'Slick' Simplicity Details...

Just had to write about this right now as I review instructions for one of my 1930's Simplicity patterns!
Simplicity has had so many of my favorite 1930's patterns for their ingeniously engineered details!
Case in point, this mid-30's ensemble pattern:


I LOVE how the cape 'slips on' via buttonholes through which it buttons on under the revers of the jacket. The suit has lines which make me think of the design Stella McCartney put on Gwyneth Paltrow in 'Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow'-do you remember it?  I picture this suit in chocolate cotton moleskin.

The cape attachment is not unlike this highly deco Simplicity design, about 1934:


The difference here of course, is the crossing scarf. It is sewn into the back neck of the blouse under which the cape is buttonholed-just HOT!
This is one of the earliest patterns I ever picked up when I started with vintage patterns and I often envision the sleeves contrasting to the rest of the blouse.

This has been a customer favorite among 30's blouse patterns:

The large button at the front fastens over the stiff jabot, is not just for decoration. Being the purist I am, I take real working closures very seriously and do not appreciate a number of buttons or other closing devices simply tacked on which do not mechanically function in the garment. Although I admit, I was guilty of embellishing with covered buttons that did not function at the beginning of my vintage sewing career a couple of times-won't happen again, ha!

This 'domestic' Simplicity has received very little attention, but I find it important to give it some limelight here:

Even at home, the details are marvelous in this 'pyjama' pattern, aren't they? Notice the many versions of the ensemble and over any one of them, the apron is 'slipped on' at the center front by means of a buttonhole and ties at the back of the waist in the traditional apron manner!

The earliest example I have in patterns of the 'slipped on' buttonhole apron is the clothespin design from Harper's, circa 1885:

Wonderful!

I will love to hear from you about your favorite vintage Simplicity pattern details. I will cover other pattern companies later this fall...