A couple of weekends ago at the Toronto Vintage Clothing & Antique Show I purchased two Vintage Chatelaine Magazines from a favorite vendor.

While browsing the June 1947 copy over coffee later on that day, I discovered a great feature called ‘Fashion Shorts‘. In this piece the magazine discusses fashion tips to make your June a fashionable success. These tips are wonderful insights into a time period of fashion that many of us love and I knew that I just had to share it with my readers. PLUS 1947 was a turning point in fashion with the ‘Dior’s New Look‘ making its way onto the runways only a few months early.

1947 Fashion Tips for Women as seen in a vintage Chatalaine Magazine

So without further adieu lets begin!

15 Fashion Tips from Chatelaine Magazine – June 1947

1. Lovely the Bride (it is the June Magazine)

Lovely the bride this June’s sun shines on. For she’ll wear her traditional satin-and in abundance. The generous yardage makes possible hoop skirts, and wide, wide trains, and arch little bustles.

1947 Fashion Tips for June Brides/1947 Fashion Tips for Women as seen in a vintage Chatalaine Magaine.

Perfect Example: Princess Elizabeth II and Prince Philips November 1947 Wedding.

1950s vintage photo of Queen Elizabeth  II Royal Wedding to Prince Philip
Photo: Royal Collection Trust/© Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2014.

2. Marquiesette Gowns are a must for the bride and her attendants

They’ve found out that many a girl marching to the altar is still a junior miss. So for her and her excited attedants there’s the youthful spun-sugar look of bouffant marquisette. Which spins at formal dances later on.

1940s Fashion Tip for the June Bride and her Bridesmaids. 1947 Fashion Tips for Women as seen in a vintage Chatalaine Magaine.

What is Marquisette?

Marquisette is a sheer, lightweight mesh or net fabric with a leno weave.  It can be made from almost any fibre: silk, cotton, wool, rayon, nylon, polyester and a blend of any of the above.  It is used for dresses, curtains, and mosquito netting .

(Source)

Note: For a more detailed description please check out The Dreamstress blog post on this interesting fabric.

Now the below dress is not from 1947 but it is a beautiful example of a 1940s Marquisette gown,

1940s Fashion: an embroidered marquisette 1940s evening gown.
Source: Vintageous

3 & 4. You’ll want a striped cotton and yellow in your wardrobe

You’ll want a striped cotton this year. Because it’s cool. Because it’s become sophisticated. With a canny arrangement of stripes to give the long waisted look.

1940s Summer Fashion Tip: Stripped Cotton and yellow in your wardrobe. 1947 Fashion Tips for Women as seen in a vintage Chatalaine Magaine.
1940s fashion: A Striped Cotton Day Dress
Source: Pinterest

Yellow, rich as butter, gay as sunbeams. The big shade in every fabric of the season…chambray, linen and the prodigy of returning chiffon.

1940s Summer Fashion Tip: Stripped Cotton and yellow in your wardrobe. 1947 Fashion Tips for Women as seen in a vintage Chatalaine Magaine.
yellow

5 & 6. Order ribbons on a lapel are all the rage, and playsuits are not just for the wee ones

Order of the day: wear an order ribbon on a suit lapel or under the collar of a tailored blouse. It must be as authentically striped as a Knight-of-the-Garter’s. And clasped by an antique brooch or insignia pin.

1940s Fashions for Summer: Order ribbons on a lapel are all the rage, and playsuits. 1947 Fashion Tips for Women as seen in a vintage Chatalaine Magaine.

Examples of versatile playsuits.

1940s Fashion: 1947 women's playsuits and rompers.
Source: Vintage Dancer

7 & 8. From work to play or sometimes just to play

Back and neck go venturesomely bare on a summer night in an off-the-shoulder chemise dress. But skilfully concealed by a bolero during office hours. Happy is your date, happy your boss, and happy you who don’t have to rush home to change.

Variation on the al fresco theme. Back decolletage lightly veiled by sheer chiffon in a V-inset. The dress of tissue faille. Better start from home with this home.

1940s Fashion Tip: Back and neck go bare, but wear a bolero during the day. 1947 Fashion Tips for Women as seen in a vintage Chatalaine Magaine.

Vintage sewing pattern example of an strapless gown (bare back and neck) and the bolero you can add to it.

1947 vintage sewing pattern for a 1950s dress with bolero.
Source: Pinterest

9. New York and its high style

In New York more illusions of nudity. With dramatic black lace over nude rayon crepe. In short or full-length dinner dresses. The lace with the delicate air (example below).

1940s Fashion Tip: In New York more illusions of nudity. With dramatic black lace over nude rayon crepe. In short or full-length dinner dresses. The lace with the delicate air. 1947 Fashion Tips for Women as seen in a vintage Chatalaine Magaine.
1940s Fashion: A 1940s Rayon Crepe Dress with the Lace Insert.
Source: Pinterest

10 & 11. Bertha collars and influences from famous British salons

Softly falling bertha collars on cottons as well as crepes. A graceful substitute for sleeves. And very much in keeping with the new rounded, more natural shoulderline.

Watch for the influence of these evening skirts from famous British salons: Norma Hartnell’s gold tissue, its skirt showing six separate drapings, haremlike…Peter Rusell’s skirts with turned-up hems like those on trousers…Bianca Mosca’s melon skirt, pulled under at the hem to accentuate fullness!

1940s Fashion Tip: Softly falling bertha collars and Norman Hartnell's skirts. 1947 Fashion Tips for Women as seen in a vintage Chatalaine Magaine.

Bertha Collar Examples as seen on a vintage sewing pattern.

1940s Fashion: Bertha Collar on dresses as seen on a vintage sewing pattern.
Source: Pinterest

A Norman Hartnell Gold tissue dress..wow!

1940s fashion: A Norman Hartnell Gold tissue dress
Source: Pinterest

12. Stay much cooler than the men with your pantaloon slip!

A pantaloon slip for warm weather ventilation! The culotte doubles as panties and slip under summer dresses. While your poor men swelter in 72 articles of clothing.

1940s Fashion Tip: A pantaloon slip for warm weather ventilation. 1947 Fashion Tips for Women as seen in a vintage Chatalaine Magaine.

13. Peasant blouse & dirndls skirts for comfort and for formal occasions

It’s comfortable to entertain your guests in peasant blouse and dirndl skirt. Right, too, even on formal occasions. Because the skirt’s long, printed and ruffled, the neckline of the blouse deeply scooped.

1940s Fashion Tip: peasant blouse and dirndl skirt. Right, too, even on formal occasions. Because the skirt's long, printed and ruffled, the neckline of the blouse deeply scooped. 1947 Fashion Tips for Women as seen in a vintage Chatalaine Magaine.
1940s Fashion: peasant blouse and dirndl skirt. Right, too, even on formal occasions. Because the skirt's long, printed and ruffled, the neckline of the blouse deeply scooped.
Source: Pinterest

14. Beach Coat Time!

Beach coats are shorties. They reach just to the thing. And are hooded against the ravages to your hair of sun and salt.

1940s Fashion Tip: Beach coats are shorties. They reach just to the thing. And are hooded against the ravages to your hair of sun and salt.  1947 Fashion Tips for Women as seen in a vintage Chatalaine Magaine.
1947 vintage sewing pattern for a women's beach coat and late 1940s swimsuit / bathingsuit.
Source: Vintage Patterns

Side Note: Here is a 2022 example of a beach coat I picked up at a vintage store here in Toronto.

1940s Fashion: Wear a beach coat to the beach like this vintage rainbow striped beach jacket seen on Liz from the Vintage Inn Blog.

15. Stocking Clocks ARE due for a comeback! Wait what are stocking clocks?

Stocking clocks due for a comeback! And at this very moment colored nylons are some of the counters. In muted shades of red, green, blue, and yellow. So delicate and sheer, though, they won’t disturb your equilibrium.

1940s Fashion Tip: Stocking clocks dur for a comeback! And at this very moment colored nylons are some of the counters. In muted shades of red, green, blue, and yellow. So delicate and sheer. 1947 Fashion Tips for Women as seen in a vintage Chatalaine Magaine.

1958 vintage ad for Mary Grey Hosiery talking about “The Point of Big Return…Clocks”. (I could not find a 1947 example).

1958 vintage ad for Mary Grey Hosiery talking about "The Point of Big Return...Clocks". 1950's Women's Nylons / Stockings.

And there you have it, fashion tips from June 1947 Chatelaine.

Question Time: What was your favorite fashion tip stated above? Did you learn anything new about June 1947 fashions? Please share.

FURTHER READING:

Liz

12 Comments on 15 Fashion Tips from Chatelaine Magazine-June 1947

  1. I own that Simplicity 2817, I need to make it summer 2017 now, I think!

    Also I need to own a beach coat or two. I didn’t make it to the beach this summer (I could literally go today, it’s 93F…) And I learned what stocking clocks are, I need a pair in blue.

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