Elegance Est 2015
Vintage IMVU Fashion
LETTER From the Editor
I
love vintage fashion in all of its forms and wanted to see more options in the catalog. So I invited devs to a vintage cocktail party where they would show off their own creations. I wanted to publish this as a thank you to all the devs who participated in my little scheme to class up the joint! Unfortunately, this was a last-minute decision and not all of the devs could participate so I encourage you to keep an eye on the catalog for more great items. The devs shown on these pages include familiar faces, as well as some fresh new talent that you will want to keep an eye on. Happy shopping and thanks for reading!
COVER MODEL TarynMM TRIVIA MASTER TeenyWeenyNana
MallorysOracle
LAYOUT EDITOR ScarletSyn DJ xxxNas
VINTAGE PARTY ROOM DEV SheLLz1212
GENERAL PARTNER IN CRIME TheBratGirl
WHAT IS VINTAGE FASHION?
T
he term vintage means different things depending on your perspective. For me, vintage spans the decades from when someone I knew was actually alive but before I was born. Anything older is “historical” and anything newer is “retro.” And yes, that’s pretty subjective but I refuse to include anything that was made while I was alive as I am far too young to be considered vintage. And Denial is a river in Egypt.
With that said, the decades covered in this issue span the 1920s through the 1960s. In the United States and elsewhere, fashion in these periods was heavily shaped by technology, economic and political factors. Prosperity, recession, and multiple wars all played a significant role in determining the availability of fabrics and trim, clothing shapes, and even color palettes. Following is a brief overview of some of the highlights of these periods.
FASHION THROUGH THE DECADES
T
he end of World War I saw an explosion of wealth in the United States, largely due to the spread of mass production methods, a significant decrease in taxes for the wealthy, and government-led infrastructure projects. The creation of a “white collar” class, mass marketing made possible by radio, and the rise of Hollywood intersected with the women’s suffrage movement to create a new look in fashion. Corsets were out and boyish figures were in. Hemlines rose daringly to just about the knee and waistlines dropped below the natural waist. It was a look of liberation and perfect for dancing to jazz! Bead work, Art Deco patterns, and cloche hats were all the rage, in addition to beautiful floral patterns in soft pastels. The 30s, however, were marked by the Great Depression and a return to a more conservative, “womanly” style. Natural waistlines returned and hemlines dropped again. Hollywood costumers introduced the broad-shouldered look, achieved by flutter or mutton-chop sleeves or short bolero jackets. Bias cuts were also popular as they created a sculptured, curvy look. Bras were made to push the breasts up and out, giving us the first “Sweater Girl.” Luxury fabrics were difficult to afford and, by the end of the decade, largely unavailable because of war requisitioning. Fabric rationing in World War II, as well as the absence of men in the workplace, popularized a more practical style for women in the 40s. Loose dresses cinched at the waist, boxy-shapes, suits and trousers were in. Gloves were a must, and animal-skin accessories were in demand. Bright
colors, especially red, ruled the day in the United States as the military relied heavily on brown and green dyes. Luxury detailing was largely limited to trim accents. The 50s saw a return to economic prosperity and styles changed drastically. Conformity and keeping up with the neighbors was important to the new middle class. The wide availability of fabrics made styles like puffy skirts, pleats, gatherings and intricate collars possible. “Poodle” or swing skirts, pencil skirts and petticoat skirts were popular in the first half of the decade. Small hats eventually gave way to larger flower-pot hat styles. The “bullet bra” introduced in the 30s gained wide acceptance. Gone were broad-shoulders and boxy shapes of the 40s, replaced by an hourglass silhouette. Only later in the decade did fashion begin to swing again toward a different style, appropriate for the spaceage. The late 50s and 60s saw new easy-care synthetic fabrics, a more diverse set of trends and a rejection of the conformity of the 50s. On the one hand, optimism for technology and the future led to the space-age style, marked by the use of unusual materials and accessories in fashion such as vinyl (PVC), metal rings and helmets. Mod fashion, from London, introduced the mini-skirt and psychedelic and mismatched patterns. And later, growing unhappiness with the Vietnam War gave rise to hippie-fashion with its tie-dyed colors, batik fabrics and paisley prints.