9365Shirley Dress pattern

During the depression, for about 25 cents, people could put their troubles aside and escape to the world of movies. Movie stars quickly became fashion icons. Retailers produced copies of major film costumes, while magazines and mail order houses published patterns that allowed average housewives to sew their own Hollywood styled outfits.

In the mid-1930s Shirley Temple was America’s number-one box office star. Mothers everywhere put their daughters’ hair up in pins to replicate her signature curly top. Shirley’s baby doll styled dresses didn’t use a great deal of fabric, so mothers could make Shirley styled clothes with less cost.