Due to a hectic last week or so, a bout of the flu galloping around the family, and one of my thankfully rare creativity blank spells, there will not be a tutorial this month. Hopefully we'll get that back on track. But meanwhile, I wanted to share a few fun things from my April 1950 copy of Women's Home Companion. 

I posted last year on my discovery of vintage women's magazines, and since then I have acquired quite a stack – although almost without fail, if I am reading an installment of a story that I really want to finish, the "to be continued" issue is still missing from my collection! I hope someday to have a copy of each month at least from the mid 1930s through the mid 1950s, in both the Women's Home Companion and the Women's Home Journal. With 12 issues a year of each one, that might take a while to collect, and even longer to read. But as I said, I have a good start!

I have to say that there were quite a few recipes I want to try from this issue. That's unusual, since many times vintage recipes and meal ideas do not pique my interest, and the more bizarre ones are…rather too bizarre. Like this one, which amused me. Ever try Miracle Whip as dessert with fruit and jello? Me either. Ever intend to try it? Me either!

The fashions in the late 1940s and very early 1950s were lovely and feminine, with classic lines that were a middle ground between the fabric restrictions of WWII and the super narrow or full silhouette of the 1950s. This ensemble caught my eye with its color coordination. I may have to try to copy it sometime. Usually I would pair light brown with a dark brown, or with a contrasting color like blue. But I am drawn to the variations on the same neutral color. It was described as a "garden party dress" and that's a good description for it.

And do my eyes deceive me, or do I recognize the pattern in this ad? It's always exciting to come across references back in the day to something in your own personal collection. The bolero this lady is wearing has a collar and cuffs, but otherwise it looks very much like my Nancy Goes to Rio pattern, a costume designed by Helen Rose for one of the actresses in the movie. Which would make sense, since Nancy Goes to Rio was made in 1950!

My copy of the pattern.

I spotted the skirt on the mannequin first, thinking, "Hey, I know that skirt!" Then when I saw the bolero I was sure. The pattern is still on my to make list, but I do love the fabric choice shown here with a solid and a print. The bolero is shown worn with a matching dress (probably sleeveless) which would make a mix-and-match 3 piece. Such a pretty style with a touch of those unusual style elements which makes vintage fashion so special! (Especially as compared with modern "everyday" fashion, which is sad.)

What do you think? Same pattern?