How to make a 1940's Vintage Drindle skirt

Over the summer, especially after visiting Bletchley Park, (The home of the Enigma machine) I developed a fascination with war time clothing. Over the past year I have been very much focused on historic court attire of the 18t- century having written my dissertation on a similar topic and it felt like a fresh gust of a warm summer wind delving into a new era of fashion, especially one that is still quite close to our own time.

Now for a quick history lesson! The Drindle skirt is the first item of clothing which took my interest, this gathered or platted skirt usually had a very small hemline with it ending just below or on your knee. It originally is said to have originated from Mexico which was then quickly appropriated by the fashion industry in America and was later popularised all over the European continent. The skirts were seen in varied forms from large embroidered patterns with lively colours to plain block skirts. These skirts came as a nice change to the clothing worn, especially in the UK during the war which tried to use up as little fabric as possible. While the Drindle skirt is still not as large, nor does it remind us of the 1950's were you can clearly see fashion reflect the conspicuous consumption, the Drindle skirt does showcase a move away from more tight fitting and regulated clothing everyone wore to a more individualistic and free nature of a post war victory.

If the history's captured your imagination check out my latest tutorial how to make your own practical frock.

Sources: Vintage Dancer, '1940's skirt history,' web, 2014  https://vintagedancer.com/1940s/1940s-skirts/

John Baylay, The 1940's Society, 'French, American and British wartime fashion' http://www.1940.co.uk/acatalog/french-american-and-british-wartime-fashion.html