embodied in the Picturesque"
How lovely these are, romantic and feminine. Wouldn't these styles be nice see now?

Flapper Era Outfits - 1924 Good Housekeeping

"The summer mode brings soft fabrics, straight lines and bright colors". This Good Housekeeping magazine from May, 1924 tells us "Now that we know the straight silhouette with variations will continue to dominate the mode, a great calm has settled on our souls"
This is also a chance to see what early designers were doing. There is much discussion of the masculine tailoring influence, but there was lots of satin and lace in the evenings. "Fringe is again one of the smart trimmings, but beaded frocks, although still shown more or less in the formal collections, are not quite so popular as they were."

Improvements in Clothing - 1924 Primer of Hygiene

"CLOTHING protects the body from injury and shields it from heat and cold and from sun and rain. Our personal appearance depends to a great extent upon the clothing that we wear, but we should not forget that its purpose is to protect the body - that if our clothing is uncomfortable and unsuited to the weather it will not serve its real use."

And don't forget to harden your knees!

This is a beautiful and a pleasant world - 1924 Primer Of Hygiene

"ALL of us know that this is a beautiful and a pleasant world. We enjoy the songs of the birds and the beauty of the flowers. It gives us pleasure to feel the soft winds of spring and to watch the green come back on the trees. We love to watch the clouds sail through the sky and the snowflakes fall through the air. Everywhere we turn we find many things that give us happiness and contentment, and make the world a beautiful place for us to live in."