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".

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."

Full-Blown Skirts, Impudent Bows, Neat Checks - Simplicity Patterns - 1952

Perfect day-in-the-city dress in a sophisticated soft sheer with full skirt and sleeves. Simplicity Printed Pattern 3848. Sizes 12 to 20. 35¢. Size 14 requires 5 3/8 yards of 35" fabric. Perfect day-in-the-country dress in neat checks. Simplicity Printed Pattern 3851. Sizes 12 to 20. 35¢. Size 14 requires 4 5/8 yards of 35" checked fabric, 3/8 yard of 35" fabric for trim.

Full-blown skirt and great big, impudent bow. made in the kind of checks you see coming. Simplicity Printed Pattern 3850. Sizes 12 to 20. 35¢. Size 14 requires 5 1/4 yards of 35" fabric. Cool and uncluttered little summer dress. Simplicity Printed Pattern 3857. Sizes 11 to 18. 35¢. Size 13 requires 4 1/4 yards of 35" lengthwise-striped fabric, 1/4 yard of 35" fabric for collar. Horizontal stripes above vertical stripes, Simplicity Printed Pattern 3844. Sizes 12 to 20. 35¢. Size 14 requires 3 3/4 yards of 35" lengthwise-striped fabric, 3/4 yard of 35" fabric for trim.
(This is a repost from Feb 2010)

When they advertise "bargains" in Sewing Machines from 1958

This is a helpful list from Good Housekeeping Magazine, 1958. What is interesting is how many of these warning still apply...Buyer Beware!

There are many good sewing machines on the market today, in a wide range of prices, Unfortunately, some dealers use questionable selling practices to push a particular machine or to obtain a higher price for it than it sells for elsewhere. This situation exists predominantly in the field of sewing machines, although to some extent it also involves vacuum cleaners and other appliances. Here are some practices that may be outright trickery.

• Fake "contests," in which the solution is obvious ("Count the number of Santa Clauses in this ad") and the prize is a "substantial reduction from the regular price of the machine. The catch? The "reduced price" is the price the same or comparable machines customarily sell for elsewhere.
• Bait advertising, in which a machine is advertised at a very low price. When you go to buy it, however, you find that it is "nailed to the floor"-i.e., the dealer belittles it, tries to pressure you into buying a higher price model.
• Phony offers, such as "free trial' or "refund if you're not completely happy with our machine." Once you've had a machine delivered to your home, you may find you're obligated to pay for it, satisfied or not.
• Worthless guarantees. Blank guarantees or those signed by a dealer alone are no real protection unless the dealer is long-established and reputable. A guarantee is only as good as the party offering it.
• "Flying squad" salesman. Representing a "dealer" you've never heard of, they canvass a town from door to door, offer "bargain" prices, then move on. If a machine bought this way turns out to be faulty, there is no one to complain to or obtain service from.
• Inflated list prices. These are sometimes quoted to make an advertised "sale" price look good. Often, however, the true list price and the so-called sale price are about the same.
• Other lures. "Earn a sewing machine by making garments in your spare time." (Selling the garments is left up to you; the dealer will not accept them in part payment ior the machine.) "A huge trade-in for your old machine." (This can mean that the price of the new machine will be inflated as well.) 
• "We give an advertising allowance." (This "allowance," if any, is often made only if sales are made to friends and acquaintances, whose names you supply.)
• Sometimes dissatisfaction with a machine is the customer's own fault. To avoid disappointment, follow these rules when you buy.
• Make sure you read and understand the terms of any contracts, agreements, receipts, etc., you sign.
•  If you decide on a low-price machine, don't expect it necessarily to give you the added features and performance of a more expensive model. And be sure that you sit down and try the machine.
• If you buy an automatic zigzag machine, expect to study its operation to gain skill, no matter how experienced you are on a straight-stitch machine.
• Don't buy a machine on the installment plan if the terms are likely to be a hardship. In these circumstances, a slight defect may become magnified in your eyes, make you unreasonably dissatisfied with your purchase.
•  Don't think that you're driving a shrewd bargain if you seem to be talking a dealer out of every cent of profit on a transaction. He is not in business for his health, and if you force the basic price of the machine down too far, he may more than make it up in hidden extras, such as charges for delivery, service, or lessons ordinarily provided free.

Love, Life and Lipstick. Smart Girl in a Smart Restaurant - 1958

From the Good Housekeeping Magazine, December 1958, we are given advice on how to behave at a restaurant. A lot of this can be summed up with "..grin and bear it".

It's lots nicer than eating at Joe's diner, and no harder, if you know the ropes.

Do you have to check your coat?

Boys must; girls usually don't, unless it's a restaurant where there's dancing.

Does a girl give her order to her date or to the waiter?

It's more gracious to give it to your date; but not all boys-and not all waiters-have been briefed on this convention. If your date seems uncertain, or if the waiter looks at you expectantly, speak directly to him.

What do you do if the order's wrong?

That depends. If the waiter actually brings the wrong food, tell your date, and he'll have the waiter change it. If something's not cooked as you like it -too rare or too well done-our advice is: grin and bear it. Sending things back to the kitchen is tricky business, and you're likely to end by embarrassing yourself and/or your escort.

What if you want to visit the ladies' room?

It couldn't be simpler. Just say to your date, "Please excuse me for a minute." Don't make any coy references to the "little girls' room." If you don't know where it is, ask a waiter. (He answers this question roughly fifty times a night and is not at all dismayed by it.)

Should you tip a ladies' room maid?

Yes. Give her fifteen cents unless you've asked for some special service. Don't let the display quarters in her coin dish fool you. They're usually come-ons.

What about table-hopping?

The less, the better. If you see someone you know, smile and nod inconspicuously. Or stop for a second on the way in or out to say, "Hi." But don't stand around-somebody's food is bound to get cold. And don't suggest making foursomes of twosomes. Restaurant tables aren't elastic, and it's a fair assumption that people are together because they want to be together, not part of a mob.

It Snowed!

I'm home in Seattle and while it doesn't snow much here, the 2 year old granddaughter has talked about it for weeks. And finally we have snow! This Good Housekeeping cover by Vernon Thomas just looks like her and her little brother.
I hope you are all snug and warm!

Protect your most Precious Treasure - Vanta Baby Garments - 1935

So much here. A baby in a bubble, the mysterious Silva Lining, charming illustrations, 500 baby names and a career offer!

"Vanta Baby Garments - No Pins, No Buttons - made by specialists - in layette sizes they are steam sterilized and Cellophane-sealed - resist wash, wear, stretch and tear. The Silva Lining, obtainable in all layette sizes, is a smooth, super-absorbent fabric in cotton, wool with cotton, and silk and wool with cotton."
We also get "The Vanta Style Review" of sweet babes wearing these amazing garments. Then there is the pretty, but odd baby under glass illustration by Annie Benson Muller (she was a prolific illustrator, but I couldn't find out much about her life).
This picture and much of the text stresses how sanitary everything is. Which may have been a response to the Polio epidemics that frightened everyone (the most memorable was in 1916, but outbreaks continued through the 1950's).

You also have an offer to write for a booklet -"Write EARNSHAW KNITTING CO.,NEWTON, MASS., DEPT. G-2, for free booklets - "Baby's Outfit", 80 pages of information and 500 suggestions for names; or ask for "The Toddler" for babies 2 to 6 years."

You can even become a Mothercraft graduate;
"When Buying Layettes - Ask your store to have a graduate of the Mothercraft course of study wait upon you. Look for the Mothercraft emblem. Write us if your store has no Mothercraft graduates. It means a year of hard study which makes a girl a professional saleswoman on Infant's wear."

"Next to your Baby...there's nothing like Vanta"

Christmas Surprise - What To Give Dad - A Mother / Daughter Makeover! 1958

"Christmas Surprise - How one family solved the problem of what to give Dad."
Just go to the Good Housekeeping Beauty Clinic and go from "Harassed housewife to chic matron" and "From careless teen-ager to gracious, groomed young lady"

"Here's how they did it!"

"He's so hard to buy for!" The cliche fitted Mr. Joseph Ambrosia, of New York City, to a T; but Mrs. Ambrosia and nineteen -year-old Sandy found the perfect solution. Their Christmas present to Dad this year: a dramatically prettier wife and daughter. The transformation, supervised by our Beauty Clinic, took about two months, but didn't interrupt business-as-usual for Mrs. Ambrosia, a housewife, mother of four, and dedicated church worker, or for Sandy, a Good Housekeeping secretary, drama student, and a bit of a butterfly. Was their "present" a success? We leave it to you. Look at the pictures on the following pages, and see what you think.

A ban on nail biting was the first step for both Ambrosias. Sandy was a cuticle-chewer, too. But weekly manicures in the Beauty Clinic and the delight of having good-looking nails strengthened their determination. Once a day, Sandy smoothed on cuticle cream and her mother soaked brittle nails in nail hardener. Mrs. Ambrosia pampered rough hands often, with cream or lotion, and took to wearing gloves for every household chore. Results? Just see the pictures?

Sandy's eyes are brown and almond shape. And they smile when she does. But they needed a touch of boldness. We plucked the mischievous hairs beneath and between her brows, giving them a clean outward sweep. Shimmering green eye shadow contrasted with dark eyes, and long, thick lashes were tipped with mascara.

Make-up for the office had meant lipstick only-until we gave good reasons and showed results to our amateur actress. On Sandy's naturally oily skin, we used dry cake make-up. Contour curves under the eyes were lightened with ivory-tone foundation. A prominent chin retired with a darker foundation. Two powderings - the first as a prime coat, the second as a finish -prettied the clearest skin Sandy ever had. Her expressive eyes (the envy of the Beauty Clinic staff) are described above. Lipstick in a Christmas pumpkin shade was simpatico with her coral dress and nails.

Dad's biggest presents were his girls' new hair styles. All year long he had been hinting, in tactful male fashion, that Sandy and her mother have their hair styled. He'd tweak Sandy's pony tail and point to his own easy-to-manage hairdo.

The miracle of posture. Before her beauty course, Sandy walked and worked as though she had weights on her ears. Before: head and shoulders drooped, chest collapsed, as she read the paper. After - packages held at waist level, head high, chest expanded, back straight, shoulders wide.

It took courage for Sandy to part with her pony tail. Her last haircut had been a full year before. But after a few minutes of deft cutting and shaping, our gamine began to emerge. Gone were the unruly bangs, the wispy temple hairs, the long tress with its plaguing split ends. Sandy made one plea when we were styling her hair: "Please give me a hairdo that doesn't need much setting." We chose a short, face-framing style, with a smooth crown and sides that curled ever so gently about the ears. Sandy's fine hair curled willingly and stayed pretty-with the promised very little setting - when hair spray was used to set and hold it. A hair rinse, which added red highlights, also gave it more body. And a nightly routine of vigorous brushing rewarded Sandy with newly lustrous locks.

Sandy's complexion had always been her pet peeve. Like so many young skins, hers was oily and often dotted with blemishes and blackheads. Her new beauty regimen called for frequent lathering with medicated soap, followed by lots of hot, then cool, water and an astringent. At night, she hid her blemishes under healing cream, and twice a week applied a facial mask for oily skin. A wholesome diet, with no blemish - making sweets, clarified her skin in two months.

Mrs. Ambrosia impatiently waited her turn in the beauty chair. Like many busy women, she bad long ignored the feminine arts for more practical matters. Now she was in a rush to become a "new woman." We cut her hair and fashioned a short, pert style, with hair brushed up and back from the sides and pouffed high on top in a modified Empress coif, to slim her roundish face. A gentle, rod-type permanent disciplined her soft, fine hair, giving it body and a naturally curly look. Dandruff disappeared under the persuasion of a good antidandruff treatment, administered with weekly regularity. The final touch was a rich coppery rinse, which gave her dull locks new vitality.

Two figure problems confronted Mrs. Ambrosia: padded bips and poor posture bothered her in every costume. We gave her a series of exercises to tone and tighten the little bulges. A faithful student, she exercised 20 minutes every busy day. The result: waist and hips measured two inches smaller. "I'm going to keep it up," Mrs. Ambrosia told us. "I feel more nimble." A balanced, low-calorie diet trimmed off seven extra pounds in two months. Exercise improved her posture, gave her a confident air.

"Dry skin makes me look older," she said. We agreed. Early in the game, we explained to Mrs. Ambrosia the gifts of moisture lotion. It worked softening, dewy magic while she slept and under daytime make-up. A creamy foundation, instead of her customary "just powder," was a buffer against sun and wind. Peachy powder livened her pallid complexion. Lifting and lengthening scanty brows with eyebrow pencil and Christmas-green eye shadow on lids gave importance to subdued eyes. Cheating with a Santa-Claus-red lipstick, to give a generous mouth, made her look the winsome matron she is.

Festive Party Dresses - 1958 Good Housekeeping

Here are three choices from Simplicity for 'Yuletide Magic' to wear to the big party of the season!

Your Christmas List - 1958 Good Housekeeping

Maybe you haven't made out your list for Santa. Here are some wonderful suggestions from Good Housekeeping Magazine, 1958.
Do you want a hair dryer, new kitchen pots and pans, new scales (the gift with the lift), or an extension phone? I hope you can drop hints and get all the special presents for modern living so you can live relaxed!

You'll Want It For Christmas! - 1958 Good Housekeeping

"What a Christmas gift!"
Nobody said you couldn't have a present too...you could use this to leave a hint...

Fashion To The Rescue - 1958 Good Housekeeping

"At the very last minute, you discover, to your horror, that an important gift is still unbought or that you have nothing to wear for the Big Day."
This top only works if you have that chaise to lean on...but if you are OK in the lavish furniture department then by all means make this "flattering little party top"!

You Can Make The Most Beautiful Stole - 1958 Good Housekeeping

"For the gala season, transform a length of lovely satin into a rich, sweeping stole that could be the happiest kind of surprise for someone special."
You could make this for that someone special or even for yourself, be ready for Christmas parties or New Years galas!

Make Belle Of The Ball Skirts - 1958 Good Housekeeping

"For the biggest evenings, little ball gowns are simply sweeping skirts of tulle, richly trimmed, and worn with minimal matching tops."
All it takes is 10 yards of tulle and some 'rich trimming' to make something for YOU this year!