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Tag: Vintage fashion

Vintage Dirndl Fashion Ilustrations

For centuries, the dirndl has been a beloved and timeless staple of Germanic folk fashion. Its eye-catching and colorful designs have been meticulously crafted and worn with pride for generations, and its influence can be seen in modern fashion today.

Discover the beauty of this timeless style (that I simply adore) thru vintage fashion illustrations / sewing patterns (1930s-1950s) as seen in this latest post.

1950s fashion illustration for women's Dirndls as seen in the Lutterloh Dirndl Supplement 1950's

Note: I’m off to the final weekend of Oktoberfest in Munich Germany on Thursday, so this is why I wanted to do this post. I cannot wait as I have never been. I also have three dirndls but I am only taking one and if you scroll to the end, you can see what one.

Please Follow my fun on Instagram & and the end of this post please see my other “Oktoberfest Posts”.

Brief History of the Dirndl

The Dirndl is a feminine dress which originated in German-speaking areas of the Alps. It is traditionally worn by women and girls in Austria, Bavaria (south-eastern Germany), Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Alpine regions of Italy (South Tyrol). A dirndl consists of a close-fitting bodice featuring a low neckline, a blouse worn under the bodice, a wide high-waisted skirt and an apron.

The dirndl is regarded as a folk costume (German: Tracht). It developed as the clothing of Alpine peasants between the 16th and 18th centuries. Today it is generally considered the traditional dress for women and girls in German-speaking parts of the Alps, with particular designs associated with different regions. The usual masculine tracht counterpart of the dirndl is lederhosen.

In the late 19th century the dirndl was adapted by the upper and middle classes as a fashion mode, and subsequently spread as a mode outside its area of origin. There are many varieties of adaptations from the original folk designs (Source).

Vintage Photo of Bavarian musicians, ca 1902 in traditional Tracht (dirndl) and lederhosen.

Bavarian musicians, ca 1902

Note: There was a dark period for the traditional dress during WW2 when it was adopted it as a symbol of pan-German identity in the countries under Nazi rule (Germany from 1933, Austria from 1938). The dirndl was used to promote the Nazi ideal of the German woman as hard-working and fertile (Source).

It would be several years after the end of the war before the dirndl would regain populartiy (but it eventually did!).


Further Reading: Rare Dirndl who I have purchased dirndl blouses from in the past and has a fantastic blog (and dresses) on this topic. Please take a moment to read, ‘Dirndl Color Meanings and History‘ to learn more about the history of this dress.


Vintage Fashion Illustrations / Sewing Patterns: 1930s-1950s

1930s dirndls in all different styles, colours and patterns.

1930s fashion illustration for women's dirndls as seen in a German dirndl magazine. 1930s dirndls in all different styles, colours and patterns.

Source: Pinterest

1930’s styles.

1930s fashion illustration for women's 1930s dirndls as seen in a German catalog

Source: Pinterest

Deutsche Moden Zeitung ,1938 featuring an illustration of two women in very different 1930s fashions. A playsuit that is perfect for hot summer days, and a dirndl for all other times.

About the Deutsche Moden-Zeitung: Subtitled “Frau, Volk, Welt”, was a magazine about clothing fashion , especially for women , that was published from 1891 to 1944 . In the titles marked “Large Edition” or “Edition A”, the sheet contained various patterns sheets for making clothes and underwear yourself. The magazines published as “Edition B” also provided information about fashion , but did not contain any pattern sheets (Source).

1930s fashion: Deutsche Moden Zeitung 1938 featuring an illustration of two women in very different 1930s fashions. A playsuit that is perfect for hot summer days, and a dirndl for all other times.

Source: Pinterest

More 1930s dirndls as seen in Deutsche Moden Zeitung.

1930s fashion illustration for women's 1930s dirndls as seen in Deutsche Moden Zeitung magazine.

Source: Pinterest

UK version of Austrian sewing pattern magazine, Record Fashions from July 1938 featuring the traditional dress in various styles.

`1930s fashion illustration: UK version of Austrian sewing pattern magazine, Record Fashions from July 1938 featuring the traditional dress in various styles.

Source: Vintagegal

1940s Winter Dirndl fashion illustrations.

1940s Fashion Illustration as seen in a catalog page for women's 1940s Winter Dirndls.

Source: Pinterest

Spring in the Alps should always include a beautiful Tracht. 1940s catalog page.

1940s fashion illustration for womens 1940s fashions featuring a woman in a traditional German Dirndl

Source: Pinterest

1940s sewing pattern fashion illustration for women's dirndls, Traditional German dress.

Source: Pinterest

Lutterloh 1950 dirndls.

1950 fashion illustration featuring women's dirndls in fall colours.

Source: Pinterest

Bettina Schnitt Wiener Modell D3362 ( c. early 1950s ) german dirndl dress, green white peasant blouse and red heart apron vintage sewing pattern. So cute!

1950s vintage sewing pattern: Bettina Schnitt Wiener Modell D3362 ( c. early 1950s ) german dirndl dress green white peasant blouse red apron with hearts.

Source: Pinterest

Here is another one from the same sewing pattern brand. Love the heart apron pattern on this dress.

1950s sewing pattern for womens dirndl from Bettina Schnitt K 3139 (c.1950s) featuring a pretty heart apron.

Source: Pinterest

1950s catalog featuring dirndls for “Gross und Klein” (large and small), women and girls.

1950s catalog featuring fashion illustrations of dirndls for “Gross und Klein” (large and small), women and girls.

Source: Pinterest

1950s fashion illustration for women's Dirndls.

Source: Pinterest

Thank you for dropping by and taking a look at these beautiful dirndls with me. Please share in the comments section, what your favourite was, or anything else about this topic. I love hearing from my readers!

Further Reading:

About the below photo: The dirndl on the left was my mother’s in the 1970s she bought in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. The middle is my tracten from Munich (blouse from Rare Dirndl) and the one on the right (with my mom in her traditional dress) was found in a vintage store but is authentic.

Dirndls vintage and modern

‘THE HOUSE OF LUCAS’ – An Australian Vintage Fashion Label

The Internet can once in a while be a lovely place filled with vintage advertising of fashions gone by that are still gorgeous and fantastic, LIKE what I stumbled upon at the Archives.org website.

This delightful September 20th, 1941 fashion ad for ‘Spectator Sportswear by Lucas‘. Such dreamy dresses!

1940s Vintage Ad: 1941 advertisement for Lucas Spectator Sportswear -1940s Fashion Ad.

Source: Archive.org

After I saw this ad, I started doing some research on “The House of Lucas” and stumbled upon while not a lot of content, still enough that I know I had to share it with my readers. So that is what today’s post is all about!

‘THE HOUSE OF LUCAS’

An Australian Vintage Fashion Label

The House of Lucas-E Lucas and Co. The family-owned firm operated in Ballarat (Victoria, Australia) from 1888 to 1968, employing hundreds and putting Ballarat on the map as a producer of fashion.

ABOUT (Excerpt-Weekly Times Now Australia):

The fashion house was created by founder Eleanor Lucas who was widowed in 1878 and began sewing underwear and shirts from home to support her family. When Eleanor was widowed again in 1888, she launched her own sewing firm.

Successful from the outset, by 1908 it employed more than 200 people and at its peak in the 1950s employed 500. It specialised in women’s clothing but also made clothes for children and men.

“Lucas always had an eye on fashion trends and so they would send their executives overseas to bring back those trends to Australia and by the 1930s Lucas had a good reputation for quality garments,” Snjez says. “This meant they forged exclusive deals with the likes of Pierre Cardin and Vanity Fair.”

1960s vintage photo: 1960s Fashion photo of women's clothing by the House of Lucas an Australian clothing brand

The Lucas factory has been linked with Ballarat commercial life for 55 years (Source).

In 1968 the company was taken over (Source).

In 1972 Lucas provided financial assistance for expansion, the company becoming a subsidiary of Courtaulds-Hilton (Source).

Innovations

  • 1903 Lucas installed the first electric motor in Ballarat.
  • 1908 Tilly Thompson became Australia’s first female commercial travellor.
  • 1930 Lucas set up Australia’s first warp knitting, dyeing and finishing plant.
  • 1934 Lucas produced Australia’s first screen printed tricot dresses.
  • 1949 Lucas produces Australia’s first nylon Tricot fabric.
  • 1952 Lucas produced Australia’s first nylon permanent pleating.
  • 1962 Lucas produced Australia’s first colour coordinated lingerie and foundation garments (Source).

(Continue Reading about their history HERE).

"Created by Lucas" vintage dress by Lucas Spectator sportswear and australian clothing company

Source: Pinterest

The Fashion Vintage Ads

(stay till the end for some examples of real life outfits)

Here is a collection of the clothing lines that LUCAS was selling at the time of the posting of this 1948 ad:

  • Children’s Line-Betty Lou
  • Spectator Sportswear
  • Lucas Lingerie
  • Jill Heriote
  • Young Times

That green dress!!! Yooza!

1940s vintage ad: 1940s Fashion ad for Lucas Spectator clothing featuring a collection of their 1940s fashion lines, including a childrens clothing line.

Source: Pinterest

“Girls with a job to do!” – 1942 fashion ad.

“Not every woman who works for victory serves in unifrom. You women who have avalanced from everywhere to take up voluntary service and defence work need frocks that are neat, comfortable and cheerful; easy to wash, and long to last….Spectator Sportswear has all the answers!”

The company was doing their part for the war effort as stated in their ads: “Please understand. If stock of Spectator Sportswear at your favourite store aren’t as big as usual, it’s because we’re making ever increasing quantities of equipement for the fighting forces. Though supplies are restricted, the quality you know so well remains unchanged.”

1940s Fashion / 1940s Wartime Fashion: 1942 advertisement for Lucas Spectator clothes

Source: Archive.org

“A Three Star Feature” -1942 fashion ad.

“….like the Flying Fortress combining quality of material, perfection of design and superlative craftsmanship with fine attention to detail…is headed for a direct hit with you women of Australia performing all those urgent, unheroic, behind-the-scene tasks so essential to victory”

1940s Vintage ad / 1940s Fashion Ad: 1942 advertisement for Lucas Spectator clothes featuring Wartime 1940s women's dresses.

Source: Archive.org

Time to put away the track pants when walking the dogs and breakout the skirt suit (in this case cute Dalmatians)! 1945 fashion ad.

Further Reading: The Skirt Suit: A Fall Fashion Trend. The 1940s Edition

1945 vintage ad for women's 1940s fashion from Lucas Spectator Sportswear line. The fashion illustration features a woman in a two piece suit walking dalmatian dogs.

Source: Pinterest

“Dress for the man in your life” -1947 fashion ad.

“In your Spectator Frock or Suit you’re sure to please any masculine eye. Spectator Sportswear is still very sparce, but limited supplies are proudly sold by better shops everywhere”

1940s vintage ad / 1940s fashion ad for Spectator Sportswear by Lucas 1947 women's fashions

Source: Pinterest

1947 fashion ad. “Dress for the man in your life”.

1940s vintage ad / 1940s Fashion Ad: Lucas Spectator outfit from Woman magazine Australia, 1947.

Source: Pinterest

1949 advertisement for Lucas Spectator Ladies Sportswear for their Fall fashion line (I would wear this in a second!).

1940s vintage ad / 1940s Fashion: 1949 advertisement for Lucas Spectator ladies sportswear

Source: Archive.org

“For the town or country look”. A classic jacket suit & a versatile tailored dress-1952 fashion ad.

1950s vintage ad / 1950s Fashion Ad: image1952 advertisement for Lucas Spectactor clothes for women. 1950s dresses.

Source: Archive.org

“At last…a permanently pleated skirt that washes!” YES! Perfect for traveling the friendly skies as you can see our lovely 1950s illustrated model enjoying.

1950s vintage ad / 1950s Fashion Ad for a pleated skirt by Lucas Spectator Sportswear a vintage clothing line from Australia.

Source: Pinterest

Oh my! These outfits are giving off “Look at me” vibes”. 1953 vintage fashion ad.

1950s vintage ad / 1950s Fashion Ad: 1953 advertisement for Lucas Spectator clothes

Source: Archive.org

“For every day on your summer calendar…” 1954 fashion ad.

1950s vintage ad / 1950s fashion ad from 1954 for women's fashions from Lucas spectator fashion

Source: Pinterest

“Strike a high note in…Lucas Spectator Sportswear and be in harmony with every Winter occasion.” 1955 fashion ad.

1950s vintage ad / 1950s Women's Fashion ad: 1955 Lucas Spectator Sportswear featuring 1950s dress and 1950s women's two piece suit.

Source: Pinterest

I’m a sucker for any ad with cute Scottie Dogs in them! Like our 1958 fashion ad.

1950s vintage ad: 1958 fashion ad for LUCAS clothing featuring 2 women in 1950s fashions walking their Scottie Dogs

Source: Pinterest

1960’s summer fashion line. “Love the Sun”.

1960s vintage ad: 1960s Fashion / 1960s Summer Fashion for Women. 1960s Vintage Fashion ad for Women's summer dresses by LUCAS

Source: Pinterest

1961 Fashion book for the Autumn line.

1960s fashion book for autumn 1961 from LUCAS Australian fashion company 1960s women's fashions

Source: National Gallery of Victoria

Vintage Fashion: Examples of what the label looked like in real life

1950 evening gown (Jill Heroite Line & designed by Eve Ogilvie), a bronze full length dress in striped moirè and satin acetate, cut on the bias. GORGEOUS!!

1950s Fashion: 1950 evening gown by LUCAS a bronze full length dress in striped moirè and satin acetate, cut on the bias.

Source: National Gallery of Victoria

1952 Summer Day Dress (Jill Heroite Line & designed by Eve Ogilvie).

1950s Fashion: 1952 Day Dress by Designer LUCAS an Australian company. Women's 1950s fashion.

Source: National Gallery of Victoria

1959 Pierre Cardin Coat produced by the Australian fashion house LUCAS.

1950s Fashion: 1959 Pierre Cardin Coat produced by the Australian fashion house LUCAS

Source: National Gallery of Victoria

Mid Century Lingerie Box by LUCAS Australian Clothing Brand.

I hope you enjoyed this post! It was fun learning about a clothing label I had never heard of before.

Question Time! What outfits or ads did you love the most? Have you heard of this company before? Maybe you own one of their dresses. Share any thoughts in the comment section below and thanks for dropping by!

Further Reading:

Liz