Showing posts with label skirt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label skirt. Show all posts

Monday, February 15, 2016

Scraps from the Past: Playwear in Stripes

The pattern: Simplicity 2444, 1940s

Now is the time we start thinking seriously of summer and great vintage summer fashion. This pattern is the perfect ensemble for a summer day of outdoor play - a picnic, a day in the park or at the beach. The skirt wraps around the step-in playsuit - it's great 40s style!


The scrap: This red-and-white striped piece of fabric was the collar piece, and was tucked in the pattern envelope. This piece of soft cotton looks like it would make a fresh and comfortable ensemble for summer sport and play. Although can you picture the entire outfit in red-and-white stripes? Perhaps this was a contrast fabric piece?



Friday, March 6, 2015

Pattern of the Week: Sizzling Summer Style from 1951

I am a bit late, but not too late, to post my pattern of the week! This week's eyesome pattern is from 1951 and Woman's Day magazine. Superbly versatile, the pattern features a flared skirt and three different summer blouses, each an attraction on its own.





What makes this pattern special?
  • The skirt features a soft deep pleat at each front side, with adjacent small soft short pleats, full-length front button closing, and a contoured self-fabric buckled belt.
  • The halter neck blouse is dart-fitted, with a decollete V-neckline and front button closing.
  • The off-shoulder blouse is also dart-fitted, with a double flange collar framing the off-shoulder neckline.
  • The wrap blouse has a surplice closing with tie extensions and a wide decollete V-neckline.


For ease of viewing, here are the garments as illustrated in the instructions:


A bargain at any price!

Monday, December 29, 2014

1960s Mod Neutrals from Young Designer Gerald McCann

Neutral colors are huge this winter season, so these two Mod fashions from London designer Gerald McCann and the late 1960s seem especially timely. Even down to the contrasting plaid revers and peek-a-boo pleat on the dress. I love the buttons and bow. Designed for Butterick patterns, both are very "Carnaby Street" in their style and totally hip. And look at their shoes - now are those fun, or what?



Friday, November 14, 2014

1960s Winter Fashion from Young Designer Gayle Kirkpatrick

Today let's take a peek at winter fashion from 1966. Gayle Kirkpatrick was a hot "In" designer from the mid-60s to the late 1970s. During that time, he won a Coty Award, and designed for Butterick, among many other things. Here are a couple of his designs for Butterick from 1966.

Coatdress Butterick 4204


The coatdress could be sewn to be a coat or a dress (or both!). In this interpretation, sewn in wide wale corduroy, it definitely looks like a coat, with military details.

The double image below pairs Butterick 4204 with Gayle Kirkpatrick's Blouse and Suit Butterick 4205 (looking darn cute and perfectly Mod in paisley). Note the "power stance" of the models. No demure crossing of legs in the youthful revolution of the Mod years!


Friday, October 24, 2014

Originator Sketch - Spring 1946: Accenting with Graduated Folds

What an intriguing idea is illustrated in this page from the Spring 1946 Originator! Pockets with graduated folds or bands accent a skirt, a jacket, and a blouse. Very inspiring and eye-catching too. :) On the skirt, I like how the folds or bands echo the pleats of the skirt - nice touch! On the jacket they they serve to narrow the hips, I think. The blouse is unusual, because a side opening breast pocket is rare - but I like how it hides the pocket while adding interest to the blouse. Great ideas!


Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Spotted in a Shop Window - Brooks Brothers Separates

I seem to be in "blouse" mode. :) I spotted these fine separates in the shop window of Brooks Brothers in downtown Seattle. I love the neutral colors (very big this fall), and the classic, simple lines of the blouses and skirts. All items can be found on the Brooks Brothers website. Not to mention the patterns for them might also be found in your nearest online vintage pattern shop (ahem!). :)

What's not to love about this simply gray pencil skirt and the soft colors of the lovely silk floral blouse with a unique twisted collar?


This wonderful cotton skirt is pleated around the hips that release into soft, full folds. The simple design of the, dare I say it, foulard blouse tops the skirt perfectly.



Saturday, September 13, 2014

Sew It Yourself - Junior Skirt and Shawl

In my recent post of high school back-to-school fashion from the late 1940s was this lovely skirt and matching shawl or stole.



While you can't travel back in time to purchase this, you can sew this fashion trend of the late '40s using this pattern from Junior Vogue and 1948, which is currently in my shop:



I love the plaid version - now if only I were a junior size.... ;)

Thursday, September 11, 2014

1955 Givenchy Suit - American Style

This suit by Givenchy from 1955 has a back-dipping silhouette, with a distinctive semi-detached band that hangs free from the jacket at center back.


The American adaptation, in linen-like silk, modifies the jacket's back belt dip (you can see it, just look for that small gap) and shortens the sleeves to 3/4 length.


Slim and chic!

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Back to School: Elementary School Fashion from 1949

We can hardly look at back-to-school fashion for high school and college and NOT look at elementary school! Whether you call it elementary school, grade school, or primary school, the younger set have their fashion tastes too.



A short wool jacket and flared wool skirt team up nicely for school days. The bright cotton flannel blouse mirrors the flannelette that lines the jacket.


This "study and play" dress of cotton has puff sleeves, flared skirt, and peter pan collar.


This velveteen jumper and blouse of batiste make a pretty party ensemble.


A plaid skirt teams up with a sweater for the perfect school outfit. Don't you love her matching socks and hair ribbons?

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Originator Sketch - Bows and Cut-Aways

This is a great concept, and one that I see from time to time in vintage patterns from other decades. A jacket has the hemline or neckline cut-away so that the garment underneath (skirt, blouse, or dress) is exposed, with a bow or other detail that appears to be one with the outer garment. It always adds chic sophistication.


I love those extra deep, wide cuffs on the bolero. And while both skirts are cute, I love the one on the left, with its shaped high waist above the bow. Fabulous!

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Summer 1938 - Three Flattering Frocks

On the left, a crepe frock with a slim skirt, slim sleeves, and a colorful lightly gathered inset across the bust.

In the center, a pretty print redingote is worn over a plain slip of a dress, to excellent and flattering effect.

On the right, a full "Gibson girl" blouse of sheer fabric contrasts with a crisply knife-pleated skirt, with a print sash that pulls them together. :)


Monday, April 14, 2014

Summer Fashion from 1938 - High-Waisted Skirt and Bolero!

A doff of the sun hat to this fabulous high-waisted skirt with front-crossing suspenders - with its matching bolero, it's1938 summer fashion that's yummy!


Notice the shirring on the short gigot sleeves?

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Home Sewing Tips from the 1920s - Adding an Inverted Pleat to a Skirt

In this wonderful tip, Ruth Wyeth Spears explains how to add an inverted pleat (the latest fashion trend - in the 1920s, that is!) to your skirts. Her method uses an underlay - a classic and timeless technique still used today. This is a great technique that you can use often. So bookmark this tip. :)


Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Pre-war Skirt Leads the Way to Wartime Fashion

Are the holidays over yet? Nope, and I can only hope you all are having the most wonderful season. It's been busy, busy, busy for me, with hardly a moment to blog. But I miss chatting with you all in cyberspace, so I am squeezing in some time today with a short post about an interesting pattern in my shop.

It's 1939 and war is looming on the horizon, but is not yet declared in the US. This now-classic skirt from Vogue and 1939 features the shorter length required for those in the war zone (Paris!). It is super easy to make with only two pattern pieces. It has lovely flared swing style that led the way in wartime fashion. And it was so popular in 1939 that Vogue re-issued the pattern in 1940. What's not to love?!

The skirt has bias flare, dart-fitting at waistline sides (over the hips), a fitted waistband, and back (surprise!) zipper or snap closing.



It's timeless style and a cleverly simple construction. Follow the pattern number link above to the pattern in my shop.

Saturday, November 2, 2013

It's Time to Celebrate All Things Scottish!

St Andrew's Day is coming up at the end of this month (November 30th to be precise), so I've decided to use the whole month of November to honor this patron saint of Scotland by celebrating all things Scottish in my shop! 

Be watching for postings of patterns that either feature designs for, or simply illustrate patterns with, plaids, kilts, and hats such as tam o'shanters and glengarries.

Here is a peek of some bonnie things to come for the lasses and the wee lasses!








 


Thursday, October 3, 2013

1950s Refashion - From an Old Skirt to a Fresh New Jerkin

Sewn without a pattern, this refashion begins with a skirt that has a fringed edge and ends with a jaunty tweed jerkin.

And what is a jerkin? Originally worn only by men back in the 1500s through the 1800s, it is a sleeveless and collarless short jacket worn by men or women, often with extended shoulders. It is an item that seems to have morphed into the vest or sleeveless pullover in today's terms. In any case, in the 1940s and 1950s, they were popular, and typically considered for casual wear.

Check out how this refashion was done!


The jerkin is cut in a single piece from the seamless skirt, wide enough to extend beyond the shoulders and long enough to fit from front to back hip over the shoulders.

The piece was then cut across the shoulder line, with the back slightly longer than the front. Shoulder seams were sewn in a sloping line. The neckline was rounded and a short stand collar added. A neckline slit was made at center front and faced with scraps.

Darts were added at the waistline for a neater fit. Bias binding was stitched to the side edges, then turned under and hemmed.

The belt was created from the skirt waistband, which had the button and buttonhole removed, the open side and ends re-stitched, and a buckled added.


Nifty, neat fashion that looks cute to me!

Monday, September 2, 2013

Scraps from the Past - Blouse & Dress with Eye-Catching Style!

This light, pink damask-style fabric with a floral motif was tucked in a pattern from 1947 - the damask foral motif doesn't show up too well in this scan (if you click on the image to enlarge it, you just make it out), but it is a soft, glamorous fabric, perfect for a blouse or dress.



And here is the pattern it was stored with - Anne Adams 4967 for a lovely blouse with eye-catching keyhole neckline, flared skirt, and dress. There is a personal note written on the pattern: "Martha, I guess you have enough for one more blouse without sleeve." Indeed!


Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Scraps from the Past - 1970s Skirt is a School Sewing Lesson

This fine A-line flared skirt goes from mini to maxi length and has fun details. The pattern is McCall's 4589, with view B circled - the skirt our student must have sewed. The pattern envelope included fabric pieces and also pages from an eighth grade school home economics sewing lesson and exam. It's a sewing lesson from the mid-1970s - how fun! :)


The fabric the student selected is a durable cotton broadcloth floral print, perfect for spring & summer.


Here are the mimeographed instructions for the sewing lesson, addressed to the parents (because they must pay for the fabric, pattern and other sewing notions). Note that the teacher indicates a preference for Simplicity patterns, but has no objections to McCall's. The teacher requires washable cotton or cotton blend fabric. A full list of needed supplies, including tools, is provided.



 Here is the exam on sewing terms - she gets a perfect score!: