Madame Weigel's Patterns | Interest
Madame Weigel's Patterns
Phone: +61 400 900 813
Reviews
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24.01.2022 As I passed Mark Foys once upmarket department store in Sydney some years ago, where Madame Weigel had an agency, I was reminded just how important haberdashery and drapery were to business back in the day. A prominent part of life now sadly faded to far less.
24.01.2022 Another of Madame Weigels gems from Lugano in 1923, the final instalment tomorrow
22.01.2022 From 1929, a feature from Madame Weigel on the feather boa, although I just love the tiny eye veil. Great illustration!
22.01.2022 The brightest, most stunning dress from a 1960s Weigels counter catalogue. Sumptuous!
22.01.2022 My favourite tea cosey pattern from Madame Weigel in the 1930s, the flower top. This gorgeous version in the collection of the Pioneer Womens Hut, Tumbarumba, NSW. Lots of pleasure making all of these flowers.
21.01.2022 So happy to have these companion volumes out, Madame Weigels life and work on the record in these evidence-based, independently researched histories. Available on my website, www.madameweigel.com.au
20.01.2022 Thanks for such great feedback from a museum library on my second book, "Madame Weigels patterns, 1878-1950". A great reference for curators, dressmakers, historical costumiers, and todays fashionistas looking for inspiration, Madame Weigel style.
19.01.2022 Maternity wear was scarce in Madame Weigels pattern series in the early decades, overtly discreet in the 1910s and 1920s, then a little bolder through the 30s and 40s to blossom in the 50s and 60s. This gorgeous outfit from my 1965 counter catalogue, the most fabulous swing coat in uber-60s fabric.
19.01.2022 Tough times in Barcaldine, Queensland, in 1918 when a fast sale was needed, this drapery shop piling the goods out on the front yard to sell what they could. Whilst researching Madame Weigels agents across Australia, many stories of strife emerged that affected lives, property, families, livelihoods, in this country so well known for good responses. Thinking of Melbournians today, onward and upward.
19.01.2022 Dont forget to follow me on Instagram at @madameweigel.patterns for more on Madame Weigel, lots more to show and tell.
18.01.2022 In this little series on Madame Weigels eavesdropping skills, this from 1923 as she continues to work her way through the grand hotels of Europe. Born in 1847, she was now in her 70s so taking it a little easier than the days when she hurtled around in her car, phaeton, carriage, chauffeur-driven limousine, or on her bicycle. She too was renting out her grand house by now.
17.01.2022 My final instalment in the Madame Weigel eavesdropping series, the best saved for last. Somehow she managed to wrangle herself a first class compartment adjacent to the great pianist, Paderewski. She was a top customer at Thomas Cook so maybe that was the pathway. The ultimate on departure, a kiss on the hand from the great man - the "we" she refers to is herself and her maid, Sarah Neilson.
15.01.2022 Another of Madame Weigels quiet biographical moments, this photo slipped into her 1927 journal. Typical of her support for the working women, she who had a career, a talent outside of the home, one of her favourites subjects. Madame travelled to London often.
15.01.2022 Not a lot else to say about this Weigels pattern from the early 1950s but ... Stunning!!
15.01.2022 Madame Weigel made a few comments about the "uncommon felt". Apart from the felt hat being unusual, any other ideas?
15.01.2022 During the past few months I've been working on Madame Weigel's millinery for my next workbook. With so many entries in the index for the bow, here's a great example for Melbourne Cup 2020 and all those hats not made, not worn.
14.01.2022 Western Australia entered the divided skirt debate in Madame Weigels journal with this correspondents reply on apprpriate underwear, the recommended pattern shown alongside. Oh, the dilemmas of the day when one needed such advice on undies!
14.01.2022 The slumber cap or boudoir cap was a strong feature in Madame Weigels 1920s journal, with just a few patterns. This would have kept the new short bob in place, the style that challenged Madames traditional sensibilities as well as the behaviour of some young ladies.
13.01.2022 This is the renowned sculptor Margaret Baskerville who was commissioned by Madame Weigel to sculpt a bust for Oscars grave site, shortly after his death in 1915. She was only provided with a tiny photograph for the likeness - no surprise its difficult to find a photo of Madame. She was a great patron of the arts. Love this woman in action, and the working outfit.
13.01.2022 From Madame Weigels hotel lobby for those interested in conversations heard, and opinions formed by the expert people watcher, Madame Weigel. More to come!
13.01.2022 From May 1928, a stylish winter coat pattern from Madame Weigel, notes provided in part with the pattern on issue, and those from me in [square brackets] using the words and language of Madame Weigel. The top to toe structure is mine, head to feet, as it facilitated the analysis of around 7000 patterns.
13.01.2022 The phaeton! Heres proof of one of Madame Weigels passions - driving horses and cars, and speed!! Note the blonde hair! And her position in command!! From the NLA Trove, Critic (Adelaide), 30.7.1898
12.01.2022 Ill be posting some Madame Weigel information to places where theres a good historical clothing collection, small or large. Your suggestions please!!
12.01.2022 From Weigels in 1949, a photograph used to show this evening dress pattern at a time when the company needed a little reinvention. Sadly, it didnt work and the journal ceased publication the following year, whilst the patterns continued on until 1968. Gorgeous dress!
12.01.2022 1960s fabric inspiration from my 1965 Weigels counter catalogue, so much of the era.
11.01.2022 One of my Madame Weigel vandyke cushion shams, just one piece used for best over a cushion. Make sure to look out for these 1930s gems, they are still out there and usually stunning.
11.01.2022 It seems that sewing and wine go well together, so shopping at Zuckermanns, one of Madame Weigels agents, would have been very handy.
09.01.2022 Ive often wondered what the lobbies of the grand hotels that Madame Weigel so loved looked like. This photo tells us! She wrote of taking up her seat, watching and listening to the seemingly fascinating guests. Some pretty cheeky stories retold!
09.01.2022 I've put a feature on the rinker cap on my Instagram page in a "down the rabbit hole" feature of investigation.
08.01.2022 Those shoes have some walking to do in the new USA ... Momentous Day!!
08.01.2022 My Madame Weigel postcards have just been reinstated on my website, www.madameweigel.com.au - thank you to my first customer on these and more after my long break with ... Life.
08.01.2022 Just one section of the index-in-progress for my next workbook on Madame Weigels millinery, this the part on flowers on hats. Ive reached 1908, close to the end of the Edwardian era when hats were huge and flowers powerful. I am again amazed at the breadth and depth of Madame Weigels legacy to Australian fashion history.
07.01.2022 Madame Weigels patterns came with good descriptions in the early decades, but these got shorter and shorter meaning dressmakers has to interpret the illustration themselves. Youll see here what wasnt mentioned
06.01.2022 The fichu was a sufficiently important fashion accessory that Madame Weigel issued this fichu pattern in 1912. So feminine and useful, this could refresh an existing garment, or cover a slightly worn garment below.
06.01.2022 Working today on my next workbook on Madame Weigels millinery, this from 1909, "Slightly upturned brim with decoration in buckle shape of rosebuds and ribbon". This was the era of the really huge hat.
06.01.2022 Some of the images from my next workbook on Madame Weigels millinery. Year by year, this will detail each of her hat patterns as well as the running commentary provided in her journal on styles, tilts, fabrics, trimmings, veils, feathers, and even dead birds
05.01.2022 From a more delicate moment in craft history, bedjackets or dressing jackets from Madame Weigel in the 1930s. Gorgeous garments, fine yarns, colours, and knitting and crochet skills.
05.01.2022 An early mens dust coat from the 1880s in Madame Weigels pattern series, a practical garment suited to Australias dry and dusty climate.
05.01.2022 Cool and windy today? Make something with a hood! These from my Weigels 1960s counter catalogues.
03.01.2022 Part of a book recently donated to Templin Historical Village near Boonah, this old image shows the finesse of the tailored riding skirt, an essential garment adapted by many women who sewed at home and relied on horses to get about. Another Madame Weigel initiative underway at Templin, more soon
02.01.2022 For those of you who dont follow my Instagram account, heres the text and hashtags used there for a post of the photo on my new header here - hashtags quite self-explanatory about the process of solo research!!!
01.01.2022 Is this Madame Weigel, I ask yet again?!! Why? Well, its unusual for such stylish photos to appear in Weigels journal (1894), and such lavish descriptions to be added. And, the lady has blonde hair! What is your vote - YES or NO?
