The Drop Waist Flapper - Never Out of Style!

Just today, I posted this fab dress pattern, Butterick 5594 from 1969, and it seemed very familiar...

So I checked my shop and sure enough, just the day before I had posted this delightful Vogue 9527 pattern from 1957. Aside from the mini-length of the Butterick pattern, the two delightful flapper-style dresses have almost identical details: sleeveless, scoop neckline, drop waistline, and the choice of inverted pleats or circular flounce.

Where they differ primarily is that the Vogue pattern has contoured princess seams, where the Butterick pattern uses curved French darts in front and vertical contour darts in back.

It's fun to compare these two patterns with flapper frocks from the 1920s, which offer both inverted pleats and circular flounces, but with that characteristically 1920s "middy" straight silhouette to the drop waist:

Fabulous fashion is just so timeless. :)

P.S. And let's not forget, little girls look equally cute in this style. Here is McCall's 4904 from the 1950s. ;)

In Search of Style - 50s Vogue Contest Winner!

Tucked in the envelope of the pattern Vogue 9527 (from 1957) was a magazine clipping from a national sewing contest for "clubwomen".

Here is the original pattern (such a cute dress!), which belonged to Betty Roberts. :)

And here is the 4th Prize winning result that inspired Betty Roberts. Sewn by Mrs. Curt G. Muller of Walnut Creek, California, the prize of $2,500 must have made Mrs. Miller very happy, a very large sum for 1957! The clipping states the dress was sewn in white peau de pêche, net, and lace overlay.

On the reverse side of the clipping, there is more about the contest, although I can only piece out bits as all sentences are chopped off on both sides). There is much reference to "clubwomen", with winners from all "48 states" who advanced to regional and then the national level. Items were judged for versatility, becomingness, and workmanship. Jackets and coats were the most popular entry (24 state finalists). Also popular were blouse combinations, and coats and jackets with dress or blouse beneath. Women also made hats, bags, and other accessories. There is the sense that the contest was sponsored by Vogue Patterns. Prizes were awarded at the Convention in Detroit. :D

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.