Spring, 1910s Style

Is a post about Spring a little previous?
Edna St Vincent Millay in the 1910s

It's no secret that the 1910s has become my favourite style and fashion period. And although I make forays into the Regency era, and hope to make a few forays into the 1920s and '30s, I hope that I can just continue on this trajectory and have a lovely and complete 1910s wardrobe for all seasons. 

I think I mentioned in an earlier post that the recent film "Testament of Youth", the story of Vera Brittain, was one of the things that inspired me. Re-watching Downton Abbey with my niece has helped as well. 

One of the scenes in "Testament of Youth" was so lovely, and reminded me of pictures I had seen of the poet Edna St Vincent Millay - a contemporary of Vera Brittain's. 

Autochrome. I love it! Another shot of Edna St Vincent Millay.

Alicia Vikander as Vera Brittain in Testament of Youth (2014)

The dress of Edna St Vincent Millay's reminds me a lot of this dress, which is a pattern which can be found at Past Patterns.

I know the winter isn't over yet, but I'm sure we're all looking forward to the coming of spring. Especially if we can enjoy the blossoms on the trees! As for me, I'd better start sewing a 1910s dress for the spring! 

A 1910s Coles Phillips fade-away girl. She's enjoying the spring too!

Clothing Collection: 1910s Blue Wool Dress

Another item from my new 1910s collection is a petite dress of bright blue wool with lace and black velvet trim. I had my niece wear the dress (just for the pictures!) as it hangs better than on a dress-form (besides which, my dress-form is far too large for this dress!).

This dress has lovely ribbon, button and embroidery detail as well. 

Detail of the lace, ribbon and red buttons. 

Embroidery on the black lace belt. 

A view of the back of the bodice, with the beautiful lace collar. 

A full view of the back of the dress. 

The side-view, which shows black buttons on the sleeve.

I am still learning about the 1910s, but I would date this dress sometime around 1912-1914. The dress fastens up the front with snaps, along the side bodice and skirt. 

A dress from All The Pretty Dresses blog, from around the beginning of the 1st World War.

A fashion plate from 1914.

I am curious about a few things. There is a tag in the back of the dress, so it was store-bought. But I wonder if all the embellishments were original, or if some of them were added by the woman who wore this dress (such as the embroidery on the black velvet ribbon). The more I am able to study extant clothing, the more I will be able to tell, and I am so grateful for what I am already learning. 

A glimpse of how bright the dress was originally, compared to the worn outside fabric.

The tag at the back of the dress.