Weekend Eye Candy - Robert Piguet, 1950

There is no more appropriate weekend for this gorgeous ensemble by Robert Piguet from 1950.  The designer combines a vibrant orange wool jacket and vest over a dress of black and white checked wool.  Add a matching jaunty hat, black gloves and a chunky silver bracelet and you are ready!

If you're headed to a Halloween party this weekend, have fun, stay safe and don't forget to take pictures of yourself in your costume!  Send my your photos and enter to win a $50 Couture Allure gift certificate!  Full details can be found here.

How to Get the Look: 1950 Eye Makeup

One eye is made up to show what a difference eye cosmetics can make.

At the Paris couture shows for Spring 1950, models wore exaggerated eye makeup, even with daytime clothes.  Cosmetics manufacturers were quick to offer products for this previously untouched area of the average female face. Short hair had already hit the streets in the U.S. and women adopted the doe-eyed look as a seductive balance to their boyish haircuts.  In the photo above, the model is wearing eye makeup on one eye to show the difference cosmetics can make.

Here, from 1950, a step-by-step tutorial on how to get the doe-eyed look:

1.  Apply shadow on the lids from the center of the eye out concentrating color towards the temple.  A lighter shade of shadow can be blended up to the brow.
2.  Dark eye pencil is used to line the upper lid from the inside corner.  Fan the pencil out and up at the outer corner to look like an extension of the lashes.

3.  Use a dark brown (preferred over black) pencil to draw a narrow line under the lower lashes from inner corner out to meet the liner on top.
4.   Darken and shape the eyebrow with pencil.  Add mascara to balance the entire look.

The finished look topped off with a beauty mark for added allure.

Here's an eye makeup tutorial from 1960, also from Paris.

Paris Couture: Jacques Fath, 1950

Jacques Fath was considered one of the most important influences in post-war Parisian couture.  These suits and dresses are all from his line for Spring 1950.  Fath was a superb tailor and I covet one of his garments for my collection.  Which is your favorite?

Couture Evening Gowns - 1950

It's been awhile since I showed you evening gowns. Let's just pretend we all have a grand affair to attend this weekend for which we need an over-the-top gown. How about these couture creations from Spring 1950? Which will you choose?

Christian Dior

Jacques Fath

Mme. Grés

Christian Dior

Lucile Manguin

Mad for Plaid - 1950

The Fall-Winter 1950 Simplicity Pattern magazine is loaded with plaid looks for sewing projects. Care to be inspired for your own home sewing for fall?

Above: Green topper coat, Simplicity 3327. Red vest, Simplicity 3298. Plaid skirt, Simplicity 3027. Add a little Louis Vuitton and you're set to travel! Oh, and a sealskin purse.

Plaid wool blouse with velvet collar and cuffs and co-ordinating tuck front skirt, Simplicity 2624.

Left: Plaid and solid wools make a smart suit, Simplicity 8157.

Right: Bold checked wool jacket, Simplicity 8208.

3/4 swing coat belted at the waist, Simplicity 8188.

A plaid vest makes a statement with a suit, Simplicity 3298.

Taffeta plaid full skirted evening dress, Simplicity 3139.

Vintage Swimsuits - 1950

Yes, you read it right. This swimsuit by Jacques Heim is from 1950. Most of you felt this suit was from the 1960s, and it would have fooled me too if I didn't have the original magazine that these suits were featured in. Wearing History and annasoc both guessed early 50s, and Sacheverelle guessed 1940s over on Facebook. Congrats to you three for being the closest! This just goes to show how far ahead of his time Jacques Heim was.

Here are more suits from the same year. Enjoy!

Carven two-piece in orange, brown, and black cotton batik.

Bikini and cover-up by Jeanne Lafaurie. That is one daring swimsuit for it's time!

Black stretch jersey two piece by Amy Blatt.

Schiaparelli white cotton pique with buttons down the front.

A bit more covered up in white and blue sateen by Maggy Rouff.

Vintage Hats - 1950

Legroux Soeurs

I'm going to be a woman of few words this week. Hats are one of the few things that can make me smile right now. I know you understand. Today's beauties are all from 1950.

Gerard Albouy

Claude St-Cyr

Gilbert Orcel

Caroline Reboux

Maud Roser

Weekend Eye Candy - Balenciaga 1950

Embroidered black tulle over a nude lining embellished with a huge red taffeta bow. Balenciaga, May 1950. Click the photo to see a larger view.

Foundation Garments to Make Your Vintage Dresses Fit Correctly

Buyers of vintage clothing often wonder why these garments don't fit as well as they would like. The answer? Foundation garments! Prior to the late 1960s, every woman had a complete wardrobe of various foundations, because her figure was as much a part of the fashion as her dress. In fact, vintage garments were designed and constructed with the understanding that the woman who wore them would be wearing the correct bra, girdle, and slip.

Here are four looks from 1950, with the foundation garments that should be worn underneath for precise control where the style required it.

1950 Simplicity Designer Pattern 8207

Essential for the long fitted jacket and straight skirt is firm derriere control. Flexees girdle with Lastique net over hips and small of back to give suport and suppleness, while a satin lastique panel flattens the derriere. Maiden Form brassiere.

1950 Simplicity Designer Pattern 8252

A sheath dress calls for extra attention to the waistline and thigh. Jantzen girdle has a high waistline to control the diaphragm, while the long length controls the thighs and hips. Maiden Form strapless brassiere for the low cut neckline.

1950 Simplicity Designer Pattern 8224

The sculptured line of a slim basic dress requires the smooth control of an all-in-one corset. This Warner Bros. boneless style has a separate lastex section for diaphragm control and special abdomen, derriere and hip sections with an attached bra.

1950 Simplicity Pattern 2722

The smooth front and flared back of this dress demand the firm abdomen control and fluid movement given by a Playtex all Lastex girdle. Perma-lift low cut brassiere for a deep neckline.

Weekend Eye Candy - 1950 Balenciaga Jacket

Photographed by Irving Penn for American Vogue from Balenciaga's Winter 1950 collection. A paletot and scarf in putty-coloured broadcloth. Paletot: A loose outer jacket, cloak, coat