This is another set of dress patterns which were also sold as bridal patterns, this time from April of 1925.
Illustration for the article “The New in New York: The Bride Takes the White Veil and Gown of Tradition, or Turns to Silver or Palest Pink” by Evelyn Dodge. Delineator, April 1925, p. 24.
It’s striking to me how this illustration for the article on weddings shows up-to-date short skirts in comparison to the pattern illustrations for the same Butterick dresses. (Perhaps patterns had a longer lead time, so the article’s illustrator adjusted hemlines to the newest fashions.)
Maid (or Matron) of Honor and Bridesmaids, Delineator, April 1925, page 24. They are wearing Butterick patterns.
The dress worn by the Maid (or Matron) of Honor, Butterick pattern 5933, was illustrated as an evening dress — in print fabrics — in both April and May:
On left, and in detail, Butterick 5933, April 1925, Delineator.
Butterick 5933 illustrated in May 1925, Delineator, page 26.
Two versions of the bridesmaids’ dress appeared, one for Ladies and one — with a different pattern number — for Misses 16 to 20.
Left, Butterick pattern 5906, available in Ladies’ sizes, and right, Butterick 5919, for Misses 16 to 20 or small women. March and April, 1925, Delineator.
There is a difference in hem length and torso length, and both differ slightly from the center illustration.
Description of Butterick 5906, a lace dinner dress; March 1925.
The dress on the right, for Misses and small women, had different proportions. [Much more attractive to my eye….]
Butterick 5919: “A hand made ribbon or metal gauze flower trims this one-piece slip-over frock with handkerchief draperies. Use Georgette, chiffon or chiffon voile over a separate one-piece slip of satin, silk crepe or heavy crepe de Chine in flesh color or to match dress. For day wear the slip may have sleeves…. Dress is for Misses 16 to 20 years.”
In addition to the article on page 24, there was an entire page of ideas for Butterick bridal patterns — most of which were also illustrated as day or evening dresses elsewhere in the magazine … sometimes months previously.
“The Easter Bride Takes the White Veil and Gown of Tradition or Turns to Silver or Faint Pink.” Butterick bridal patterns, April 1925; Delineator, p. 33.
The caption says,
The “new in New York” idea was wedding dresses that were not necessarily white. Delineator, April 1925, p. 33. “Many brides choose white and silver and more occasionally gold, or pale pink….”
I love finding more than one illustration of the same pattern — and Butterick often featured its patterns in Delineator magazine in two successive months — or in two places in the same issue.
Butterick 5935, April 1925, left, page 33 and right, page 29. Delineator.
5786 in April 1925, p. 33, and in February 1925, p. 23. Delineator. Note the bust darts….
Butterick 5941, April, 1925; as a wedding dress and in a dark satin version. Delineator. Below the waist, a very asymmetrical design.
Butterick 5963, April 1925, as a wedding dress, page 33, and in black satin with coral beading, page 31.
It makes sense that wedding gown patterns would be bought by young women; one of these Misses’ dresses was also shown as a bridal gown:
Butterick 5755, 5714, 5713, Delineator, January 1925, page 29.
Butterick 5755, in April and in January, 1925. Delineator. Note the ribbon at the natural waist.
One of these was shown as a bridesmaid’s dress, and another as a wedding gown.
Butterick patterns for Misses and small women, April 1925, pg. 36. Numbers 5919, 5960, and 5897.
No. 5919, far right, was the bridesmaid, as discussed above; No. 5960 (center) has sleeves and beading in its bridal version.
Butterick 5960 for a wedding, page 33, and for a party, page 36. April 1925, Delineator.
These wedding gowns went back a little further:
Butterick 5719 and 5447. Originally issued a few months earlier than April 1925, as can be seen from the number sequence. Is that a Spanish comb on the right?
No. 5447 was the featured bridal gown in this wedding party for October, 1924:
Butterick 5447 was the bridal gown for October 1924, p. 27. Delineator.
The tabard of No. 5719 would lend itself to a silvery, medieval look, especially with a long-sleeved underdress.
Butterick 5719 in April 1925 and in Dec 1924. Delineator.
Many years ago I saw this English wedding dress, dated 1924, in the Bethnal Green Museum, now a part of the V & A. I couldn’t find the image online, so here it is scanned from the postcard I bought:
Wedding dress, English, 1924. The tabard is worn over a pleated dress.
A silver wedding dress, with heavy lace trim, was also in the Bethnal Green Exhibit.
Silver wedding dress, English (Ada Wolf); 1924. Bethnal Green Museum postcard.
Here is a small part of the advice Evelyn Dodge gave to brides in 1924:
Advice for brides, April 1924, by Evelyn Dodge writing in Delineator.
witness2fashion 