A couple of weekends ago at the Toronto Vintage Clothing & Antique Show I purchased two Vintage Chatelaine Magazines from a favorite vendor.

While browsing the June 1947 copy over coffee later on that day, I discovered a great feature called ‘Fashion Shorts‘. In this piece the magazine discusses fashion tips to make your June a fashionable success. These tips are wonderful insights into a time period of fashion that many of us love and I knew that I just had to share it with my readers. PLUS 1947 was a turning point in fashion with the ‘Dior’s New Look‘ making its way onto the runways only a few months early.

So without further adieu lets begin!

15 Fashion Tips from Chatelaine Magazine – June 1947

1. Lovely the Bride (it is the June Magazine)

Lovely the bride this June’s sun shines on. For she’ll wear her traditional satin-and in abundance. The generous yardage makes possible hoop skirts, and wide, wide trains, and arch little bustles.

Perfect Example: Princess Elizabeth II and Prince Philips November 1947 Wedding.

2. Marquiesette Gowns are a must for the bride and her attendants

They’ve found out that many a girl marching to the altar is still a junior miss. So for her and her excited attedants there’s the youthful spun-sugar look of bouffant marquisette. Which spins at formal dances later on.

What is Marquisette?

Marquisette is a sheer, lightweight mesh or net fabric with a leno weave.  It can be made from almost any fibre: silk, cotton, wool, rayon, nylon, polyester and a blend of any of the above.  It is used for dresses, curtains, and mosquito netting .

(Source)

Note: For a more detailed description please check out The Dreamstress blog post on this interesting fabric.

Now the below dress is not from 1947 but it is a beautiful example of a 1940s Marquisette gown,

3 & 4. You’ll want a striped cotton and yellow in your wardrobe

You’ll want a striped cotton this year. Because it’s cool. Because it’s become sophisticated. With a canny arrangement of stripes to give the long waisted look.

Yellow, rich as butter, gay as sunbeams. The big shade in every fabric of the season…chambray, linen and the prodigy of returning chiffon.

5 & 6. Order ribbons on a lapel are all the rage, and playsuits are not just for the wee ones

Order of the day: wear an order ribbon on a suit lapel or under the collar of a tailored blouse. It must be as authentically striped as a Knight-of-the-Garter’s. And clasped by an antique brooch or insignia pin.

Examples of versatile playsuits.

7 & 8. From work to play or sometimes just to play

Back and neck go venturesomely bare on a summer night in an off-the-shoulder chemise dress. But skilfully concealed by a bolero during office hours. Happy is your date, happy your boss, and happy you who don’t have to rush home to change.

Variation on the al fresco theme. Back decolletage lightly veiled by sheer chiffon in a V-inset. The dress of tissue faille. Better start from home with this home.

Vintage sewing pattern example of an strapless gown (bare back and neck) and the bolero you can add to it.

9. New York and its high style

In New York more illusions of nudity. With dramatic black lace over nude rayon crepe. In short or full-length dinner dresses. The lace with the delicate air (example below).

10 & 11. Bertha collars and influences from famous British salons

Softly falling bertha collars on cottons as well as crepes. A graceful substitute for sleeves. And very much in keeping with the new rounded, more natural shoulderline.

Watch for the influence of these evening skirts from famous British salons: Norma Hartnell’s gold tissue, its skirt showing six separate drapings, haremlike…Peter Rusell’s skirts with turned-up hems like those on trousers…Bianca Mosca’s melon skirt, pulled under at the hem to accentuate fullness!

Bertha Collar Examples as seen on a vintage sewing pattern.

A Norman Hartnell Gold tissue dress..wow!

12. Stay much cooler than the men with your pantaloon slip!

A pantaloon slip for warm weather ventilation! The culotte doubles as panties and slip under summer dresses. While your poor men swelter in 72 articles of clothing.

13. Peasant blouse & dirndls skirts for comfort and for formal occasions

It’s comfortable to entertain your guests in peasant blouse and dirndl skirt. Right, too, even on formal occasions. Because the skirt’s long, printed and ruffled, the neckline of the blouse deeply scooped.

14. Beach Coat Time!

Beach coats are shorties. They reach just to the thing. And are hooded against the ravages to your hair of sun and salt.

Side Note: Here is a 2022 example of a beach coat I picked up at a vintage store here in Toronto.

15. Stocking Clocks ARE due for a comeback! Wait what are stocking clocks?

Stocking clocks due for a comeback! And at this very moment colored nylons are some of the counters. In muted shades of red, green, blue, and yellow. So delicate and sheer, though, they won’t disturb your equilibrium.

1958 vintage ad for Mary Grey Hosiery talking about “The Point of Big Return…Clocks”. (I could not find a 1947 example).

And there you have it, fashion tips from June 1947 Chatelaine.

Question Time: What was your favorite fashion tip stated above? Did you learn anything new about June 1947 fashions? Please share.

FURTHER READING:

• Vintage Fashions 1920s – 1960s (Archived Blog Posts)
• Vintage Magazines 1920s – 1960s (Archived posts)

Liz