On the Bookshelf

Posted by: kate  /  Category: General Information, Homefront Reenacting, Reference Materials

Here are a few books that should make it a lot easier for you to spot what is, or is not, period appropriate for WWII. I’ve included books referencing the 1930′s and the 1940′s, because the war started earlier in Europe than it did for the US, and not every household in the 1940′s in America was on top of fashion. One of the biggest reasons vintage clothing is so hard to find is the Depression-era ‘recycle’ mentality. I believe my grandmother’s WAAF uniform (she was British) was eventually made into a rag rug. **shudder**
So, take a gander… you can get good deals on purchasing more than one, and Amazon has excellent shipping deals all the time!



Musical interlude- Cole Porter

Posted by: kate  /  Category: General Information, Reference Materials

Having just spent half the morning entertaining a very small child by singing Cole Porter tunes, I thought you could all get in the mood with me!

Pattern and clothing source- Reconstructing History

Posted by: kate  /  Category: General Information, Homefront Reenacting, Reference Materials

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Kass McGann, she puts some serious research into every pattern she creates and produces… and they have excellent customer service besides!

Reconstructing History

Right now they offer patterns for mens trousers, a ladies early 40′s suit, a 1943 day dress, and a 1941 ladies redingote coat. (all separate patterns)  This is just a drop in the proverbial bucket, compared to the amount of patterns available for other time periods!

This, from their website, pretty much sums up the dedication to excellence that drives this company:

“I’ve spent days in the basements and backrooms of museums, and months studying the technology that went into making clothing and trying to replicate it as best as I can.  Unlike many costume historians who describe what clothing of a certain period looks like, I seek to understand how it is made.  I do this by going the nth degree with my reconstructions so that I can truly understand the whys and wherefores of period clothing construction and how it is different from clothing production today.”

“Founded in August 1997, Reconstructing History is one woman’s dream to bring information on historic clothing to the public and make this data available worldwide.  During the past nine years, our method for achieving this goal has changed.  From selling replica clothing to sharing information on extant garments to writing instructions for beginners and posting dress diaries, Reconstructing History has grown and evolved.  We hope with each change, we have helped more people understand historic clothing and able to reconstruct their own.”

Clothing production is a new adventure for Reconstructing History… one we can’t wait to see bear fruit!

Pattern image is directly from their website, and is one of four currently available at the time of this writing, but we will be sure to keep you updated!

Make and Mend for Victory!

Posted by: kate  /  Category: General Information, Homefront Reenacting, Reference Materials

I teach a class every year in January on how to reuse what you have on hand for making clothing for WWII reenacting. The same holds true for today.  Most of the clothing you have on hand right now could be reused or recycled.  Places like Salvation Army stores, Goodwill stores, and Savers have a booming business, recycling clothing from donations into cash for their charities.

This particular booklet is a goldmine of information! It teaches everything from darning socks to utilizing the fabric from a man’s suit to create a ladies suit!

This is the (Inside Cover) Consumer Victory Pledge:

As a consumer, in the total defense of democracy, I will do my part to make my home, my community, my country ready, efficient, strong.

I will buy carefully–and I will not buy anything above the ceiling price, no matter how much I may want it.

I will take good care of the thiings I have–and I will not buy anything made from vital war materials which I can get along without.

I will waste nothing–and I will take care to salvage everything needed to win the war.

-Consumer Division, Office of Price Administration

you can find a set of the pages as jpg files on Flickr- here

Then and Now- Cost of Living

Posted by: kate  /  Category: General Information, Reference Materials

Cost of Living 1940

Average costs  in 1940:
New House  $3,920.00
Average annual salary $754.00
Gasoline (per gallon) 11 cents
Average rent $30.00/month
Movie ticket 24 cents
New car  $850.00

Cost of Living Now

Average costs  in the last few years:
New House  $203,000.00
Average annual wages: men earned an average of $46,367 in 2008, while women earned $35,745.
Gasoline: As I write this, the national average is $2.88/gallon
Average rent $650/month
Movie ticket $10.00
New car  $30,000.00