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The Collector: The Mode in Dress and Home

Today, I want to share with you one of my very favorite vintage books.

It isn’t the book I’ve learned the most from, nor is it rife with sewing inspiration per se. But I think this home economics textbook from 1935 is the most adorable, largely owing to the fantastic and numerous illustrations.

The color plates are absolutely gorgeous and remind me of my favorite vintage children’s books. I’m sure that’s no accident since this book is aimed at young ladies likely just beginning to enter adulthood. Something about that makes it feel very sweet.

While a portion of the book is devoted to matters of etiquette, most of the book is about dressing well. When you look at it from a modern view, the subjects covered are both surprising and refreshing: selecting color and fabric, “the science of sewing”, creating an ensemble, and caring for your clothes.

I certainly don’t feel any false nostalgia for the days when girls were taught in school the All-important Value Of Being Pretty. And make no mistake, being pretty and charming and well-liked is obviously the overriding value here. But I wouldn’t remind reviving the idea that any student is capable of making their own clothing, of understanding color, and of working with fabric. Not to mention values like frugality and making things last through proper care.

Boy, I sound like an old lady.

Finally, a couple of adorable admonishments:

There are several copies of this lovely book on Amazon right now, for those that are interested.

Sarai Mitnick

Founder

Sarai started Colette back in 2009. She believes the primary role of a business should be to help people. She loves good books, sewing with wool, her charming cats, working in her garden, and eating salsa.

Comments

AnnabelVita

August 16, 2012 #

I love books like this! I have an etiquette book that I enjoy ridiculing (extracts here http://annabelvita.com/2011/03/08/etiquette-for-ladies-in-celebration-of-international-womens-day/) – but this book is quite right about not putting pins in your mouth! This article is a cautionary tale to us all – http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/jul/13/experience-inhaled-pin-into-lung

Sharon

August 16, 2012 #

Wow, I just read that post & it definitely cured my “pins in the mouth” habit! {shudder}

Thea

August 16, 2012 #

Well, that’s definitely cured that habit for me as well. And it didn’t even take any time out of the monthly good habits…

Dana

August 16, 2012 #

Ooh, what a beautiful book. A book to treasure and to make us be grateful for what women have gone on to achieve since then.

Alaskapsych

August 16, 2012 #

That is a lovely book and thank you for sharing. I think a lot of it has to do with the era, remember that was at the height of the Depression. On a personal note, my mother graduated from high school in 1936. I doubt she had the opportunity to be instructed by this book, but I like to think she might have had one similar.

Kathleen

August 16, 2012 #

Looks like all the Amazon copies are gone…but being a librarian, I had to keep hunting!

Here’s a digitized version with illustrations intact! I have no idea if all the plates are there, not having the original to compare to, but you can download it as in ePub, Kindle, PDF, and other formats!

http://archive.org/details/modeindresshome00donorich

Enjoy!

Dana

August 16, 2012 #

Great link. I downloaded the PDF and opened in ibooks (on iPad) it totals 474 pages! Looks like time to curl up with a pot of tea, I could be busy for the next few hours.

Lauren

August 16, 2012 #

Oooh, thank you for this! I was just feeling sad that I wouldn’t be able to read this book haha :) Saved!

Sam

August 16, 2012 #

Thank you for this link Kathleen. I’ve downloaded it and look forward to reading it on my Kindle.

Sarai

August 16, 2012 #

Wonderful! Thanks for finding that, Kathleen!

francesca

August 17, 2012 #

Sarai – thank you once again for a lovely post. Kathleen – thank you so much – I tried ebay etc and was sorely disappointed…. you are so kind!

Sewing Princess

August 17, 2012 #

How cool! I am looking forward to reading it. I am always interested in reading how life and society has changed

Sewing Sveta

August 16, 2012 #

Yes, I put pins in mouth!%) Do you?

Fabiana

August 16, 2012 #

How awesome, Kathleen! Thanks so much for the link!

JIll

August 16, 2012 #

I followed the link to Amazon and it looks like your readers have snapped up the remaining copies!

Vita

August 16, 2012 #

Amazon in the UK has it, including an on-demand printing service. Can’t explain their choice of image for the front cover though!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mode-Dress-Dulcie-Godlove-Donovan/dp/1176847651/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345127231&sr=8-1

Sarai

August 16, 2012 #

Hahahaha, the cover!

Donna

August 22, 2012 #

Another interesting tidbit on that link…. Did you happen to page down to the section on “customers who bought this also bought”?

There’s a single book there. The Colette Sewing Handbook!

Naomi

August 16, 2012 #

Thank you for sharing! It looks absolutely adorable!

Here’s another link for the book on Amazon – a different listing, but the same book.

http://www.amazon.com/Dress-Home-Dulcie-Godlove-Donovan/dp/B001PF1E2M/ref=lh_ni_t

Liz

August 16, 2012 #

Thanks Kathleen…downloaded it and will enjoy…love books like this. I agree it is a shame that some of the basics in Home Ec aren’t taught now…even though I refused to take it in the 60’s since I already knew how to cook (and part of my rebellion). But then my Mom made sure I took sewing classes! For which I am very thankful.

maddie

August 16, 2012 #

Seriously, thanks for sharing this. It was no only eye candy for a typical Thursday in my world but also a little bit of an eye opener as to how much we have changed about the way we perceive clothes. Although I handle my clothes with lots of care, so many others nowadays don’t!

Amanda

August 16, 2012 #

I love books like this! It’s my personal feeling as well that we should be teaching the fine art of caring for our possessions, and emphasizing the benefits of making/repairing things instead of running out and buying more things. Our society is very throw-away oriented, and it would be nice to get some of these “vintage” values back, for sure :)

Tasha @ Stale Bread into French Toast

August 16, 2012 #

Thanks for this! I agree the illustrations are lovely.

And, you don’t sound like an old lady! I couldn’t agree more with you and Amanda, I don’t think there’s any reason we can’t keep the freedoms we have as women (and men) today, and get back to some of the values that would make our society better, like making and fixing more, and throwing away less. In fact, I think this is what a lot of people in the home grown/home made movements are doing right now!

Faye Lewis

August 16, 2012 #

What a lovely book. The pictures are priceless! And yes, I do put pins in my mouth.

Penny

August 16, 2012 #

There is nothing wrond with sounding like an old lady – My grandmother (born 1904) sewed every piece of clothing her family wore (even the hats), and always looked “smart”. She also supported her family financially during the Depression and was an avid socialist. Nothing says you can be well dressed and politically active. I have a wonderful photo of the 1936 Sydney Women’s AntiFacist Book Club annual lunch – and everyone of them is wearing a harmonious ensemble, complete with matching hats and gloves- most would have been handmade. It’s just a shame it’s in black and white so I can’t tell if my blonde granny was wearing cool colours to harmonise with her complexion.

Debra

August 16, 2012 #

I found an original copy at BetterWorldBooks. They also have the reprinted version: http://www.betterworldbooks.com/9781409764878-id-9781409764878.aspx
What a marvelous addition to my retro style collection—thanks much for the recommendation!

francesca

August 17, 2012 #

You totally don’t sound like an old lady, Sarai. I was brought up to look after my clothes and shoes – taking them to be reheeled at the end of the season, feeding them real polish…. by parents who lived thru WWII and the rationing years thereafter – food, fabric, everything was rationed. I am the proud owner of a Breton sailor sweater mummy bought in San Tropez in 1962 – and a Provencal skirt she got a couple of years later – still in fantastic condition. It’s very modern to be frugal and careful, I think – as it’s totally ecological! We need to try to influence others to be less throwaway and swayed by the media to buy buy buy…..

Kathryn Ross

August 17, 2012 #

I inherited this book from my grandmother!
I love the bits of comic relief throughout, such as the girl overdressed pouting at her outfit!
If I ever get a projector I’ d love to transfer the images on my wall.

Angela

August 21, 2012 #

What an adorable book! I love the illustrations!

Gloria Carroll

February 11, 2013 #

I have a hardback copy in perfect condition Copyright 1935 by Allyn and Bacon. The Plimpton Press, Norwood, Mass U.S.A., Book belonged to my mother born in 1920. Color illustrations still colorful and vibrant. will sell for only $20.00 plus shipping.

Erika

May 21, 2013 #

I have the 1947 edition of this book and I love it! I downloaded but haven’t read yet the 1935 edition. It will be interesting to see how the two differ. The illustrations in the ’47 are, of course, updated to the ‘new’ post-war styles of the day.