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Saturday, February 8, 2014

· My Favorite 1930s Dress ·


Well.... Favorite so far. :-)

Going back through the archives of pictures we took in early December....  The landscape has changed considerably since then- we're covered in a beautiful blanket of snow now! :-)

I made this 1930s dress last February, after I had come across the fabric the previous autumn.  It was such a very fun print, and looked like it was perfectly suited to this style. :-)  I looked through a few books for inspiration, and eventually decided on imitating a collar design from an old Sears catalogue.  The dress was patterned from a mismatch of various bodices and skirts, so I don't really have any helpful information regarding that!  The fabric ended up being a royal pain to work with, as it was printed dramatically enough off-grain and the design turned out to be not-quite-square! :-/  I also ended up underestimating the yardage required *ahem*..... so that necessitated some careful squeezing- especially with the design to worry about.  But, all's well in the end.  The slightly crooked design and the un-planned and not-desired center front and back seams aren't terribly noticeable after all. ;-)


These pictures were taken the same day as all the other 1930s posts I've done recently.  Kathryn, Tara, and I went out for the afternoon and found lots of fun locations in a cute downtown. :-)  We brought along several different outfits, with the idea of changing in the restroom located in a shopping mall.  Best laid plans were foiled when the restroom was locked. :-/  We asked a nearby worker about it, and she stated matter-of-factly, "Well no it's not open- It's Monday!"

Oh.  Point taken.  I should have known Monday was "No One Needs a Restroom Day". :-P

A nearby Starbucks ended up serving the purpose, and I don't think we got too many odd looks going in there 4 times in 45 minutes... ;-)




This small vintage mother-of-pearl buckle was the best match in the stash.  I initially thought it was too small, but I ended up not having enough leftover fabric to make anything wider- so it all was for the best! ;-)


The skirt is based off of a Vogue re-print, with the top of the pleated inset shaped into a V.  The worst part of this dress- ironing all those pleats.  Since it's just a quilting cotton, it's starting from square one each time it comes out of the wash. :-/  Good thing I like ironing, right??


And I saved my favorite part for last. ;-)  This collar was such a fun challenge to figure out, and I'm so pleased with how closely the execution corresponds with my expectations!!  The collar is made from one piece of fabric, folded with 1/4" tucks to achieve the aesthetic of a triple collar without all of the bulk and shadow-through.  It is lined with a flat piece of fabric to hold its shape.  I debated which layer to put my fusible interfacing on, as I've found pros and cons for both.  I eventually decided to put it on the under layer, and that's been a perfectly acceptable choice.  I did have a major panic moment after pulling this out of the wash for the first time though; the upper layer of the collar doesn't stay creased and is a crumpled, droopy mess!  The pleats tend to "remember" where they're supposed to be rather easily though, so ironing is a breeze. :-)

Oh, and the brooch was a happy antique find right as I was finishing the dress. :-)


The cuffs follow the same construction principles as the collar, and close by a hidden snap placket.

· I'm sure you'll be surprised to hear this, but these fabulous photos were taken by the ever-unsurpassed Kathryn! ;-) ·

27 comments:

  1. Oh wow! I think that's one of the many reasons why I like the 1930s; all those FUN details. :) You did an amazing job with them, and must say that the collar and sleeves really "make the dress."

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    1. Thanks Cheri! :-) I agree- the 1930s is almost un-paralleled when it comes to unique and unusual details! One can never tire of looking through 30s catalogues! ;-)

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  2. Oh... Sigh! So lovely. What I love about the 1930s are all the interesting details like your collar & cuffs. At first I thought the fabric was a Liberty of London print, too. Lovely choice.

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    1. Thank you, Laura! I was drawn to the fabric for its "Liberty"-ness, too! ;-) It was rather more affordable, but I'm guessing I wouldn't have had the off-grain issues with a real Liberty. :-)

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  3. That dress is to die for!!! And the brooch is positively perfect! You did such amazing work on the dress.
    I have a question about how you wash it, since I just made myself two dresses last year that were dark colored with a white collar. Do you have any trouble with the color running or bleeding on to the collar? How do you wash a colored dress with a white collar? Just curious if you had any tips.

    Blessings,

    Brigid
    the Middle Sister and Singer

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    1. Thank you so much, Brigid! I haven't had any issues with bleeding on all the dresses I have with contrasting elements (although I do nervously watch the outcome of the first washing! :-/). I always pre-wash my fabric to take care of any shrinking or bleeding that might happen, and sometimes we'll wash it twice if it looks like it has a propensity to either of those. Other than that- I just pray for the best! ;-)

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  4. Miss Lemon would definitely approve!
    That fabric is perfect for the style.
    What a hoot about the bathroom! :) I'm sure at Starbucks they are used to frequent bathroom users since they offer mostly liquid refreshment. ;)

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    1. Oh, thank you Michelle! :-) I love Miss Lemon, and her approval would be the very highest mark of approbation! :-)

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  5. I think I need to move closer to you so you can make all my clothes. This is smashing! The collar are cuffs are quite impressive, and the print has a lovely pseudo-art-deco flair that is complemented so well by that delightful little pin. I love the entire ensemble!

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  6. At first glance, I thought this was vintage. Your workmanship is lovely! The collar and cuffs are so interesting - thank you for sharing about that "layering" technique, I will tuck that away for future reference. This fabric is incredibly beautiful! Might I inquire whether you know the textile company that produced this design?

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    1. Thank you Abigael! :-)

      The fabric was just a lowly JoAnns purchase. ;-) They put it on clearance at our store shortly after I bought it, so I'm not sure if they still carry it in other locations? The only information on the selvage says "Designed and Produced for JoAnn Fabrics".

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  7. Oh wow!!! Gorgeous! It looks like you stepped right out of old Hollywood! Your hair looks fab as well, any tips on how you did it?

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    1. Thanks, Megan! :-) I set my hair in pin curls overnight, and then brush and shape them into waves in the morning. I use duck-bill clips and wave clips to hold it all in place and hairspray thoroughly. ;-) I keep the clips in for 15-20 minutes as a finish getting ready for the day and then give it a quick spray after the clips are out. The decorative bobby pins are rather helpful in keeping the waves in place, since I feel like I haven't quite mastered this style yet. ;-)

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  8. Lovely! The collar and the cuffs are splendid! <3

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  9. Wow! Beautiful work you did! I think it's quite an artistic feat! I love everything about it, how you pieced together a different skirt and bodice to create just the look you were going for and how you recreated the collar from a picture you saw in an old catalog. Also, I love the fabric. It goes perfect with this dress!

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  10. This is the most beautiful dress! ... I think I might need to make something like this! I don't have enough cute casual non-summer dresses. Did you do any interesting 30s sewing techniques?

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    1. Thanks! :-) No, I didn't end up doing many "vintage" techniques on this one...

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  11. You did an amazing job!!! I made a 1930's dress out of a old dress we had sitting in a box for years. And I had the same problem, not enough yardage so had to fuss and fudge things. Love the collar and cuffs. You have amazing talent!

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    1. How fun! Isn't it such a satisfying feeling to successfully squeeze something out of a small yardage?! ;-)

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    2. Yes it is!!! I just did that with a baby dress I was making for a friend. I love remaking things and seeing just what you can barely squeeze out of the old thing.

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  12. What a wonderful style, I love it! the fabric is such a wonderful print and I was blown away by the collar and cuffs, those are so much fun. Enjoyed reading the whole thing, as I use restrooms in random places and make dresses from pieces of several patterns as well. Keep up the great work :)

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  13. Haven't the slightest idea why, but these pictures remind me so much of the film 'A Man Called Peter'. Have you seen it? It's a beautiful story. And gorgeous dress. Seriously, you inspire me so much! I am always checking your blog to see if there are any new posts! Drooling over 1930's dresses now.., ;)

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    1. Aww, thanks!

      No, I haven't seen that one yet! I always love new movie recommendations! :-)

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  14. My heavens! I adore everything about this dress! The fabric is beautiful and fun, the collar and cuffs are fabulous and the belt makes me smile!! I LOVE this!!!

    Blessings!
    Gina

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  15. I love this dress.... and you are incredible. :) Love love love the collar and cuffs!! :)

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