The very first post on this blog - A
wreath of orange blossoms - raised an interesting question. I was asked if
the pink and blue two-piece worn by mum (Rene Flitney) was an all over floral
pattern, or a blue suit with a pink blouse. I’m not sure I can properly answer
that as there are no photographs (as far as I know), but I thought it would be
fun to try.
Mum and dad were married in 1938 when, according to the University of Brighton, the desirable look for women was still slim, but more womanly and sophisticated than in the previous decade. This body shape was created through longer skirts cut on the bias and by an indented waistline and rounded bosom. This increased exposure of the body was due to sportswear’s influence on new styles, including the ‘halter-neck’ credited to the French couturier Madeleine Vionnet, which exposed arms and back.
According to the Victoria
and Albert Museum; Following the crash of 1929 and the Great Depression,
new, more down-to-earth attitudes forced on the world offered great scope for a
new simplicity. In Britain, fashion became more eclectic but also more feminine
and graceful and, by 1930, the 'boyish' look had disappeared.
Typical day wear for women consisted of a two-piece suit with
sleek, fitted jacket and matching skirt or dress. Floral
designs dominated, but geometric forms were also much in evidence.
This is the only photograph I have of mum as a young woman.
I'm guessing it was taken in 1935, around the time of her eighteenth
birthday.
This photo shows a more mature woman and the bashful look
of a few years before has gone. I'm guessing it was taken around the time of the wedding in 1938.
Considering the two photographs above, I think it fair to say
a sleek fitted jacket with a matching skirt or dress in a printed fabric would
have suited her very well.
I rather like the dress and matching bolero on the right
and according to one fashion critic speaking in May 1938 - boleros are being
worn to refurbish or dress up last year’s ensemble. Mum, on the other hand, may
well have preferred the smarter option on the left.
While looking around the Internet for inspiration I also
came across this image that matches the pink and blue theme perfectly but would
mum have worn it? I'm pretty sure she
would have hated the hat and bag, but the dress and jacket are quite pretty.
So what else might have influenced the bride to be in 1938?
Source Family life in Britain 1900-1950. ISBN 0316730343
When King George V died in January 1936, the romance between
his eldest son, Edward, Prince of Wales, later to become Edward VIII, and the
American divorcee Wallis Simpson, whom he had first met in June 1931, was well-known
in Royal circles. When he succeeded to the throne, the young and popular King
had to choose between his lover and the crown. The major political parties and
the Church of England made it clear that marrying a divorcee was out of the
question. The cabinet presented the young King with an ultimatum: give up Mrs.
Simpson or renounce the crown. He would choose the latter.
For the 36-year-old Duchess of York, it was an earth-shattering event which propelled her from relative obscurity to become Queen Empress, reigning, with her husband, over 600 million subjects. The new King, George VI and his Queen were crowned at Westminster Abbey on 12 May 1937. Wallis and Edward married on the 3rd June 1937. Source BBC News
Queen Elizabeth (The Queen Mother) in 1938 Wallis and Edward in 1937
Looking at the photographs of Queen Elizabeth and Wallis
Simpson, I can’t help but wonder if mum would have chosen something far plainer
than the floral affairs so far considered. Would any of these have suited?
Or this?
I don't think any of the above is quite right - but this, on
the other hand, is! It’s a pink and blue, slim but womanly two-piece in the
longer style, which would have looked good on Queen Elizabeth, Wallis Simpson
and Rene Flitney. Perfect…
If anyone happens to have a photograph of the actual
going-away outfit, please share. I would love to compare my idea of the perfect
suit to the one chosen by mum. Comments
are always welcome, so go on what do you think?
