Vintage Maternity Series - The 1930s

1930s Vintage Maternity fashion style

Since finding out I was pregnant, I have been collecting and saving vintage maternity patterns in the vain aspiration that someday I would sew them all up and have a magnificent pregnancy wardrobe.

Currently, at about 7 months pregnant, I’ve finished just a pair of pants and two blouses, haha!  So the sewing plans are not going as well as I imagined. HOWEVER, in studying all of these patterns, making a couple of them, and supplementing my wardrobe with vintage garments, I have made some interesting discoveries about the construction of vintage maternity pieces that I wanted to share with you guys. For this, I’ll be looking at some patterns and garments from the 1930s-1960s and sharing interesting details from each of them. Today we’re starting with the 1930s!

1930s Vintage Maternity fashion style

1930s Maternity Style
1930s maternity garments tended to mimic the long silhouette of the time and put an emphasis on the collar and shoulder area, like other 1930s women’s fashions did. Elastics and stretch fabrics were not in common use yet, so maternity garments were made adjustable and comfortable in fit through other means—usually buttons, snaps, and ties. It’s also important to remember that, unlike today, women in the West did not flaunt their pregnant figures or emphasize them with tighter clothes. A combination of working with non-stretch fabrics and the social sensibilities of the time, 1930s maternity garments are generally flowy and loose.

1930s Vintage Maternity fashion style

This two piece dress pattern from my collection is pretty typical of 1930s and early 1940s pregnancy ensembles. On the blouse, there’s shaping and fit at the shoulders, then it drapes freely around the tummy area. The construction of the blouse itself is pretty straightforward with fashionably shaped sleeves, collar, and button closure. It actually mimics a silhouette that, when belted, was found in a lot of non-maternity (or postpartum!) 1930s ensembles. However, what I found especially interesting about this pattern is the skirt!

The skirt is actually a slip/dress, which I’ve found to be a very comfortable design while pregnant. It was common to have “skirts” like this (that we might today call slips, sort of) in the 1920s when a loose, dropped waist was popular. This design element was carried over into the 1930s (and even later in maternity wear, as you’ll see in future posts.) It was made adjustable with snaps at the waist:

1930s Vintage Maternity fashion style

I have another vintage 1930s set with a wrap slip/skirt under it is similar, and it’s been fantastic! Having no waistband and nothing tight on my stomach has been quite lovely. My vintage slip-skirt adjusts with snaps to accommodate a growing belly. (Although at this point... this doesn't fit anymore!)

1930s Vintage Maternity fashion style

An interesting detail I found on this pattern and another one, however, is the longer panel on the front. After reading the directions, I realized it’s there to allow for periodic readjustment of the hemline. The skirt is tacked on to the bodice with sturdy but removable stitches. As a woman’s belly grows, however, the front of the skirt hem would have raised. From many period sources I’ve read, uneven hems were a horrific fashion travesty back in the day! A maternity skirt design like this would have allowed a woman to periodically remove the waistline stitches and lower the skirt pieces, thus keeping her skirt’s hem even throughout her pregnancy. 

1930s Vintage Maternity fashion style

It seems like a lot of work to me, but life was also different then. Especially during the Depression, women had smaller wardrobes. I would imagine making sure each of their garments were mended, laundered, and fit properly was important to a lot of women in helping a small wardrobe go further. 

Have you noticed any other fun/innovative design elements on 1930s maternity garments or patterns?

2 comments

  1. "From many period sources I’ve read, uneven hems were a horrific fashion travesty back in the day!"
    haha I wonder what the would of thought of the "mullet" dresses of today.

    Love seeing your vintage maternity clothes. I have been itching to get some stuff done with sewing (so much to do so little time) and I have a pattern for a maternity dress that I never made. I am hoping I make this time around for my pregnancy. Especially since I may (or may not) be pregnant for an upcoming wedding.

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  2. Haha, I’m sure many a designer is rolling over in their graves with all the hi-low hems around!

    And good luck with your sewing! A nice outfit that fits can be such an emotional lift during pregnancy, so good call. 🙂

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