1960s Style with Kick - Go-Go Boots!

I recently posted this pattern, which is illustrated with a model in that fab phenomenon of the 60s, go-go boots! According to Wikipedia, before go-go boots were introduced in the mid-60s, women's boots were utilitarian, not fashion items. Well, go-go boots definitely changed that! And when they were a new and hot item, go-go boots were mid-calf high and white (as shown in view 3 here). 

Female dancers on TV shows often wore the boots. Check out the dancers in this clip of the Ronettes.

Nancy Sinatra's pop hit from 1967 "These Boots are Made for Walkin" also helped popularize these boots. You can see the dancers wearing mid-calf boots, and in more colors.

Totally groovy style!

Scraps from the Past - 1940s in Red

A pattern from the 1940s came with some pieces of still very red fabric, what looks like gabardine or twill (I am not an expert - I could be wrong). It has a good weight to it, in any case, and the color has retained its richness, no fading whatsoever, after 66 years.

The pattern is Butterick 3947, and what a wonderful hat pattern! I wonder what color ribbon she added, or perhaps she added flowers. Or perhaps she gave up on the red, and sewed the hat in a different color. It's fun to imagine!

Fashion and The Loretta Young Show

When I was a young girl, I remember watching the film star, Loretta Young, make a fabulous entrance at the beginning of her TV show. She would come through the door and twirl or swish the full skirts of a fabulous dress. Ah, sigh.

Posted in my shop today is a wonderfully full dress, endorsed by Loretta Young for Advance patterns. Twirl and swirl and look your most charming!

Can You Imagine?

Some vintage patterns bear the annotations and sketches of the original owner. It is always fun and inspiring to peek into the thoughts of that seamstress of decades ago, and trying to visualize what she had in mind. Take for example this 1958 pattern, Butterick 8492.

The annotation points to view A and states "make in black (sheer wool?) & use lace collar in pattern box".

I electronically colored the dress black, which was straightforward. Making the collar look lacy was rather more difficult and I have no idea what her "lace collar in pattern box" looked like. But it might have looked something like this, which has an evening, after-5 look to it. Lovely, don't you think?

The Midriff Skirt

In the mid-1950s the midriff skirt was a popular style, and it has become equally as popular today. With the waistline at empire height, the options included slim and flared, and even gorgeous evening length skirts. Shaped edges also made for great style, with a curved line or extended points, and the addition of suspenders or straps. And even growing girls were not left out of this popular style.

It's hard not to love a fitted, figure-hugging style that is so flattering and fun. Delish! Here are a few examples that are or were in my shop recently.

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? :)

Sharing Vintage Fashion the Thrifty Way: Valentine Apron Give-Away

It's my first give-away! This give-away is all about thrift, and sharing vintage fashion the hand-made way. 

I often come across a hand-reproduced pattern, often labeled "mom's apron" or "June's skirt pattern" and such, sometimes on newsprint, sometimes on brown butcher paper. Because the 1930s depression years and the shortages of the 1940s war years meant making do with less, women shared favorite and admired patterns by hand-tracing them and giving them to family and friends.

In keeping with the spirit in which these patterns were made, this will be the first of many regular contests to share these patterns free with you, my wonderful customers, followers, and readers of my blog.

My first give-away contest is a Valentine apron. I estimate it to be from the 40s or 50s. The pieces of this hand-reproduced pattern consist of three pieces: heart-shaped bib, heart-shaped skirt, and heart-shaped pocket. Construction details are hand-written on the pieces. I photographed the pieces against a yardstick (36 inches US) to give you an idea of size.

The pocket is trimmed with bias binding.

Skirt is trimmed with ruffles, width is marked on the skirt.

Notches are drawn to indicate where bib is attached to skirt.

Pocket placement is clearly marked.

Tie string placement is also marked on skirt. No tie string pattern piece is included, the assumption being the seamstress can make to desired length and width.

All you need to do to enter the giveaway is to leave a comment!
It could be about why you find vintage fashion inspiring, why you love aprons, or what you'd like to see more of on this blog. There are no limitations in terms of where you live - this will be mailed from the US to anywhere. 

I will use the random number method and will announce the winner on February 1st! And here are some apron styles that are not identical, but similar, to inspire you. :)