1930s cotton dresses – The Vintage Dressmaker

Say hi to ‘Yvette’, my early 1930s style day dress in repro print cotton

July 2, 2020 Irma RomeroLeave a comment

This sweet early 1930s style day dress in Kaye England repro print cotton is the perfect example of the feed sack style dresses of the era. It features very art deco style construction with the large pointed collar, ‘double tie’ and the triangle shaped cream cotton lawn inserts on the pockets and sleeves. Two small bakelite buttons bring focus to the tie. The dress pulls over the head.

Yvette- early 1930s style day dress

Made myself an early 1930s style summer dress

May 29, 2020 Irma RomeroLeave a comment

Sometimes a new little treat is a welcome addition to your summer wardrobe, here in form of a sweet plaid early 1930s style cotton dress, cut on bias very much a trend of the era. It has a cross cut bodice fastening diagonally by large original vintage mother of pearl buttons and the contrasting coloured belt also features an original vintage mother of pearl buckle. The short sleeves’ contrasting navy bell shaped cuffs are a great little detail. Panelling at front of skirt with side pockets and low cut panel at the back. Fastens with snap fasteners at the side.

Early 1930s style plaid dress

Mid- 1930s style summer darling

June 29, 2019 Irma RomeroLeave a comment

This sweet mid-1930s style cotton dress in a lovely geometric Art Deco print has a front yoke with turned collar joined by original green Bakelite buttons and a jabot, both in cream Egyptian cotton muslin. The arrow shaped belt also in the same cream fabric fastens with a Bakelite button. It also features a centre pleat in the skirt hem, both at the front and back, formed by a triangular peak very typical of the era.

An interesting detail at the back is the triangular shaped yoke with fan like darts in the middle of the peak in the centre.

The 3/4 length sleeves are of the very popular balloon variety, narrower at the upper arm and ballooning towards the sleeve bands.

The dress has a side snap fastening.

Mid-1930s darling

Early 1930s style summer dress

May 1, 2019 Irma RomeroLeave a comment

This sweet early 1930s style pullover dress is actually a version of one I made a few years back, here in a repro cotton print from the marvellous ‘ Antique Treasures’ collection by Paintbrush Studio.

The skirt is cut in bias giving it a lovely fleared effect and it features a Art Deco style triangular peak and two small pockets. The sleeves are the very popular capelet style of the era. The original 1930s buttons down the v- neck front and the pockets create a nice little detail also.

Perfect for the spring and summer!

Early 1930s style summer dress

Nettie- the early 1930s darling

June 7, 2018 Irma Romero4 Comments

This dress was originally going to be part of my 2014 “The 1930s bow dress collection”, which didn’t make it at the time, but I’m now adding as a latecomer to the party, in this case minus the bow. And as I always wanted to use this particular original vintage plaid cotton fabric, here is the result;

Cut on bias, with panelling, instantly forming the very popular zig-zag motif of the era, contrasting with the geometric art deco style front panel peaking towards the waist and adorned with a bakelite button, with a slight cowl neckline. Also with a similar v forming at the back. Complemented by a belt with bakelite buckle. With snap fasteners at the side.This sweet little dress would have been perfect at a summer gathering in the early 1930s.

Nettie-early 1930s style dress

A little something I made for myself

May 28, 2018 Irma Romero2 Comments

Sometimes you get the time to treat yourself and here’s the result; this sweet early 1930s inspired dress in seersucker cotton has that vibe of the feedsack fabric dresses of the Prohibition era. A very big favourite of the era, cutting fabrics on bias, in this case a stripey one (if they weren’t already printed diagonally) creating the diamond effect, both at the front and the back. The contrasting square collar in navy cotton has the fun, tie like finish and with beautiful diamond shape burgundy bakelite art deco buttons. Fastens with snap fasteners at the side.

Early 1930s style seersucker cotton dress

Lila revamped

July 22, 2016 Irma RomeroLeave a comment

Here the lovely Lila dress from my early 1930s bow dress collection gets a revamp in navy blue seersucker cotton. The vertical and horizontal panelling with it’s double triangles give the dress the familiar deco touch. It also has Bakelite buttons and belt buckle. Snap fastening at the side.

Early 1930s sweetheart

July 2, 2016 Irma RomeroLeave a comment

This beautiful early 1930s inspired dress in navy organic hand-weaved cotton with white stripes is the perfect example of structural deco panelling in horizontal and vertical, creating an interesting visual with peaked Vs both front and back. The large collar is also very typical of the era. The white early plastic belt buckle and buttons compliment the dress perfectly. Side closing with fasteners.