1930s Ball Gowns Put the Accent on the Shoulders

These formal gowns from December 1936 feature extra-wide skirts, narrow waists and eye-catching sleeves. Such a thrilling and elegant movie-star quality! Enjoy this eye candy as a way to de-stress from any holiday madness you may be experiencing.

1960s Ball Gown with Chiffon

You could float through the evening in this dreamy strapless ball gown from 1965. It has a full circle skirt of chiffon, drifting from a tiny high bodice of satin .

You would make an unforgettable entrance at any holiday soiree!

Scraps from the Past: 70s Designer Sundress

The pattern: Vogue 1638, a flowing sundress or evening gown from 1977 and Diane Von Furstenberg.

The scrap: This piece of charming cotton floral print was left in the envelope, giving the hint that the original sewist took her inspiration from the pattern photo, and sewed the sundress version on the left.

1930s Spring Fashion

Need a beautiful formal for a spring prom? Or an evening at the opera? These formal gowns from 1932 - so willowy and molded close to the body - are sure to inspire!

the back side

Source: Delineator magazine, April 1932

Home Sewing Tips from the 1920s - A Smart Parisian Frock with Cascading Drape

I was watching Downton Abbey last night (oh my gosh - don't you just love the costumes for Edith and Mary?!) It makes me want to sew up a whole wardrobe of 1920s frocks. It is hard to believe there is only one episode left. :( At least we still have Miss Fisher of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries to get our Flapper Era fix.

To help you with your Downton Abbey or Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries frock envy, just turn to Ruth Wyeth Spears and her wonderful tips from the 1920s. In this tip for the home sewist, she covers the latest frock style from Paris with her usual simplicity. This frock, with a  unique neckline with offset jabot collar, and artful cascading drape below the waist, is designed for print fabric. Inspired?

Home Sewing Tips from the 1920s - Trimming a Satin Frock

Reverse pin tucks! AND hand-embroidered panels! This is a win-win tip from Ruth Wyeth Spears for her 1920s audience. Can you visualize it - a black satin frock with panels embroidered in peacock blue and gold? I simply love Ruth's ideas.

Do you think it's better to embroider the panels and then stitch them to the dress, or complete the sewing of the dress and then embroider it? My guess is the former, but I could be wrong. :)

Sewists Use Tip to Sew Lovely 1920s Dresses!

About a year ago, I posted this tip from Ruth Wyeth Spears and the 1920s:

This tip has inspired more than one sewist. I was thrilled to hear from Gabriela of the Pour La Victoire blog, who had recently created a 1920s frock and added a cascading drape using Ruth's tip. I think her results are absolutely wonderful and a fabulous testament to the 1920s. In the following images, borrowed from her blog, you can see how much the cascading drape adds to her evening frock. 

I   absolutely love the color of her frock, the beading is simply exquisite, and the total effect is simply elegant. I can't imagine the careful effort and amount of time it took to add the beautiful beading to the frock.

To read all the details of how Gabriela constructed this dress, check out her blog, Pour La Victoire. In her blog, Gabriela also mentions Lorna, who had also used this tip to accent her 1920s dress (along with a friend). Lorna kept in touch me when she was sewing her dress, so be sure to follow the links to her blog, Loran's World. Loran has sewn other wonderful 1920s dresses, and loves to knit too! So be sure to browse her blog and be inspired.

1946 Originator Sketch: Artful Gathers Create Beautiful Frocks

While I am tempted to call it smocking, I suspect these frocks illustrate the use of shirring to artfully gather fabric, for a front peplum in one case and a side cascading drape in the other. Regardless, such clever, creative ideas result in beautiful frocks. Delicious!

1950s Dreamy Dior Gown in Green Satin

This fabulous off-shoulder gown in green satin is from Dior's "Y" line - the stem of the Y branches into width from a high waistline and (inverted) broadens out from waist to hem.

Luscious. Featured in Women's Home Companion, October 1955.

1930s Glamorous Dress Hugs the Body in Black

Talking about striking a movie siren pose! This stunning dress gives the model a sculptured look, hugging the body with sensuous drapes at the waistline. A demure collar at neckline is trimmed with a peak of white. A sheer veil drops from the back of the exotic, dot-textured, high-crowned toque.

A dress to sigh for.

1950s - Balenciaga's Enchanting Sheath, Tunic, and Inspired Bolero

Now here is an ensemble I would love to wear! A pop of red on a white hat that makes you think of Christmas, a slim sheath topped with a knee-length tunic with big buttons, and an itty-bitty bolero with a floating back panel. Wow!

 

Here is a photograph of the dress & tunic in black brocade, without the bolero. The big buttons are there (we just can't see them). Enchanting!

1940s Originator Sketch - Cocktail Dresses

Ooooo la la! These stunning cocktail dresses feature cascading drapes topped with bows. Did you notice that both dresses dip lower in the back? Fabulous eye candy!

Look at the details carefully - intriguing!

1930s - Glamorous Metallic Two-Piece Evening Dress

Oh, she looks sensational and knows it! This divine two-piece dress of  lamé provides a sculptured look, wrapping the body in waves of elegant shimmer. The matching hat is a high calot, trimmed with kid and an eye-catching whisper of a veil.

1937 Glamorous Couture Fashion from Paris and Vogue

Shirred to a high waistline, this exquisite lamé-topped dress has the allure you need for cocktails and dinner! The black crepe croisette fabric is molded to you - seductive and slim. Note that the inspired turban matches the frock. Such sophistication - it's a movie star pose and movie star glamour. :)

Cigarette not required. ;)

Winter 1966-67 - Dazzling Evening Dresses

Check out these gorgeous, hot dresses for cocktails, parties, and evenings out from 1966. They are perfect for the holidays! I think it is scrumptious style, but then, I am partial to the era. :) These dresses are from a Butterick home catalog, and the pattern number for each dress is listed at the model's feet.

1950s Paris Fashion: Dior Dress & Jacket, American-Style

From the Fall 1955 collection, this is a sketch of Dior's back-buttoned camisole dress of tawny wool, with a panel flying free from the skirt, and a cropped jacket with back fullness.

Here is Dior's dress, as envisioned by American dress manufacturers, adapted for the evening in metal-shot moire, and incorporat9ng the panel into the skirt. A very fitted jacket is substituted for the loose one. In one word? Dreamy.

 Featured in Woman's Home Companion, October 1955 edition.

Accessorize Your '60s Cocktail Dress!

It's the hunt for accessories! This wonderful Patt-O-Rama mail order pattern from 1966 that I posted yesterday in my shop features a chic two-piece dress with a focus on the accessories.

The pattern included this additional sheet that describes how to accessorize this dress in three different ways! I thought it would be fun to see if I could find vintage fabric and accessories in Etsy shops to match the suggestions. Check them out below. :) Did I do a fair job? Do all the elements work together? Feel free to suggest alternate choices!

I will say, that just the exercise of selecting the pieces for each version made it easier to imagine myself in each version of this two-piece dress. A very fun and useful result!

LEFT: Fabric & Accessories for Dress Sewn in Brocade

Beige brocade fabric

Shop: Fabric Depot

White kid gloves

 Shop: Cristi Natural

White clutch purse (brocade)

Store: From The Vanity

Pearl drop earrings

Shop: Vintage Brink

 Pearl bracelet

Shop: Truly Vintage UK

BOTTOM: Fabric & Accessories for Dress Sewn in Linen

Lemon-colored linen

Shop: My Fabric Studio

Black straw sailor hat

Shop: Vintage Vixen

Black patent sling back shoes

Shop: Frocks N FrillsVintage

Pale yellow gloves

Shop: Jens Closet

Black double-strapped handbag

Shop: The Swanky Fox

RIGHT: Fabric & Accessories for Dress Sewn in Brown Herringbone Wool

Brown herringbone wool fabric

Shop: Fabric Consortium

Dickey

Shop:  bobby's Boutique

 Watch on a chain

Shop:  Yesterday Time

Gold bangle bracelets

Shop: Joann Brocanto Vintage

 

Flat gold earrings

Shop: Beautiful Passions

 Brown leather pumps with stacked heel

Shop:  Kat's Cache

Brown leather pocket book

Shop: Pinky LaRoux

Originator Sketch - Gowns That Drape and Dazzle

This Originator sketch from Spring 1946 features two beautiful concepts for evening wear, each featuring draping.

On the left is a full-skirted evening gown with a cowl-like drape just left of center front and below the knees in the skirt. A bit subtle, I think! The skirt is also accented with flowing sequins or bead embroidery.

On the right, a cascading drape on the right hip and small cowl-like drape above the right knee add elegance to this slim frock for dinner or afternoon wear. Sequins or bead embroidery add extra spark & dazzle.

Note that the full-skirted evening gown has a sheer yoke and sleeves, and a decollete under-bodice with sweetheart neckline. Gorgeous!