While looking for content for my next vintage blog post, I came upon a slew of Fashion Illustrations from the 1930s in the New York Public Library Digital Collections. The collection is entitled  André Fashion Illustrations from NYPL’s Picture Collection and there are over 1200 images in the database.

For today’s post, I am going to share some of my favorite 1930s women’s coat / jacket styles that I found. Please pop over after your done here and find your favorites!

1930s Vintage Coat Inspiration from André Fashion Sketches

About the Collection (from ‘On Pins & Needles‘):

It consists of a vast collection of original, hand-colored fashion illustrations from André Studios, a design studio that sold fashion sketches to clothing manufacturers in the US and Canada. From 1930 through the early 1970s they produced about 20 sketches weekly, mostly of children’s coats, and ladies coats and suits.

André Studios was a sketch subscription service for garment industry professionals, with offices located at 570 Seventh Avenue in New York City. The company was founded by designer Pearl Levy and her business partner, salesman Leonard Schwartzbach, sometime during the year 1930. André Studios was one of the many design services that copied or adapted existing designs, especially of couture models from Paris. (Source).

The images are an incredible piece of fashion history and it’s wonderful that they are preserved for all to see and share!

The Vintage Fashion Sketches:

1939 Fitted Coat: Tucked Bodice and Sleeve. The Fashions accessories (the coats, gloves) in each one of these illustrations are also fantastic! I love how they created a whole look. Reminds me of my Fashion Marketing days at Ryerson University.

I love plaid! Yes I do! And when it’s on a vintage skirt, dress, jacket..whatever! I’m instantly in love (most of the time). Here is a 1930s (1938) women’s pleated skirt in plaid with a bodice and belt of plain cloth. Even the hat has a plaid ribbon to match.

A Cape of Plaid (1939 Women’s coat): Patent leather piping at sides with tubes of leather at shoulder. I would wear this even in the summer time!

1938 Belted dress with short coat –A Carl Levy Design. The 1930s dress in this image is beautiful! Do you see the pockets? Win!

1939 bolero suit. May be worn without bolero as a 2 piece suit.

I’m currently drooling all over my laptop keys right now (so very sorry for the visual friends), but THIS COAT is DREAMY! A 1930s vintage jacket fashion illustration from 1939 called the Basque coat. The coat features cartridge pleats at hips and shoulders that gives it a soft fullness to the sleeve and coat.

Vestee Suit (1939): Double Swing Skirt of Plaid with a long sleeved vest that feels very art deco like with it’s 4 pockets. I want to wear this lindy hopping! Even though it’s not particular lol!

1938 Belted coat with tiered ribbon design on skirt. The coat has similar ribbon style on the collar. I am envisioning that skirt in real life and it’s a showstopper!

1939 Very Loose Coat (swing coat style) with the most wonderful of details at the top of the jacket (that bow is smart!).

1939 “New Silhouette” a Fitted Swing Coat (love this!). The wide cape sleeves are dreamy!

Ohhhh!!! Fitted coat with tiered satin piping on flared skirt. Love the hat with snood as well!

And to end..skating season is almost here so why not make it stylish. A two piece skating suit with a touch of plaid (fantastic!)!

I hope you enjoyed browsing some of my favourite fashion illustrations from this collection. Share what your fav was in the comments section below!

FURTHER READING: Vintage Fashions 1920s-1960s (Archived Blog Posts)

Stay Safe Friends!

Liz