The Library Ghost

    After the First World War and the influenza epidemic of 1918, the 1920s were a time of desperate decadence.  Wartime rationing was lifted or lessened, though food shortages would linger in some places until the middle of the decade.   Germany suffered economically due to paying war reparations, and middle-class women across the Western world entered the job market in unprecedented numbers, impacting their expected role as homemakers.  For the United States, 1920 marked the first year of Prohibition, driving the liquor market underground and leading to mob control of alcohol sales.  In October of 1929, the USA's stock market crashed, putting an end to the Roaring Twenties. Baked goods and sandwiches Cakes, meat pies, fruit tarts, breads, sandwiches.     Bradley, Alice. Good Things to Eat: Made with Cow Brand Baking Soda . Montreal, QC: Church & Dwight, 1924.     Hill, Janet McKenzie. Cakes, Pastry and Dessert Dis...

    Here are some fashion plates from the 1920s, mostly from The Delineator with a few from McCall's Magazine . 1920      —. " Frocks for Warm Afternoons ." The Delineator , vol. 97, no. 1 (Jul. 1920), p. 99.      —. " Paris Centers Her Interest on Her Hipline ." The Delineator , vol. 96, no. 4 (Apr. 1920), p. 151.      —. " The Long Body Reaches Far in Popularity and There Are New Ways of Emphasizing the Hip ." The Delineator , vol. 97, no. 2 (Sept. 1920), p. 95.     —. " The Spring Frock ." The Delineator , vol. 96, no. 3 (Mar. 1920), p. 135. 1921      —. " Paris Has an Extremely Easy Way of Treating the Straight Silhouette ." The Delineator , vol. 99, no. 5 (Dec. 1921), p. 28.     —. " The Newest Lines Are Accentuated with Charming Embroideries ." The Delineator , vol. 97, no. 6 (Jan. 1921), p. 67. 1922      —. " The Smart Box-Coat and Cape, Also the New Fabric Tr...

    Here are some nineteen-twenties embroidery patterns from various fashion and needlework magazines of the day .  Sadly, I was not able to find many beading charts or patterns for applied braid, but there was an astonishing amount of material on crochet. Appliqué      Ashley, Marie. " Appliqué Work Appears Among the New Embroideries ." The Delineator , vol. 97, no. 2 (Sept. 1920), p. 108.      McCunn, Ethel M. " When Felt Is Featured Applique Acquires a New Charm ." Needlecraft Magazine , vol. 19, no. 3 (Nov. 1927), pp. 8,26. Beadwork     —. " Working-Chart of Beaded Design on Moire Bag ." Needlecraft Magazine , vol. 19, no. 3 (Nov. 1927), p. 31. Crochet      Ashley, Marie. " Button! Button! What Makes the Button? " The Delineator , vol. 96, no. 5 (May 1920), pp. 162–163.      Ashley, Marie. " Filet Crochet Rises to the Top and Collars a Blouse ." The Delineator , vol. 96, no. 4 (Apr. 1920),...

    These are all advertisements for and previews of transfer patterns, which can often be enlarged and copied for normal use.  There are... a lot.  I've organized them by year, and will have proper embroidery patterns in another post. 1920     Ashley, Marie. " Appliqué Work Appears Among the New Embroideries ." The Delineator , vol. 97, no. 2 (Sept. 1920), p. 108.     Ashley, Marie. " Beading with Embroidery and Various Stitches Are Combined ." The Delineator , vol. 97, no. 2 (Sept. 1920), p. 109.     Ashley, Marie. " Combined Stitches for Blouse and Cut-Work for Linen ." The Delineator , vol. 96, no. 3 (Mar. 1920), p. 149.     Ashley, Marie. " Embroideries for New Frock and Blouse ." The Delineator , vol. 96, no. 1 (Jan. 1920), p. 87.      Ashley, Marie. " Embroidery Captures the Costume in a Bold, Effective Manner ." The Delineator , vol. 96, no. 5 (May 1920), pp. 164–165.  ...

    This is a more specific version of the "Young Person's Introduction to Early 20th-Century Western Fashion" post, as I received a complaint that Edwardian-era material was not separated from flapper-era material.  So, here is the "flapper-era" material, on its own. General information Timeline, silhouette, miscellaneous.     Le, Mina. " Chicago (2002): the history of showgirl costumes ." YouTube . February 13, 2021.     Rowe, Kaz. " Exploring the Secret Lesbian World of Interwar Paris ." YouTube . June 18, 2024.     Rudolph, Nicole. " The History of Standardized Sizes in Womens Fashion and Why They FAILED ." YouTube . May 16, 2021.      The Deco Minimalist. " 1930s FASHION: Why is no one talking about it? " YouTube . May 2, 2022.     Zebrowska, Karolina. " 1920s Fashion Is Not What You Think It Is ." YouTube . May 20, 2018. Accessories Pockets, hats, canes, etc.     Cox, Abb...