Clara's 1940s Pajamas

This week, Clara has some more pajamas. Last week, they were from the 1930s, and this week, they're from the 1940s. Once again, the pajamas are two very different styles of nightwear — one is a lacy, ruffled nightdress, and the other is a practical, comfy pair of pajamas.

Clara would be very comfortable in either of these 1940s pajamas. The nightgown has a nice ruffled neckline trimmed with ribbon. The high geometrical waistline adds a stylish touch, and the soft a-line gown would create a flattering silhouette.

The two-piece pajamas are for a colder evening with long, blousy sleeves gathered loosely at the wrist. A sweetheart neckline was very popular in the 40s. The loose pants would be comfortable instead of restrictive.

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

Clara's Dress 66 (764.5k)

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 1930s Pajamas

In the 1920s, lounge pajamas were quite fashionable as beachwear, worn to cover a bathing suit. As the decade progressed, pajamas were worn as day wear and even worn to parties.

In the movie Singin' in the Rain, which was set in 1927, Lena Lamont is wearing gorgeous silky pink and black pajamas on the movie set when she meets Donald Lockwood. And in the fashion scene, the model wears some outrageous fur-trimmed turquoise and green pajamas "for lounging in your boudoir."

By the 1930s, movie actresses had made pajamas into a popular fashion choice for wearing day or night, worn as a casual alternative to dressing up.

Clara’s pajamas are quite stylish, and she could wear them for day or night. The pajamas have a short-sleeved tunic top, tied with a soft silky bow, which was worn over soft, loose pants.

If the pajamas are a bit too avant-garde, Clara also has a long nightgown with butterfly sleeves and a high, curved waistline. Pinch pleats add a nice stylish accent to the yoke, and some piping adds extra detail.

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

Clara's Dress 65 (760.9k)

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 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)