Seen in a Shop Window: Wedding Dresses at Luly Yang

Bridal gowns are beginning to appear in the windows of Luly Yang in downtown Seattle - what a delight!

I love this stunning strapless gown, with a snug, contoured drop-waist bodice and full flowing skirt with a sweep train.

This eye-catching gown is gorgeous, with a snug bustier bodice and full flowing skirt that swirls in a froth of cascading drapes.

Miss Lillian's Postcards: Vintage Tweets from the 1900s - Gibson Girl Bride

Postcard 007

Collected by Miss Lillian probably for the simple beauty of the picture, this postcard is title "The Old Clock on the Stairs" and features the art of W. L. Taylor. The artwork has a copyright of 1903 and is identified on the address side of the postcard as "W. L. Taylor Series, Subject 2".

 
The title seems rather secondary (yes, there is a clock on the staircase), since the bride is clearly the object of the painting. But search for this artist on the Internet, and you will learn that he was a very popular artist of this era, and that this painting was popularly paired with a poem ("The Old Clock on the Stairs" ) by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. This particular painting was most likely part of a series the artist painted for The Ladies' Home Journal that were paired with poetry. Such interesting history! As stated in an biography of W. L. Taylor, postcards and prints of his work, as well as full-color reproductions carefully torn from the pages of the Journal, adorned homes throughout the country and throughout the world.

Looking at the bride's costume, her gown is truly gorgeous. I love the rows of horizontal tucks on the gathered skirt, the ribbon and lace on the bodice, the empire waist, the puffy sleeves. Not to mention that luminous, long and wispy veil - light as a feather. Note the flower girl behind her. I think that her empire-waisted dress and flared skirt looks very 1970s. Timeless fashion, indeed! :D

Since it lacks a message, we can assume that Lillian either purchased this for herself or someone gave it to her.

The Hope Chest

If you have been following the Boyer Family Singers blog, you know that Jessica has been working on the contents for her hope chest.

This post is dedicated to you, Jessica! The Lane Cedar Chest was the hope chest of choice for many a bride-want-to-be in the 1950s (as well as decades before and after ;)). What a perfectly beautiful bridal gown, yes?

I purchased a Lane Cedar Chest myself (as my hope chest) after high school, although I have to admit I was not as diligent as Jessica in collecting my "trousseau" items. ;) But it was great for storing wool clothing, as the cedar naturally repels moths. And I still have it!

Home Sewing Tips from the 1920s - Satin Flowers for the Bride's Gown

In this wonderful tip, Ruth Wyeth Spears describes a lovely decoration for a bridal gown. She provides an actual size template, which you use to cut flower appliques from satin. You trim along the edges of each flower with pearl beads. The satin flowers are then applied to bands of sheer georgette, which trim the dress (along with side drapes of georgette). Such graceful 1920s wedding fashion!

Before and After Hit Parade: 1970s Bride - It's Me!

Seamstress: Me!
Pattern: McCall's 2701 from 1970

In the early 1970s, there were strong folk and country influences in fashion and the wedding gown featured in McCall's 2701 from 1970 is a great example.

The Results: I liked it so well, I chose it for my wedding in June 1971! :D Don't I look young? I was 21, honest!

I chose view A, with the lace-trimmed stand collar and lace-trimmed cuffs on the long bishop sleeves. I sewed a self-fabric tie belt that I tied in front at empire waistline. I chose to trim the center bodice front with lace ruffles as well.

As you can see, I followed view A pretty closely. White dotted swiss was my choice for the fabric, and the veil was my "something borrowed" from a best friend. Can you guess how much I spent on fabric and notions for this wedding gown? $6.00!! Amazing.

Exquisite 1930s Bridal Gown

Isn't this simply exquisite? Worthy of Ginger Rogers, Claudette Colbert, and Jean Harlow (to name a few of the movie stars of the 1930s), this wedding gown from 1938 and McCall is totally gorgeous.

The sleeveless gown has a dramatic V-back, soft surplice front, snug midriff that drops below the natural waistline, dramatic cathedral train, and is topped with a lined, fitted cropped jacket trimmed with crisp dainty pleating.

All I can do is dream and sigh.