Beautiful Fashions For Fall and Winter - 1912

What the Glass of Fashion reveals for the Fall and Winter 1912.

What the Glass of Fashion reveals for the Fall and Winter 1912. Designs by Grace Margaret Gould, Painting by M. Emma Musselman. Woman's Home Companion, September 1912. GGA Image ID # 16486c9f9f

Designs by Grace Margaret Gould
Painting by M. Emma Musselman

The glass of fashion is revealing this year many surprises, but they are all happy surprises, with a note of charm and a touch of the artistic about them.

The silhouette is changing, but only for the better. It is losing some of its straight lines, hut for every straight line that it has given up a curve of beauty has come in its place. Soft draperies and gracefully modified panniers are new substitutes for the straight,  hopelessly plain skirts. 

But this does not mean that skirts are to flare or be increased in width to any marked extent, for the foundation skirt of the majority of the latest costumes is still straight and narrow, though not as narrow as it was when walking in it was really dangerous.

Sleeves are growing longer, and when they are not of the tailored type, fanciful little puffs are often added to increase their length. Coats, too, are longer and are showing more the outline of the figure, though the old-fashioned tight-fitting coat is not yet with us.

The new coats are very graceful in line and are semi-fitted. Many of them show a belt or some trimming at the back. The long, close-fitting sleeve frequently has a bell shape at the wrist.

Perhaps the prettiest pictures which the glass of fashion is now revealing are the evening dresses. Many of these are period costumes, though each one shows some modification of the fashion of the past which gives it a note of today.

The panniers worn by Marie Antoinette are here again, but they have lost so much of their bouffant effect that they would hardly be recognized as panniers. Draped skirts are much worn, and skirts of plaited chiffon are another of the modes which the glass of fashion is revealing. These are very lovely in daintily printed chiffons over a petticoat of satin, the satin petticoat showing at the bottom.

Puffings of the same fabric as the gown are one of the fashionable trimmings, and little soft plaitings and ruches of tulle are also used.  Laces, both heavy and filmy, are lavishly introduced in the new gowns, and the combination of the light lace with the heavy is much liked. Bead embroidery is a feature of many of the evening gowns.

In the fabrics for evening costumes, we have many crêpes and chiffons, and much satin charmeuse in most exquisite colorings.

IT IS the privilege of every woman who belongs to the big Woman's Home Companion family to know all about the new fashions each season far in advance. This year she is specially privileged.

The Fashion Editor, Miss Gould, is able to hold the glass up to fashion so that every woman may see for herself the changes in the new modes and note their many fascinating surprises.

And best of all, some of the very smartest of the coming fashions for autumn and winter are shown in full color, just as the models were originally developed. These new costumes will be found on pages 44 and 45.

It is the skirt which shows the most novelty. Though the foundation skirt is still scant, we have draperies in plenty, many of which suggest the pannier. The severe, perfectly plain skirts will be but little used this coming season, except perhaps in some of the tailored suits which are designed purposely for general utility wear, yet even in these skirts a few plaits are to be seen, preferably toward the foot, where they widen the skirt.

No. 2081—Surplice Waist with Puffed Sleeves. 32 to 42-inch bust measures.

Quantity of material required for medium size, or 36-inch bust, three yards of twenty two-inch material, or one and one-half yards of thirty-six-inch material, with one yard of net, three fourths of a yard of contrasting material for collar, and one fourth of a yard for girdle.

No. 2082–Skirt Draped at Side, 22 to 32-inch waist measures.

Quantity of material required for medium size, or 26-inch waist, five and one-half yards of twenty-two-inch material, or three and three fourths yards of thirty-six-inch material, with one and one-fourth yards of contrasting material.

No. 2083–Long-Sleeved Waist with Chemisette. 32 to 44-inch bust measures.

Quantity of material required for medium size, or 36-inch bust, three and three fourths yards of twenty-two-inch material, or two and one-fourth yards of thirty-six inch material, with one-half yard of lace for collar and cuffs, and one-half yard of net for chemisette.

No. 2084–Tailored Skirt in Pannier Effect. 22 to 34-inch waist.

Length of skirt, 41 inches. Quantity of material re quired for medium size, or 26-inch waist, six and one-half yards of twenty-two-inch material, or four yards of thirty-six-inch material.

No. 2085 – Semi- Fitted Coat: Bell Sleeves. 32 to 44-inch bust measures.

Quantity of material required for medium size, or 36-inch bust, three and one-fourth yards of thirty-six-inch material, or two and three-fourths yards of forty-four-inch material, with one-half yard of contrasting material for collar and cuffs.

No. 2086–Low-Neck Waist with Shoulder Drapery. 32 to 38-inch bust measures.

Quantity of material required for medium size, or 36-inch bust, five yards of twenty two-inch material, or two and seven-eighths yards of thirty-six-inch material, with one half yard of contrasting material for vests.

No. 2087–Pannier Skirt with Front Panel. 22 to 28-inch waist measures.

Length of skirt, 40 inches. Quantity of material required for medium size, or 26 inch waist, seven yards of twenty-two-inch material, or four yards of thirty-six-inch material, with one and one-fourth yards of net for panel, and one and one-fourth yards of lace flouncing.

THE price of each Woman's Home Companion pattern is ten cents, and the patterns may be ordered from the nearest of the three following pattern depots: Pattern Department, Woman's Home Companion, 381 Fourth Avenue, New York; Pattern Department, Woman's Home Companion, Springfield, Ohio; Pattern Department, Woman's Home Companion, 1538 California Street, Denver, Colorado.

The new Fall and Winter Catalogue may also be ordered from these pattern depots. It will be ready for distribution October 25th.

Every woman who makes her own clothes, and every woman who buys her clothes ready-made, will want to see this catalogue before investing in her fall and winter outfit. It tells all about the new fashions, and it is full of clever ideas that do much toward making a dress or a tailored suit a success. In it are illustrated costumes for every possible occasion.

For every design illustrated there is a ten-cent paper pattern. With its aid even the woman of little dressmaking experience can make a gown for herself which will look just like the illustrated design.

"What the Glass of Fashion Reveals for the Fall and Winter," in Woman's Home Companion, New York: The Crowell Publishing Company, Volume XXXIX, No. 9, September 1912, p. 44, 73.

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