Monday, August 15, 2011

Another Outfit Post!

Well, maybe one post per week was a bit too ambitious for me... Anyway, I do have a newly completed dress to share! It is made from some cheap cotton fabric from my stash ($1.00 per yard-thank you, Wal-Mart!) The fabric is beautiful, though; soft and thin, sort of gauzy, not at all stiff or cheap-feeling. It drapes and moves beautifully!
On a side note: my husband took all of these pictures and "didn't notice" that my collar was folded up in the back on one side...! They turned out so well otherwise (and I was having such a good hair day! hee hee) that I didn't really want to retake them, so just try to ignore the fold! Here is the dress:


Once again, I made it to match a beautiful pair of crocheted gloves that I got from ebay. At my local fabric store, I found the perfect striped accent fabric to match the colors in the gloves. The buttons are vintage, although I have no idea what era they are from. They looked deco enough to me, and they matched perfectly, so I used them!


I made it using this vintage pattern:


I took about 14 inches total out of the circumference of the hem; it was a bit too A-line for my taste. I also added 2 inches to the length. When it was finished, I topstitched all of the seams with light brown thread. I did it with a lighter color because I wanted the beautiful seaming to show; I love the way the yoke and the pleats look on this dress, and they weren't really visible on the dark fabric.


Don't you just love these sunglasses?! I don't own very much actual vintage; aside from my vintage collar collection (which I must show you someday!), I have a few pairs of shoes, some gloves, and one dress. I just don't really trust myself (or my two year-old) with irreplaceable things that are 80 years old. But I saw these '30s beauties on ebay last year and just couldn't resist them!


This dress is sort of a wearable muslin; I had always planned to wear it, but I also used it as practice for the fabric that I had really intended for this pattern. I've just finished cutting it out, and I can't wait to get started on it. I suppose that this one should really be called a "first try"; I just hope that the next one turns out as well as this one did!


Here is the way the collar looks from the back. I tried very hard to match the stripes, both in the back and in the front, and I was pleased with the result. I am not very good at pattern-matching, so the fact that it came so close made me very happy!

35 comments:

  1. YAY!!! Love this! Another smashing outfit!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow! Another great outfit, loving the sunnies!!! X

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have just found your blog - what wonderful outfits! I actually had a bit of a cry, because these are the kind of ambitious projects that I used to undertake, and now they are just cluttering my sewing room because there is no time to work on them now.
    Thanks for sharing though - I can see you are going to be a wonderful source of inspiration to spend time on my own outfits

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is fantastic...surely more than just a wearable muslin?!? The topstitching is wonderful too and really draws the eye to the panelling! Oh and I'd love to see your vintage collars one day ;o)

    ReplyDelete
  5. As always amazing, slighly enviouse of your wonderful talent love the sunglasses.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love it!! I'm so thrilled, my local walmartgot rid of the fabric section about 2 years ago but it's coming back now. *yay*! Your waves look amazing too x

    ReplyDelete
  7. I REALLY love that you matched those unique little gloves to the fabric. This may be my favourite dress you've made! Stylish and perfect for summer!

    ReplyDelete
  8. This is beautiful, I love the details like the buttons, topstitching, matching gloves... all so wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I've added your blog to my link list and will share on my FB and Twitter feeds today. Thanks for sharing your style with us!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Well, I'd say your first go turned out fabulous! Can't wait to see version 2. :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. You make us all faint again, it's beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love it!
    If I could make clothes like that myself, I would, except perhaps with sleeves.
    I also live the 1930s lifestyle, 24/7.
    The only modern thing in my life is my computer.
    One day I'll be able to make my own clothes... one day!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm the one who sold you the gloves! I happened on your post through Twitter. What a great job you did on the dress and it looks great with the gloves... I just got a stash of 30's patterns that I'll be selling on my Etsy account. They should be up by the weekend: http://www.etsy.com/shop/BriniMaxwell?ref=si_shop

    ReplyDelete
  14. Where are the shoes from?! Love the outfit.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wow, this is lovely! It really looks great. The style suits you to the ground. I can't wait to see the next version! Also, you really WERE having a good hair day, weren't you?

    ReplyDelete
  16. Why oh why did I not know of your blog? Smashing! Simply smashing. The blog, the outfits! Now going to follow. Do you ever sew clothing for others??? I would simply die happy if I had a few well made 30's dresses!!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Your hat and dress are both just amazing! Once you get your new dress made and can breeze through the construction, you should make them for sale! (Hats too!)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wow, but you have the crazy mad sewing skills. And yet you still cry about not being able to knit! Humorist Fran Lebowitz once sat next to Jonas Salk at a dinner party. He said, "I wish I could be funny." She said, "YOU INVENTED THE POLIO VACCINE!" My point is just...what is my point? YOU'RE FABULOUS!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Simply amazing :) I am seriously jealous of your sewing skills!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Those are some fabulous gloves--I love that you found matching fabric for your dress! I'm impressed with your sewing skills!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I'm loving this. Blues and greens are always a great accent to chocolate brown. I totally agree with you top-stitching in light brown to show off the seaming.

    ReplyDelete
  22. My, your blog is just lovely! I just adore your style. :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Gah! I love this!!!!!!! The more I see of the 30's the more I love the decade!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I just have to say you are really talented and I absolutely love the dress! :D Great choice of colours and fabrics!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Indeedy a good hair day! You are too perfect for words! I especially like the yoke and pleats……. Sigh, so lovely. Tups x

    ReplyDelete
  26. I've just found you and looking forward to reading more of your blog! Love this dress!!! It's a flattering style on you and the blue with the brown makes it : ) I love the style of the skirt!

    ReplyDelete
  27. You are a stunning beauty! I just found you and I love all your outfits! One thing more that I love about you is that you llike me have a little son (or "sun" *haha*) and that you sew your own clothes! Thumbs up to that!

    Love/ Nadja Eleonora
    www.ensaligblanding.se

    ReplyDelete
  28. Thank you all so much!! You are all so good for my ego :)

    Shona: I know what you mean about not having enough time; my 2 year-old still hasn't slept through the night and doesn't really nap, so sometimes the only chance I have to sew is at about 3 AM...I mean, I'm already up, so why not?!

    Couture Allure: Wow, thank you so much! I have to admit to knowing almost nothing about FaceBook or Twitter; technology and I are not exactly on the best terms sometimes!

    Ben: What a small world! And I love the gloves!

    Mama3davis: The shoes are from ebay, and they have them in black and brown; here is a link to the listing: http://cgi.ebay.com/Womens-Oxford-Lace-Up-Heels-Shoes-Beige-Black-/260710753120?pt=US_Women_s_Shoes&var=&hash=item8263bf39c4

    Ruby: I do sometimes make clothes for others, although so far it has mostly been non-vintage items for friends and family members; in fact, I just reupholstered a wing chair for my cousin! I have taken to carrying cards printed with my name and number, though, as people have been asking me for them, so we'll see what happens!

    Mimi Pond: HAHAHAHA! And thank you! :)

    ReplyDelete
  29. WOW!!! Your outfit is so fabulous!
    Hope you don´t mind I nominated your great blog for an award - http://susansdiaryvintagestylemeets.blogspot.com/2011/09/irresistibly-sweet-blog-award-goes-to.html

    ReplyDelete
  30. Oh my goodness I need to know where you got those oxfords! They're gorgeous! Drop me a note on my blog, please.

    ReplyDelete