Out of the turbulence of the 1930s emerged a fashion revolution. Framed by two world-changing events, the economic crash of 1929 and the outbreak of the Second World War, unparalleled ingenuity and inventiveness from haute couture to the home-seamstress saw new trends emerge and thrive.

Despite economic and material constraints, many of the silhouettes that emerged from this decade still inform how we dress today. This is decade of the skirt suit, sportswear-as-daywear, jersey fabrics and trousers. In Hollywood, the silver screen was filled with icons with slinky satin gowns, marking a new and overtly sensual direction within women’s fashion design.

Many of these original, never-seen-before images in this fabulous collection have been selected from popular fashion publications of the day, mail-order catalogues, and Hollywood studio press shots, including material from Chic Parisien, Harper’s Bazaar, Sears, La Femme Chic and top film studios Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, RKO and Paramount.

Fashion Sourcebook 1930s is an essential guide for any vintage enthusiast.