Here are some more magazine scans from The Modern Priscilla, July 1917—and I really love the late Edwardian fashions of this transitional era between corsets and the flapper girl of the 1920s. You can feel 1917’s everyday realities in these pages: a “slim issue” that still finds room for beauty and practicality, shaped by wartime thrift and the changing rhythm of women’s lives. It’s that blend—elegance meeting utility—that makes this moment so fascinating.
Fashion highlights: washable, wearable, wonderful
- The issue spotlights “Smart Dresses of Washable Fabrics,” which perfectly captures the mood of the time. Washability wasn’t just a convenience; it was part of a broader, sensible turn in women’s wardrobes as more households managed with less help and more women took on active roles. Think sturdy, breathable weaves and simple lines—pieces meant to be laundered, worn, and lived in, without a fuss.
- It also features “Sport Clothes for the Summer Girl,” and you can almost see the shift in motion. These are clothes made for tennis lawns, seaside strolls, and picnics—lighter, easier, and a bit freer. Skirts are simpler and slightly looser, tops are less fussy, and the overall look tilts toward movement and comfort rather than decoration for decoration’s sake.
A silhouette in transition
- What I adore here is the visible step between the curvier, corseted Edwardian ideal and the easier, straighter lines that will soon usher in the 1920s. Underpinnings are lighter. Waists relax. The whole effect is youthful and practical without losing charm—like the wardrobe equivalent of taking a deeper breath.
In the kitchen: modern taste with old-world quirks
- Don’t miss “Learning to Cook with Marrion Harris Neal”—specifically the “Ices and Desserts” section. It mentions ice molds made of lead (the period’s kitchen reality!), and advises that you should offer macaroons at the same time as the icecream, “an item that should not be overlooked by a woman who has no maid.” It’s such a vivid snapshot of the moment: domestic science and entertaining etiquette meeting the new normal of fewer servants and more self-sufficiency.
- That single line about “no maid” says so much about 1917. The magazine speaks to women running their own households with pride and practicality—streamlining menus, coordinating service, and choosing tools and table treats that keep everything graceful and manageable.
1917 advertisements and everyday elegance
- Even in a pared-back issue, the ads hum with the era’s priorities: value, durability, and tasteful simplicity. Trimmings, sensible accessories, and home aids promise to stretch a budget while keeping everything tidy and stylish. It all aligns with the washable frocks and sport separates—beautiful, yes, but ready for real life.
In short, this July 1917 issue captures a wardrobe—and a way of living—in mid-step: late Edwardian grace softening into modern ease; washable day dresses and sporty summer clothes rising to the forefront; and the home front reshaping menus, manners, and materials. That’s exactly why I love it.
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