Winter Warmers

It seems a bit strange posting this in the middle of a heat wave, but thats what happens when you 'plan' your posts, I shall have to go back to a more impromptu arrangement.


Spring 1944, lovely big shoulders and a double button fastening that was popular for the rest of the 40s.


Spring 1947,  A classic 40s style to wear over a suit no sign of the New Look here.


Autumn 1949,Big Swing Back coat with a sort of scarf hood, fabulous check.


Autumn 1949, Regency Style full, pleated coat in grey.


Autumn 1953, Flared coat with a stand up astrakhan and fur trimmed shawl collar.

Squiggle Dress

So suddenly its warm in England, and there is actual sunshine.

Having changed over my wardrobe to winter clothes last week I suddenly need something summery again. I made this a few years ago from 2 different patterns one for the bodice and one for the skirt, the a bit later I made the bolero with the leftover fabric from a 3rd pattern. The fabric is a soft 50s cotton printed to look like applied braid. Smart but easy to wear.




But despite the warmth the swallows have left and the geese are on their way south.

Autumn Frocks 1941

From Weldon's 'Good Taste' Magazine. Patterns to order to make yourself. The austerity rules had not yet impacted the designs presented here. In fact most of these still look pre-war.


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1940s Hollywood Stars in Colour #1

Number one in a series of colour photographs

Carole Landis

Giveaway Winner

And the winner is



fabriquefantastique CONGRATULATIONS



please email me at tracy(at)wickedlady.com with you mailing address.

Snow Maiden

This pattern for a white 'astrakhan' hooded jacket or bolero & hat appeared in January 1940. The black out in Britain exacted a large toll of injuries and deaths and there were many ideas to make yourself seen such as luminous carnations.


Luminous corsage on sale at Woolworths

They were not actually very bright (and probably radioactive) and certainly not as chic as these two coats. Don't forget the Giveaway


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200+ Followers Giveaway

A week or so ago I passed my 200 followers mark, FANTASTIC!
It took me a few days to notice because the Blogger app in the side bar seems to only work when it wants to recently.
But I'm so happy that there are lots of you out there who share my interests and
like what I post, so to celebrate I'm having a giveaway.


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The prize consists of a large 1940s/50s rayon crepe scarf with a paisly design, Persephone Press' The Blank Wall by Elizabeth Sanxay Holding, with matching bookmark and a 1930s copy of 'Confessions' magazine.
There are some incredible stories in this magazine, one deals with a blood transfusion from a murderess!! another is called Yellow Man's Bride (and he was a DOPE FIEND too!).
You should probably read this first and then go onto the comaprative calm of The Blank Wall :)

To enter you should be a member of my blog (you can join now), and leave a comment below.
I will draw the winner on Sunday 18th September at 7pm (GMT). I will post anywhere.

Gratuitous Bette Davis Post

While looking through some 1940s film annuals and magazines yesterday my eye fell on several adverts and pictures from Bette's movie 'A Stolen Life' (1946), one of those tours de force for which she is so well known. Good twin/bad twin and Glenn Ford stuck in the middle.

Pre-release advert from British magazines. Click for Big.

Post-release advert - cut to the chase. Click for Big.

Which one is this? And does he care? Click for Big.

General promotional portrait, ignore the puffy eyes and look at the size of those shoulders. Click for Big.

This was not the only film to feature twins from the late 40s, if you're up for it there is also 'The Dark Mirror' (also 1946) starring Olivia de Havilland, a British contender 'Dual Alibi' (1948) starring Herbert Lom and in a slightly twisted way 'A Double Life' (1947) starring Ronald Colman.

Rayne in the Boudoir

Recent acquisitions to my alarmingly fast-growing collection are these 2 pairs of boudoir mules.

Pink Satin and marabou with perspex from the mid 70s and gold brocade with medieval kings and queens or princes and princesses if you prefer from the mid-late 40s. My favourite style.


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Cute no?

Hats Autumn 1937

Hats were quite tall in 1937 and at their most fun/surreal/unlikely, in spring 38 designs became flat saucer like or tipped forward. Click for Big.


A colour pic of the Agnes hat above.

After Dinner Cocktail & Ginger, Lime and Brandy

Two for the price of one this time as neither of these cocktails seems to have a discoverable history. I had a surplus of limes last week so looked up a few recipes to use them up. Both recipes are from the web.

After Dinner Cocktail



1 measure Triple Sec
1 measure Apricot Brandy
1 large dash of lime juice

Stir together in a tumbler half full of ice, serve short.


Ginger, Lime and Brandy
Similar to the Moscow Mule but with brandy replacing the vodka.



1 measure Brandy
1/2 measure lime juice
top up with ginger beer, over ice.