Vintage fashion as yet maintains an
impressive appeal that people are still drawn to it. Like several other things,
the way garments were made & manufactured was immensely different from the
way it is done currently. Moreover, some of the fabrics used back in days to
make cloths are barely or scarcely recognizable today. Let’s take a look at the fabrics that were
popular in the past in order to understand why and how clothing back then looks
different from the way it does now.
Fabrics
During the previous era fashion vintage womens clothing
was made from high and fine quality fabrics that were soft, airy and light to
the touch. Unlike present day’s clothing which is made from highly durable
synthetic fabric and is mass manufactured, the care and quality that went into
the production of clothing then is nothing less than impressive. All fabrics
were used carefully to create statement-making, gorgeous styles.
Cotton
Cotton was favoured highly and it had a
variety of uses. It was not only a breathable material, great for making cloths
that would resist wear but could be treated in several ways to make differing
looks and textures. One such sheer yet sturdy fabric was voile made from 100%
cotton which can take dye easily and be created in a range of colour options. Lisle,
a thread is made by tightly twisting the two thin strands of cotton. It also
takes dye remarkably well and has a texture that is moderately more durable.
Wool
Wool was an all time popular fabric! Due to
its durability it was used to produce several vintage garments. Because of its
bristly and rough texture, it was often integrated with softer fabrics like
cotton and silk to produce a wool blend that was little more comfortable to put
on and easier to maintain.
Outfits where a little warmth and weight
was necessary were made with wool. Suit jackets and other outerwears for men
were made from thick wool. Softer wool blends were used to design dresses for
women like skirts.
Rayon
Initially this fabric had an unappealing,
rough texture; it was however then combined with other material to produce a
soft blend. It also got popular as artificial silk and was used in making many
items where traditionally silk would have been used. Items like men’s neckties,
underclothing and some dresses were formed with this revolutionary material in
the past.
Linen
Linen was a popular choice for clothing
during past times and remains pertinent t this day. This fabric was found in a
variety of clothing items during the Art Deco period. It was a great choice for
men’s suiting due to its lightweight yet structured feel and look allowed
breathability during hot months.
Knit
Knit sweaters were considered too casual
for everyday use and were associated often with only collegiate or athletic
apparels. Knits exceedingly became more popular with many as sportswear became
mainstream. Tough knit sweaters were not so stretchy as they are today. The
yarn used to be stiff and raw while today it is pliable and soft.
Silk
Traditional silk has a shiny, thin
appearance which is pleasing and smooth to the eye. The rougher, heavier
texture which is created by combining silk threads is known as crepe. Crepe
& crepe georgette were used in the
past to design vintage style dresses, evening gowns and other elegant outfits. Traditional silk
was used create high quality garments like upscale dressing gowns. Stockings,
which used to be every woman’s staple boudoir, were also created from silk.
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