Mr. Selfridge Costumes Season 3: 1919 Clothing
Today's post Mr. Selfridge Costumes Season 3: 1919 Clothing from Vintage Dancer.
Costumes of Mr. Selfridge Season 3 set in 1919
Have you been watching Mr. Selfridge season 3? I have. Naturally I keep a close on on the fashions as they have evolved from the first season in 1908 to now, season 3, set in 1919. Clothing from 1917 to 1922 were long, loose, simple and free yet not quite the slinky flapper styles still to come (in Season 4, I hope!) It is one of my favorite times in fashion history and one I have written about extensively through out the 1920s style guide series.
Recently I added a handful of new clothing catalogs from the late teens and early ’20s. These are amazing to browse through not only because they showcase the fashions of everyday people but because they are the items that would have been for sale at the real Selfridges store! For those of you seeking to recreate a Mr. Selfridge costume these should help get a feel for the cut, colors and accessories of the year.
Let’s take a look at some of the styles around 1919.
1919 Women’s Clothing
1918 Blouses and skirts for simple, casual day wear or working in a department store like Selfridges. Waistbands were high and wide yet the length was shorter then earlier years. Large pockets and big buttons were the primary details.
1918 Skirts and blouses. Read more about 1920s skirts.
1919 Silk blouses. They fit loosely,with wide round necklines and details of embroidery or pintucks. They were quite colorful. Design inspiration came form the orient. Learn about 1920s blouses.
1918 Silk and Velvet Dresses- Worn for day or afternoon. Notice the high waistline but with a large ruched waistband. The length has also shortened to an easier walking length (and getting in and out of cars and buses)
1919 tea dresses- Afternoon “going out” dresses to tea, shopping, and public gatherings. The yellow silk chiffon dress as a party dress style for young women or petite women. Daisy in the Great Gatsby wore a similar dress.
1919 fall dresses for going out. The detailed embroidery and clean lines make this a higher class fashion. At a price of $36 it was for the upper middle classes.
1919- Velvet dresses for fall and winter. The dresses were becoming slimmer and more casual. They were easier to wear and much easier to dress by oneself.
1918- Despite the slimming dress silhouette women still wore a petticoat- and a very colorful ones at that! at least now it was just one A line petticoat and not multiple layers of them like before the war.
1918- For traveling, a suit of two matching pieces, coat and skirt, was worn. Comfortable and warm!
1919 Velvet winter coats. Large buttons, wide belts and big cuffs and roll collars made women appear smaller and more dainty.
1919- More long coats and a short coats of beaver fur. Read more about women’s coats.
1918- Additional layers of fur stoles, collars and muffs added more fashion and class statements as well as warmth while riding in cold cars. Stoles using the whole animal was a luxury purchase.
1918- Winter hats of velvet, fur, and wool felt were small and round in shape. Notice a few are shaping into the classic 20’s “Cloche” hat.
1918- Simple hats in smaller sizes than the previous years oversize picture hats, reflect the change in economy.
1918- Nearly all women wore lace up or button up walking boots. At home a pair of heeled pumps were worn as well. Black, brown, Ivory and two tone patterns.
1919- More boots for women. Shop woemn’s boots here.
1919 Nightgowns and robes. Nearly as pretty as dresses.
Shop 1919 Style Costumes and Clothing
The late teens early 20s style clothes are a bit difficult to come by today. There are however Nataya or Komarov brand of vintage inspired dresses that do reflect this era. Here are a few I like:
Plus Size Womens Komarov Embellished Scoop Neck Charmeuse Dress Chiffon Jacket Size 1X - Blue
$424.00
Womens Komarov Illusion Yoke Charmeuse A-Line Dress Embellished Chiffon Jacket Size Medium - Blue
$450.00
Nataya 1930s Style Nude Black Three-Quarter Sleeve Embroidered Original Titanic Tulle Tea Length Dress
$218.00
HepcatSodaFountainDressinCherry
$49.99
1919 Men’s Clothing
1918 Men’s suits for business and leisure. Suits were slim fitting with high white collar dress shirts and matching vests. The look was youthful and “jazzy.” Notice the small hats too. Everything in moderation.
1917 Striped Double Breasted sack suit.
1917 Men’s summer sack suit for outdoor garden, beachside, or sporting events. Paired with a straw boater hat.
1917 Men’s dark brown pin stripe summer suit with a straw gambler hat. Love the two tone boots and polka dot tie too. So dapper!
1918 Men’s coats. White suits were slim, overcoats were huge! Very wide and boxy coats for winter driving conditions. More about men’s 20s coats.
1918 Men’s Sweaters. Thick cable knit shawl collar cardigan sweaters for casual winter wear. Lighter knit sweaters and vests were worn for sport activities like golf.
1918 Men’s dress shirts. Thin colorful vertical stripes with stiff white delectable collars. Round “club” collars were the most common style of the times. More about shirts and collar types of the 20s.
1918 Wide neckties and thin knit ties in stripes and large paisley patterns. Bow ties were still worn as well. More about mens tie history.
1918 Men’s boots were unchanged from most of the Victorian era. Lace up boots, pull on elastic panel boots and button up boots had pointy thin toes to go with the thin suits. Work boots had thicker soles and round bulb toes.
Department Store Shopping in 1919
I found these pictures of real department stores in 1919 /1920. Such elegance with many “shop girls” to help you with you purchases just like at Selfridges.
Eatons Department store (Canada) rendering for the women’s Paris designed dresses
Eatons Millinery Shop
(Women’s hats)
Eatons Store Elevator
Eatons Blouse Department
Selfridges Beauty Department (Date unkown)
Selfridges Perfume Department
1920 shopping in a unknown department store
I hope you enjoyed this tour through history. Please take a moment and share it with someone:
The post Mr. Selfridge Costumes Season 3: 1919 Clothing appeared first on Vintage Dancer.
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