As the massive project of James' 18th c. suit draws to a close, I have much to think about of where I want to go next. With the weather beginning to warm up, the choice is clear: summer dresses!
I love dresses in summer. They are easy to wear, requiring only two choices - which dress and which shoes - rather than the tedious task of matching a skirt to a blouse; they are cool in hot weather; they are easy to dress up or dress down. And of course, because this is me, they are always dresses made from *vintage* patterns.
I was lucky enough to receive a bag full of vintage patterns from my grandmother. There are patterns for blouses, skirts, and frocks, ranging from the late 1930s to the later 1950s. Not a one of them will fit me, but luckily I am able to grade them up a couple sizes (remember sizing this pattern from last summer?). I also went a little wild at the 70% Vogue Pattern sale a month or so ago, and bought a handful of Vintage Vogue patterns, which I find to be not-so-accurate, but generally quite lovely, so I've got one of those on "to do" list as well.
Here are the patterns and the fabrics (which came today!):
I love dresses in summer. They are easy to wear, requiring only two choices - which dress and which shoes - rather than the tedious task of matching a skirt to a blouse; they are cool in hot weather; they are easy to dress up or dress down. And of course, because this is me, they are always dresses made from *vintage* patterns.
I was lucky enough to receive a bag full of vintage patterns from my grandmother. There are patterns for blouses, skirts, and frocks, ranging from the late 1930s to the later 1950s. Not a one of them will fit me, but luckily I am able to grade them up a couple sizes (remember sizing this pattern from last summer?). I also went a little wild at the 70% Vogue Pattern sale a month or so ago, and bought a handful of Vintage Vogue patterns, which I find to be not-so-accurate, but generally quite lovely, so I've got one of those on "to do" list as well.
Here are the patterns and the fabrics (which came today!):
A 1940 Simplicity Pattern, and lovely brown floral cotton lawn.
I plan to resize this pattern to fit me, and to remove
the shoulderpads - who likes shoulderpads!?
A 1950s pattern - no specific date - with some interesting pleating detail.
Looks a little stodgy in the illustration, but will be
lovely in this pink floral on white, cotton lawn.
I plan to resize this pattern, add a zipper in the back
(in stead of buttons), and probably shorten the skirt.
A 1956-57 Vintage Vogue pattern (V1044)
, more "heirloom"
, more "heirloom" style pleating in the front. The photo of this dress in the
Vogue book looked like it needed some tailoring, so I plan
to adjust the bodice to fit pretty closely. The fabric is mint green
cotton lawn, nice and thin and summery.
