“Teen Age Skirts and Stole” or Who Knew Teenagers Wore Stoles in 1951?
Simplicity 3659 is an “easy-to-make” patterns which presumes a decent amount of sewing knowledge. The skirt shuts with a side snap placket or a zipper, and has either a flare or soft front pleats and a kick pleat at the back. Version 2 requires matching and even plaid, while the flaps on version 1 do not cover a pocket. Instead the other two versions have a patch pocket which is then trimmed with a button to keep its turned-down edge in place. The same kind of pocket appears on the stole which is a plain rectangle.
The playfulness of the pocket and the stole are what send this over to junior wear. While a stole is an evening wear item much of the time, doing it in plaid with jaunty pockets that you can shove your hands into places it on the informal side of daywear. Notice that the skirts are not as long as the lower calf that was popularized with Dior’s New Look in 1947, a nod to the activity and energy level of girls and young women who would be hampered by longer skirts. The flatter shoes, lower heels, sweaters, and lack of accessories indicate these skirts were meant for wearing to high school or college classes and the need to run across campus. Pants were accepted for sports on women, but were considered too informal for the classroom. If it makes you feel better, know that the young college men were supposed to wear ties and sports jackets or sweaters.
The fabrics recommended are cottons, linens, rayons, and I chose this pattern for today because corduroy and wool were also included and suit the brisk weather outside. But one could see it in lighter fabrics too which is why it was so useful to the young dressmaker or the mother, grandmother or aunt, etc., who could use the same pattern to make clothes for spring, fall or winter.