Exotic Fashion with Nehru Style

Does it look better on the envelope or in person? The following pattern, Simplicity 7994, features Nehru fashion for the ladies. Fashion influences from exotic locations (meaning anywhere but here) were a big deal back in the 1960s and 1970s. In this case, the Nehru jacket takes an A-line turn and is done up in rich fabrics, such as brocades, silks, and paisleys. Far Eastern was in!

So here is 7994 in person. It's the outfit on the right. What do you think? I have to admit, that 7993 on the left is cuter (to me). :) Is it because the dress in 7994 is also used as a tunic, making for a long tunic?

1960s Dresses from "Young Designer" Jean Muir

Hello, all! I hope you are holding up during this holiday season. For some reason I have more than my normal quantity of dinners and outings, all in addition to my day job. The days are flying by so quickly, it is hard to believe we are just a little over a week away from Christmas!

Today I travel back to the autumn of 1967. These fab little A-line dresses from Jean Muir and Butterick were hot fashion then. I love how the pill box hat (very early to mid 60s) and the head scarf or "babushka" (as a fashion statement, a popular thing from late 60s into the 70s) appear here. One on its way out, the other on its way in.

I love the monochrome quality of the outfit on the right. The dress is marvelous, with its shallow funnel collar, notched wing cuffs, and a row of accent buttons that add focus and a pop of texture. I think Ruth Wyeth Spears from the 1920s would approve both dresses, with their simplicity of style and just a small number of accents of the right type. :)

1970s - Cute little day dresses for warm days

Here are three casual shirtwaist dresses from February 1973 and Vogue, looking perfectly delightful and ready for seeing the sights.

While I encourage you to visit my shop Etsy shop, Midvale Cottage for lots of 1970s little dresses, you can find Vogue 2808, illustrated above, on the right, in the following Etsy shop:

• Cloe's Closet

And while you're browsing Etsy, be sure to pick up a 1970s fishnet bag and hemp-wedged espadrilles to complete your 1970s ensemble!

 

Miss Molly Vintage

 

 Young and Ukraine
 

"Night Lights" - McCall's Evening Fashions from November 1966

Holiday party season is coming fast upon us! I figured it would a great time to look at the evening fashions depicted in a McCall's November 1966 Fashion Digest, which are a picture of perfection in pastels. Fabrics that were "in" that year were silver and gold metallics (such as glimmery lames and glittery brocades), sumptuous matelasses, and diaphanous sheers.

8529: a tent dress dolled up for evening in rhinestone-rimmed silk and worsted.
8530: a tent coat, a floating shape in silver-crusted brocade.

8497: a swirl of softest chiffon, a-whirl over sparkling white crepe... the alluring cage, sprinkled with rhinestones, barely covering a lively little slip dress.
8517: a swing of silk organza, bordered with bands of shiny green satin and set afloat over a halter sheath.

8466: the sparkle smock, in a swinging silvery brocade... sparked at the shoulders with rhinestone buttons.
8464: the shimmer skimmer, in pale pink knit, lightly dusted with silver and shaped to swing softly to a row of ruffles.

8503: a slim shaft of pink and gold brocade, shaped like a shirt and brightened with jewel buttons.
8505: a magnificent fall fo palest lime crepe, caught into gentle gathers below the yoke.

8509: the rajah skimmer, a dazzling dress in silk and worsted, bedecked with pearl banding.
8499: Luscious white crepe, cut with flowing raglan sleeves, razzled with rhinestones at collar and cuffs.

8500: a super scoop, with tank-y top and long lanky skirt and the exciting look of golden crepe.
8527: the evening empire, with boidce softly molded under silver fishnet, with slender skirt gathered high, pretty neckline scooped low.
8446: brilliant brocade bareback, sparked with silver...flared to float smoothly to the floor.
8495: aglow with glitter... luscious cherry velveteen, accented with shimmering rhinestones.

8525: the halter sheath... a quick flow of glitter brocade... worn long as a gala gown or as a short theater suit, coupled with a smart elongated jacket.

8523:after-dark drama... a beautiful brocade of pink gilded with gold, shaped in the pure elegance of a short or long evening ensemble... the dress is a bare back empire, the jacket is a rajah style.

8508: little elegant looks... three fairy-princess hi-lines to wear out to special parties or at home.

8448: made for dazzling... the brocade skim, a feminine dance dress, destined for exciting holiday happenings.

Karla Deras and 1960s style

I spotted this image from Elle magazine of jewelry designer Karla Deras and felt that I had seen that dress before, in another decade....

What do you think? It's mini, A-line, and uses gold braid at the neckline to great effect. Not identical, but definitely a 1960s Mod influence there...

March 1968 Fashion News - London Swingers!

It's March, and what's the fashion news from March 1968? Well, 35 years ago, it was all about sun-bright dresses, pretty ensembles, and London swingers! ;) I love the colors and crisp style of these dresses and ensembles - such flirty attitude!

Simplicity 7524 

This Chelsea favorite has sassy mini-length and breaks into pleats. Bag and detachable collar and cuffs are included.

  

That pink on the model sure pops!

 Simplicity 7527

This London style has an on-the-go attitude in design and color - its mini-skirt length has flared flip!

 

I love the model's dress (crazy daisies :) and that super cute hair-do!

Simplicity 7535

 Go bold and striking with the architectural contrast of this classic A-line dress!

 

How bold dare you go?

Simplicity 7543

 This wardrobe pattern greets the new season with flair!

 
Envisioned in budding green flannel  and clear blue tweed by Simplicity - such eye-popping and soft colors.

In Search of Style - 60s Mod A-Line Wrap Dress

Here is a clipping of the style a seamstress in the late 1960s was looking for - front wrap style with A-line flare. I love the details!

The clipping was taped to this pattern, the one she felt came closest to the design:

This super-cute A-line mini dress is a wrap-around with front closing. While I find view 1 the cutest, I think she was probably going for the long-sleeved version in view 3. Any way you look at it, it is fab Mod style!

Scraps From the Past - 1960s Geometric

From time to time, a seamstress leaves inside the envelope a piece or two of the fabric she used to sew the pattern. It is always fun to see what fabric inspired someone decades ago. From 1964, McCall's 7641 offered two sleeveless dresses - a slim chemise and a lovely A-line.

Tucked inside were two pieces of fabric,which the seamstress chose to sew the A-line dress. The fabric is a shimmery knit polyester, in an abstract pattern of purple, pink, baby blue, and a goldish-tan.

 

Can you picture the dress? :)

In Search of Style - An A-line Angle

Occasionally I come across a pattern where the seamstress has tucked in clippings of similar styles. This tells a story we can relate to, where we see a dress in a magazine or newspaper, and search through patterns to look for something as close as possible.

In this example, the seamstress had clipped the following dresses:

From these we can see that she wants an A-line dress with a shaped bodice, maybe some top-stitching, a V-neckline (with a collar? without a collar?), maybe princess seams. The pattern she found that was closest to the looks of these two dresses is Vintage 1972 Butterick 6846 (Misses' Dress, Tunic and Pants):

Pretty close, don't you think?

The A-Line - Iconic Dress of the 60s

I happened on this video of The Ronettes from 1965 on YouTube and look at those fabulous A-line dresses! Too bad this isn't in color. With scoop neckline and long sleeves, they look very chic and hip! Not to mention, The Ronettes totally rock! Sweet sounds! Enjoy!

A Vintage Perspective on "The One Hundred": The A-Line Dress

I recently picked up the book "The One Hundred" by Nina Garcia, a guide to the pieces every stylish woman should own. I am inspired - not to necessarily build out my wardrobe to include the "basic" 100 - but rather, to feature patterns for as many of the basic items that Nina Garcia lists in her book. Obviously I'll be challenged on some of the non-clothing accessories, but I'm going to give it a try!

We begin with the first chapter, the A-Line Dress. I love what the author says, because it is true - no matter what, the A-line dress always flatters your figure. It's no-fuss, great to accessorize, and was THE iconic dress of the late 60s and 70s. It released women from the constraints of the New Look's hour-glass figure, and went hand-in-hand with the women's movement for equality.

In the coming week or two I'll be posting not only fab A-line dress patterns, but also some A-line fitting patterns from Vogue and Butterick. Here's a sneak peak of A-line dresses I'll be posting this week!

Vogue's Basic Fitting A-Line Shell

Simplicity A-line Dress and Cape

Simplicity A-line Dress and Tunic with Flared Pants

Butterick Mini A-line Dress and Tunic with Flared Pants

Vogue Basic Design A-line Dress with Empire Waist in Two Lengths

Before and After "Hit Parade" - Marvy Mod 70s

The Seamstress: Prefers to remain anonymous
 The Pattern: Vintage 1970 Simplicity 8889

The Result: In her own words: "I'm only an occasional seamstress but the pattern was very easy and I love the result. I bought some pretty vintage fabric as well as vintage seam binding lace to make a real job of this and I'm so pleased, I'm going to make others from it as well. I varied the sleeve length to a three quarter and used the scoop neck option and the fabric is a slightly heavy weave cotton."

Did you notice those fab hoop earrings? They're perfect with the dress! Altogether it's classically wonderful, delightful fashion straight from 1970!:D