We all know fashion changes with the years, but have you ever thought about just how much it changes? I hadn’t really until I was looking through the archive for 1932, and realized just how happy I am to wear pants. 

Waistlines Reach New High Marks (Boy, have they never shopped for pants at Old Navy) 

Empire Influence Responsible for Climbing. 

No doubt it is the tendency to go slightly empire in the general silhouette that has influenced the built-up waistlines and even corselet skirts that have lately made their appearance 

Suits of this type with bolero jackets are intriguing, since there is a very new note about them and to many of the younger generations are new and therefore quite exciting. The high waist-lined skirt is being also worn with ordinary jackets and is much need for ensembles. 

The high line lends itself, too, to the top of printed fabric and is being thus promoted, for it gives prints a chance to shine without being too obstrusive about it. The printed top has a very youthful note and is simply grand in an ensemble for general day or town wear. 

Jackets, however brief, manage to incorporate several salient style touches, such as shoulder accents and highly original sleeves. The collarless jacket is frequently encountered here on all sorts of suits and ensembles. 

A jabot, of bodice material, especially if it is printed or of lingerie or lace, makes a pleasing and neat finish. Indeed neatness is one of the main characteristics of the new mode. We just refuse fussiness. 

Modish Flat Crepe  

By Cherie Nicholas 

It is stylish to the ‘nth degree is this stunning costume of print and plain flat crepe. You can picture it to yourself in almost any color alliances, for these handsome printed flat crepes come in an array of gorgeous colorings, such as black with yellow and green patterning, navy with wisteria pink and lettuce green, dark brown with light blue and ochre, and so on and so on. Of course, if the predominating tone in the silk be bright navy for example, then the redingote coat will repeat this identical blue. The cuffs, the scarf and the revers will most likely duplicate the fresh-looking green in the modernistic printed florals. These plain-with-print redingote costumes are the rage in Paris. 

Style Notes 

Sheer frocks are worn over pastel taffeta slips 

Hand-crocheted yokes register throughout the mode. 

Wide-brimmed navy straw hats “say it” with emphasis. 

Pale pink is a close second to white in the sports realm. 

Scarf necklines are made a feature in the new coats and suits. 

Puff sleeves, yokes and jabots give a new aspect to the sweater blouse. 

An increasing use of buttons is noted, especially pearl and nickel types. 

Jewelry Is Now Worn to Match Gown Color 

Bracelets are now worn to match the predominating color in the printed design of a velvet afternoon or evening gown. And for these combinations all the precious and semi-precious stones are employed—sapphires, emeralds, peridots, amethysts and so on. A lovely frock of jade chiffon velvet worn by a famous beauty had accompanying jewels of jade plaques mounted in diamond rims. The frock was simple in design, but the necklace was magnificent. A jade comb to march was worn low down in a mass of golden curls.  

Round Toed Shoes 

Be stubborn with your stubby-toed shoes and you’ll have smart feet. Pointed toes on oxfords and walking pumps are a bit outmodeled, particularly with the current trend toward the boyishly-tailored silhouette. 

I feel like we need to have a “terms you don’t know” section for things like jabot for people like me that don’t know what a jabot is. So here it is: 

Stuff I didn’t know: 

• Jabot- an ornamental frill or ruffle on the front of a shirt or blouse, typically made of lace 
• Corselet- a woman’s foundation garment combining corset and bra 
• Obstrusive- noticeable or prominent in an unwelcome or intrusive way 
• Modish- conforming to or following what is currently popular and fashionable. 
• Crepe- a light, thin fabric with a wrinkled surface. 
• Salient- most noticeable or important. 
• Redingote- a woman’s long coat with a cutaway or contrasting front. 

I would also like to make a note here that I’m very glad we don’t have to wear “walking pumps” anymore. My feet thank the evolution of fashion.