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Mrs. Depew Vintage

Mrs. Depew VintageMrs. Depew VintageMrs. Depew Vintage

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Mrs. Depew Vintage

Mrs. Depew VintageMrs. Depew VintageMrs. Depew Vintage

Signed in as:

filler@godaddy.com

  • Home
  • Shop
  • Blog
  • FAQ
    • Draft-at-Home FAQ
    • FAQ
    • Types of Patterns
  • Haslam
  • Pattern School
  • Woman's Institute
  • About
  • Contact
  • Deals and Discounts
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Sewing Help
    • Fabric and Notions
    • Sewing Help
    • Tutorials
  • Exclusive Content
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Fashion Service throughout the Years

    A brief history of Fashion Service

    fashion service subscription card.

    History

    The Fashion Service magazines were provided first as a quarterly review in the Fall Winter 1920 issue, and later in 1927 as a monthly magazine.  It often gave enough information for an experienced home seamstress to create an entire seasonal wardrobe. 


    Do not let the early simplicity of the cover fool you (they made them more colorful later on). The contents are pure illustrated and meticulously detailed genius. 

    The last issue appears to have been published some time in 1938.

    Patterns

    Fashion Service included lots of illustrations advertising sewing patterns from companies including Butterick, Excella, Ladies Home Journal,  McCall, Pictorial Review, and more.  

    Later they offered their own line of Woman's Institute patterns - possibly in partnership with one of the large mail order syndicate companies operating in the 1930s.

    A list among the last pages of each issue gave the pattern company, name, and price of the model illustrated within. This is one unique way to date the vintage sewing patterns in your collection.

    Contents

    One brilliant aspect of the Fashion Service was the regular inclusion of sewing pattern diagrams and detailed dressmaking and millinery lessons. The diagrams are always easily drafted and the included instructions were often illustrated, making them well worth the meager subscription fee.

    We offer a free PDF download of one of the original 1930s Fashion Service patterns here.

    Free Stuff!

    If you would like a look at a typical Fashion Service Magazine, we offer a free download of the December 1929 Fashion Service here.

    The Fashion Service Magazine List

    1920  - In August of 1920, the American 19th Amendment to the Constitution is ratified, giving women the right to vote.

    Fall /Winter - The 1st Edition is published. 


    1921 - In 1921, the iconic "Chanel No. 5" perfume is created by Coco Chanel.

    Spring/ Summer

    Fall /Winter


    1922 -  In 1922 The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) is formed in the United Kingdom.

    Spring/ Summer

    Fall /Winter


    1923 - In 1923  King Tutankhamun's Tomb is opened by Howard Carter and Insulin is mass-produced.

    Spring/ Summer

    Fall /Winter


    1924 - In 1924,  the very first Winter Olympics take place in Chamonix, France.

    Spring/ Summer

    Fall/ Winter


    1925 - The Great Gatsby is published in April of 1925.

    Spring

    Summer

    Autumn

    Winter


    1926 -  Route 66, a major U.S. road is opened and John Logie Baird publicly demonstrates the television. 

    Spring

    Summer

    Autumn

    Winter


    1927 -  In 1927, Charles Lindbergh flies first solo transatlantic flight direct from New York City to Paris. 

    Spring

    May - the first monthly Fashion Service issue.

    June

    July

    August

    September

    October

    November

    December


    1928 -  Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin and Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse cartoon first appears.

    January

    February

    March 

    April

    May

    June

    July

    August

    September

    October

    November

    December

    The Complete Year


    1929 - The great stock market crash happened in October of 1929.

    January

    February

    March 

    April

    May

    June

    July

    August

    September -  Fall - Winter  

    October

    November

    December


    1930 - The popular cartoon character "Betty Boop" makes her debut in "Dizzy Dishes."

    January

    February

    March 

    Spring

    April

    May

    June

    July

    August

    September

    Fall/ Winter

    October

    November

    December


    1931 -  The US suffers the worst ever drought in its history, leading to the Dust Bowl years.

    January

    February

    March 

    April

    May

    June - July

    August

    September

    October

    November

    December

    The Complete Year


    1932 - Al Capone is convicted of Income Tax Evasion & Amelia Earhart becomes the first female aviator to successfully fly solo across the Atlantic. 

    January

    February

    March 

    April

    May

    June

    July

    August

    September

    October

    November

    December


    1933 -  The U.S. 21st Amendment is passed repealing the 18th and ending prohibition of alcohol.
    January - February

    March - April

    May - June

    July - August

    September - October

    November - December


    1934 -  

    Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow die after a shoot out with FBI.

    January- February

    March - April 

    May - June

    July - August

    September - October

    November - December


    1935 -  Physicist Erwin Schrödinger publishes his famous thought experiment "Schrödinger's cat".

    January-February

    March-April 

    May-June

    July - August

    Fall Fashion Number



    1938 - The first "Superman" comic is issued by Action Comics.

    Summer Number -  may be the last Fashion Service ever published.

    inspiration magazine

    "Devoted to the Advancement and Encouragement of the Students of the Woman's Institute..."

    In the 1920 advertisement booklet Dressmaking Made Easy, under the header of " 

    "Supplies and Materials you will Receive Free with your course" was a subscription to Inspiration. 

    "A Monthly Magazine: You will receive our monthly magazine, "Inspiration," giving practical sewing helps and in-between-season style suggestions."


    Inspiration Magazine Timeline:


    1920

    May

    June

    July

    August

    September

    October

    November

    December


    1921 

    February

    March


    1922 



    1923 



    1924 



    1925 

    February

    August - September


    1926 

    October


    1927 


    Inspiration magazine 1920.

    Featured Products


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