By The 1930s would have to be one of my favourite decades for fashion – the line, the flow, the lovely details…it just all comes together for a very classy look.
I found a lovely burgundy printed rayon in the clearance section of Spotlight – at just $6/m I just couldn’t turn it down and bought up the full 5m left on the roll. The colour and simple print had a lovely vintage feel and I knew it would make up beautifully.
For inspiration I started at a favourite vintage fashion blog – Vintage Dancer. Debbie Sessions has put together a great deal of information for the lover of historical fashion…I highly recommend checking out her blog and signing up for her newsletter for your favourite decade. I was particularly drawn to the middle picture above, and set about trying to draft something like it.
I started with my Vogue fitting shell as a sloper to save drafting from scratch. You can see from some of the images below how I moved the darts around to cut the midriff pieces and then to distribute the fullness into gathers at the raised waist and shoulder. The collar and skirt were drafted according to the instructions from my 1950s? “Successful Dressmaking” book by Ellen & Marietta Resek.
Being so unsure of my patterning skills, a calico mock-up was a must. I’m very glad I did, because the collar definitely need work.
After that, sewing it together was no more difficult than most projects. French seams were my finish of choice where possible, and the addition of a placket with loops and covered buttons made for a pretty closure at the front. A plastron/bib insert or a camisole made from leftover fabric fills the low front and the self fabric belt with a diamante buckle is an optional (but period appropriate final touch.
I love wearing this dress, and get so many lovely comments when I do – it’s now my wardrobe favourite.
If you prefer watching all this spiel rather than reading it – head to my YouTube video 🙂
Yesterday-Today 