Clara's 1918-1920s Nightgowns

A couple weeks ago, I got a request to do a nightgown for Clara. Nightgown fashion is rarely documented compared to day and evening fashions. Museums are full of gorgeous, pristine clothing. For example, most wedding gowns and many evening gowns were only worn once. Nightgowns, though, were bought to be worn, and many were worn out, so there are fewer examples around.


However, nightgowns or pajamas are still just clothing, and they follow the fashion trends, too. If lace and poofy sleeves are in fashion, they show up in nightgowns. If flowing lines and slinky fabrics are in fashion, the nightgowns follow the trends. If bright colors and bold patterns are in style, they show up in pajamas, too.


So here are two nightgowns from the late 1910s, or early 1920s. Unlike earlier Victorian or Edwardian nightgowns, these are shorter in length, and less elaborate. Both nightgowns have similar A-lines, and very elaborate yokes. One has more geometrical decorations, the other more lace and pin tucks.

Nightgowns have been made of many materials, from silk and satin to cotton or rayon. In the late 1910s and early 20s, most nightgowns were made of silk or batiste, which is a lightweight cotton or linen. 

Although nightgowns were usually white or ivory, by the late 1910s, nightgowns could be found in the popular colors of the day.

To print Clara's nightgown, use this PDF file:

Clara's Dress 60 (774k)

Clara is a free, printable paper doll. Clara will be available on this blog as long as I continue to post new fashion pages for her. You can read the introduction for the Clara paper doll here.

To print the Clara paper doll, use this PDF file:

 The Clara Paper Doll (718k)

Clara's 1940s Day Dress

World War II had a huge impact on fashion in the early 1940s. Some clothing mimicked military uniforms (think shoulder pads), but mostly fashion was dictated by shortages in fabric and trim as supplies were disrupted and factories converted to war production. Neat tailored dresses — using minimal fabric and trim — were popular, with plain waists, narrow knee-length skirts, pockets at the hips, and gathers at the neck or waist.

Colors were conservative, fabrics plain. But with everyone wanting to look their best to counteract the worries of the war, hair was one way that women could dress up. Shoulder-length hair was worn in elaborate curls and rolls, copying the popular movie stars of the day.

Shoes in the 1940s were generally mary janes, oxfords, pumps, or sandals. Heels were increasing in popularity, varying from low to high, including wedges. Clara's peep-toe pumps have the taller Continental Heels, also called High Cuban or French heels. 

Tan stockings were popular, and always had a seam down the back of the calf. The challenge was to keep the seam straight. My grandmother told stories about drawing a line on the back of her legs when nylon stockings could no longer be bought due to war shortages. The only alternative to nylon at the time was rayon. Sold as  "Victory Stockings," the rayon stockings bunched, stretched, and sagged. So bare, tanned legs with a painted line were very much preferred to the wrinkly stockings.

The original dress was a blue denim colored dress. The shoes were back patent leather.

To print Clara's dress, use this PDF file:

Clara's Dress 59 (735k)

Clara is a free, printable paper doll. Clara will be available on this blog as long as I continue to post new fashion pages for her. You can read the introduction for the Clara paper doll here.

To print the Clara paper doll, use this PDF file:

 The Clara Paper Doll (718k)

Clara's 1819 Regency Evening Dress

Fashion in the early 1800s could be pretty complicated for society ladies. There were morning dresses, walking dresses, visiting dresses,  traveling dresses, riding dresses, dinner dresses, and evening dresses. There were fashion rules about how long the sleeves could be – for instance, it was not acceptable to wear short sleeves in the morning. Morning dresses were long-leeved and high-necked.

As a young lady, it would be proper for Clara to wear short sleeves in the evening. She could also have a wide neckline, but to be modest, she would need to wear ankle-length pantalettes under her gown. Bare arms were ok, but ankles! No way.

Of course, as always, high fashion was for the wealthy, so we'll have to pretend that Clara was wealthy and could afford expensive dresses.

The period in fashion from 1811 to 1820 is commonly known as the Regency Era. Dresses typically had high waists, and a simple silhouette. Layers of cloth created a flowing style. Evening dresses were typically decorated with rows of elaborate ribbons, tucks, or other decorations. Clara’s dress is a silk party dress, but not as elaborate as some evening gowns, since it is only decorated with a simple leaf detail.

A pair of thin dancing slippers with tiny bows and some tall silk stockings finish off the outfit.

Young ladies typically wore white or pastel colors in the 1810s when they dressed up for an event. The original  dress was a light, greenish tan (which may have been originally white, but turned brown with age). The leaf designs and ropes, and the neck and sleeve trim were a dull turquoise.

To print Clara's dress, use this PDF file:

Clara's Dress 58 (775k)

Clara is a free, printable paper doll. Clara will be available on this blog as long as I continue to post new fashion pages for her. You can read the introduction for the Clara paper doll here.

To print the Clara paper doll, use this PDF file:

 The Clara Paper Doll (718k)