Here I present a beautiful early 1930s inspired evening dress in powder blue silk crepe back satin, that I originally designed and made for the lovely and talented Rosamund Pike.
There is a slight Ancient Grecian feel to it, favoured by the designers in the 1930s, combined with the art deco style of the period, here the bias cut gown with the asymmetric diagonally cut neckline and the diagonally cut panels in bodice and skirt forming a peak at the left side of the waistline, a feature very typical of the era. With two deep long darts along the sides of the bodice and low cut back. The straps feature lovely sewn on original vintage sequin trimming, as well as on the waist. Closure with snap fasteners at the side seam.
This lovely bottle green wool crepe mid- 1930s inspired dress is an adaptation from an earlier design of mine from 2009, here presented with long raglan cut bishop sleeves and contrasting cream silk cuffs. The striking large cream silk bow down the front of the bodice with a deep v neckline is typical of the 1930s style and a fantastic contrast to the deep green of the mid- calf length dress. The vintage cream button attached to the little flap on the bodice with an art deco style cut panelling also adds to the eye-catching front. It also features two kick pleats down the front of the skirt. The bodice is gathered at the back. The belt has an original vintage buckle. Two darts at the back of the skirt. Snap fasteners at the side seam.
This iconic dress designed by Mainbocher was worn by Wallis Simpson on her nuptials to Edward, Duke of Windsor (former King Edward VIII) at Chateau de Cande, Monts, France on June 3rd, 1937. The original dress was made in silk crepe and the colour shade got the name “Wallis blue”, to “ match the blue of her eyes”. Today, to coincide with the 87th anniversary of the wedding, here I present my version of the famous dress that was featured at the “Guts for Garters- the Royal We” exhibition in 2011 at the Cob Gallery in London. Made in light coloured cornflower blue viscose rayon crepe, it features a gathered and tailored bodice with a high neckline, long sleeves and fabric covered buttons closure down the front. The floor length skirt with a centre seam is fashionably cut on the bias. Side snap closure on the side.
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Here’s a golden oldie from my 1930s bow dress collection from a few years back, the “Vivian”, an early 1930s style dress in burgundy silk crepe de chine with its dramatic large bow in original vintage rayon bringing interesting contrast to it, typical to the era. It also features the unusual detail in the shoulders of the half moon shaped “wings”, that were also a popular style detail in the 1930s. The long sleeves have small cuffs in the same fabric as the bow. The belt features an early vintage plastic buckle. Closure at the side with snap fasteners.
Here I present a darling early 1930s inspired cotton dress in a lovely art deco style print. It has a sweetheart neckline with the front yoke forming a very deco geometric double peak. The yoke at the back is cut in a horizontal line. The skirt features two kick pleats down the front and back, divided by triple panelling. The short puffed sleeves also add a lovely summery touch to the dress. The three large original cream bakelite buttons running across the side of the neckline and above one of the pleats creates an interesting asymmetrical effect. The belt features a cream vintage buckle. Closure by snap fasteners at the side.
Here’s the wonderful review by Pirkko Kotirinta in Helsingin Sanomat on the “Schjerfbeck and Fashion”exhibition at Villa Gyllenberg, including my outfit.
Excerpt from the article:
“Eräs maalaukseen ikuistettu vaate astuu näyttelyssä kehyksistään kolmiulotteiseen maailmaan: ompelija-suunnittelija Irma Romeron varta vasten tähän näyttelyyn luoma kimonotyylinen takkiasu. Se on vintagemuotiin erikoistuneen Romeron tulkinta Helene Schjerfbeckin maalauksen Tumma nainen (1929) mallista.
Romero pitää teosta kunnianosoituksena Coco Chanelille (1883–1971) ”uuden modernin naisen vaatettajalle”.
Kimonotyylisiä takkeja ja vekkihameita näkyi muotikuvissa 1920-luvulla, ja myös japonismi kiinnosti. Oliivinvihreäksi värjätylle kreppisilkille Romero onkin maalannut koristekuvion, jossa näkyy japanilainen henkäys. Hän kertoo tarkemmin työn vaiheista kotisivuillaan”
”One piece of clothing immortalised in a painting, steps out of its frame into a three-dimensional world at the exhibition: a kimono-style jacket created for this exhibition by Designer and Dressmaker Irma Romero. It is Romero’s interpretation of Helene Schjerfbeck’s painting The Dark Woman (1929), who specialises in vintage fashion.
Romero considers the piece a tribute to Coco Chanel (1883–1971), “the dresser of the new modern woman”.
Kimono-style jackets and pleated skirts were seen in fashion pictures in the 1920s, and Japonism was also of interest. On the crepe silk dyed olive green, Romero has hand painted a decorative pattern with a Japanese touch. She tells more about the stages of the work on her website”
February 2024 has been an amazing and exciting experience for me. This week marked the opening of the new Schjerfbeck and Fashion exhibition at the Villa Gyllenberg. Creating an exhibit was a fulfilling experience, seeing my outfit inspired by the “Tumma Nainen” ( Dark Lady), 1929 painting, amongst the rest of the collection, was a special highlight.
Here I am pictured with my lovely Art Historian and Curator of the exhibition friend Marja Lahelma
The mid- 1930s style Jemima dress from one of my past 1930s dress collections in striking printed black viscose/rayon that I made for the lovely Cathrine. It features a geometric art deco style cut panelling down the front of the skirt and also on the front of the bodice with mirroring large rust coloured vintage bakelite buttons. The gathered 2/3 length sleeves , the bow and large collar fastening with an eye and hook also bring something very typically thirties to this darling piece. The belt also has a vintage buckle.
I got inspired to remake this beautiful striped dress while visiting the Macclesfield Silk Museum. Here the mid-1930s style inspired lovely in yellow, dark grey and white rayon plays with the horizontal and vertical placing of the striped fabric pieces creating a fantastic art deco style design very popular in the era. The bodice has an interesting jabot type insert down the front with a collar and with the nice detail of a trio of bakelite buttons and pin tucks at the shoulders. The sleeves also have the familiar contrast of horizontal and vertical and the button detailing. The top stitched centre seam on the skirt features a kick pleat. Fastens with snap fasteners at the side.
This lovely early 1930s inspired calf length skirt in royal blue rayon viscose features a very Art Deco style geometric diagonal panelling down the front with vertical vintage button detailing and two kick pleats. The back of the skirt also has an interesting rounded panelling by the hip. Fastens at the side with buttons and snap fasteners.
The Vintage Dressmaker 