Contrast Collars and Cuffs

The use of contrast collars and cuffs to add drama and eye-appeal to a dress or ensemble has been popular throughout the decades, but especially popular in the 1950s. White was (and still is) the most popular and the most compelling contrast.

Feast your eyes on these examples from print sources and vintage patterns. Note the popular wing cuffs, which add extra flair.

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You can't deny that even this Vogue designer dress from the 1990s is more dramatic and striking with contrast collar and cuffs.

Have you ever sewn a dress with contrast collar and cuffs?

Scraps from the Past: 50s Shirtwaist is Festive in Plaid

This beautiful shirtwaist dress is soft and graceful. Butterick 5346 and the 1950s really could delivery gorgeous style!

Tucked into this particular pattern was this small scrap of soft, thin fabric. Can you visualize the dress in a dreamy swirl of plaid? So festive!

Scraps from the Past: War Time Blouse Goes Bold & Sporty

This set of four blouses from 1944 and Simplicity 1093 is so versatile, that almost any type of fabric and print would look terrific!

Here is the fabric that the seamstress left with the pattern -a very abstract, bold pattern! I can imagine it for view 3 or 4, perfect for a sporty, casual blouse. It is such an interesting fabric, with the look and feel of a lightweight linen. Totally cool!

Scraps from the Past: Summer Jammies in Blue Seersucker

This adorable pattern for one-piece jammies from McCall and 1942 can be warm for winter or cool for summer. The original seamstress left a square of fabric that left no doubt she sewed up these pajamas for summer.

 

Here is the light-weight, soft seersucker in a bright blue that was left in the envelope. It's easy to picture, isn't it? And do you think it was for a boy? :)

Before and After Hit Parade: 1940s Princess Frock Swings in Blue

The Seamstress: Jax

The Pattern: 1940s Mail Order 1674 Vintage Sewing Pattern Junior Misses Princess Dress
 

The Result: Jax sewed this lovely summer dress using vintage fabric in a beautiful shade of blue with small print floral details. She shortened it for swing dancing. You can see the flattering sweetheart neckline, fine fit through the waist, and the lovely bias flare of the skirt. Kudos on a wonderful dress!

Seamstress Notes: "This pattern was for a very petite lady, so I had to shorten it quite a lot. I made it up in some 1940s rayon I got on Esty from the states. (Jax is in the UK.) The dress is for my daughter who has taken up swing dancing and will be wearing it to Twinwood vintage festival...I did add some little tie belts from the front panel to help define the waist and added security when dancing with a partner as side seam could pop open...I have a facebook page and posted about this pattern." Be sure to visit her own Etsy shop, Mrs Bee Vintage, and you can follow her on Facebook at Mrs Bee Vintage Dressmaker.

In Search of Style: Looking for 80s Fashion in 40s Pattern

This is a first for me - an elegant 1940s Vogue Couturier Design pattern with a clipping from what looks like a 1980s dress advertisement!

The clipping shows draping at the shoulders, short French sleeves, a high V-neckline, and a gathered flared skirt.

Here is Vogue Couturier Design 791, the envelope this clipping was tucked into. The dress has draping across the bust, short French sleeves, stiletto neckline, flared skirt with soft pleats at front waistline. Hmm. What do you think? Is this a match or a mistake?

Beating the Heat

While the rest of the United States is positively roasting with temperatures in triple digits, we here on the western fringe of the continent are having a very cool, damp summer. Today I am wearing a sweater. :p

I have noticed on the weather maps for the past week or two that even the interior of Alaska has warmer weather than Seattle. It was with a sigh of envy and irony that I shipped off the following pattern for sleeveless pullover knit tops (Simplicity 9035) to a customer in Alaska today. It's cute, timeless, fun-in-the-sun fashion from the 1970s!

I hope you all are keeping comfortable in style, no matter the weather!