DIY Frock Fabulousness @ Wickedlady Collectables

Just a few of more than 200 day and evening dress patterns and over 25 wedding dress patterns available at Wickedlady Collectables


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Classic Styled Utility Clothes June 1943

By 1943 the austerity rules had made a big impact on clothes design, this article stresses the practicality and go-anywhere styles of the new designs. Although fashion may not have stopped quite as dead in its tracks as the author suggests, the emphasis on value and practicality where what most women needed in the mid-war years.


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Article by Anne Scott-James

Fantasy Bathrooms 1951

Adverts from Ideal Home magazines listed at Wickedlady Collectables









I think I like the lilac and primrose the best, how about you?

Lace Jacket Summer Knitting Pattern 1946

From Everywoman Magazine June 1946. Click for big

Wartime Blouse Project

My latest sewing project is made from this lovely pattern sent to me by the glamourous Vintage Vixen in a swap for a dress I sent her.


As soon as I got it I knew I had to put it at the top of my to make list, and when I looked inside the packet I realised why it was so urgent. It was, in fact, a pattern I already had but which had pieces missing. The fabric has been in my stash for a few years Its a cotton voile with a flocked diamond pattern, they are incredibly hard, won't bend and you can't put a needle through them.


Pattern c1942, instruction sheet, pattern c1946 with cover tarted up to make it look up to date. Click for big.


Cutting out.


The finished blouse, I put darts in the front instead of pleats.


Fab deco buttons given to me by a friend, theres only 2 so the cuffs have press studs.

Another Vintage Vixen project

find the instructions here mine is a brooch rather than a hair slide. It took 17 minutes which included running around the house in search of a safety pin.

Michael Gough 1917 - 2011

Well known character actor. Began his acting career in the late 40s at Rank and appeared in many famous series and films including The Avengers (1965 & 1967), Dr Who (1983), Colditz (1972), The Champions (1968), The Saint (1964), Batman (1989 etc), Inspector Morse (1987), The Age of Innocence (1993), among others. I've watched him twice this week in The Saint as a political blakmailer and in The Avengers as a russian spy with megalomaniac ambitions. Perfect in both.

Expect a little Rayne this evening

A selection of recent Rayne acquisitions from the 60s and 70s. Things have been a little intense on the Rayne front recently; more news later.


Beige slingbacks, mid-late 60s.


Late 60s patent shoes with silver heel, made of Corfam a synthetic material
which looked fab but wasn't very pliable.


Black velvet pilgrim shoes with HUGE buckles, mid 60s.


Black patent brogues late 1970s


Aqua glitter mules, late 1960s


Purple satin and velvet evening sandals with diamante ankle strap 1977.


Advert for the shoes above.

New at Wickedlady Collectables

1950s Pearlised pink shoes with Velvet Ribbons.


Late 50s Wine Velvet Dress


1960s Long Lurex Dress


Graham Smith Hat for Kangol

£50 from Uncle Arthur

In 1955 House Beautiful recommended you spend a £50 wedding present on kitchen equipment. Thats approx £1000 today.


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I say sod the kitchen utensils and just buy a wardrobe full of velvet ocelot pants.

Frocks Suitable for Housework

Part of the Ideal Home magazine advert extravaganza. Incidental frocks in miscellaneous adverts.


GEC Cooker 1954, Click for big. All the 50s cooker adverts had enough food in them to feed an army.


Servis Washing machine 1955, Click for big. Pretty frock, handmade embroidered apron AND Heels.


These ladies obviously had servants.

Lyons Coffee 1955, Click for big. Ball gown by Frederick Starke.


Lyons Coffee 1955, Click for big. Dress by Horrockses.


Lyons Coffee 1955, Click for big. Dress by Vogel.


Lyons Coffee 1955, Click for big. Dress by Brenner Sports.


Votrix Vermouth 1951. Splendid New Look gown after the housework is done.

Christian Dior 1954

Fab colour spread from Housewife Magazine December 1954, there are more pages connected to this article in b&w. available from Wickedlady Collectables


Zsa Zsa Gabor.


Last minute fixes before the show.


The buyers salon.