Over Christmas I made a couple 1950s frocks I haven’t shared with you. In fact, I made this dress, then didn’t have opportunity to wear it until yesterday, for my grandmother’s 88th birthday.
The pattern was Butterick 8087, size 12. I constructed my version from brown shantung with a brown lace overlay on the bodice. It was another exercise in letting out seam allowances (yay for 5/8″!) and minimizing darts, as I wear a 14 vintage (if I’m lucky), not 12. Tight squeeze.
I’m happy with this dress – I made extensive use of fusible interfacing on select areas inside, to stiffen the thin shantung fabric sufficiently to keep the zipper from warping, or the tight fit through the waist from pulling in funny ways. It has its funkiness – the hem needs re-doing, hangs in a funny way – but all in all I like the end result. 🙂
Yesterday I wore the dress with a vintage “mink donut” hat – my dad said it looked like little fuzzy donuts lined up in a crown, lol – and a pair of white gloves I picked up at Sacramento Antiques last weekend.
The End. 🙂
22 Comments
Stephanie Lynn
February 20, 2012 at 10:31 PMI love the lace overlay! And the hat! Yummy!
Jo
February 20, 2012 at 10:40 PMThis dress is so flattering! I love it when brown looks sophisticated and not drab. I'm envious!
Lauren R
February 21, 2012 at 9:07 PMBrown can be hard, there are so many different hues. If it has warm tones, it will look alive, but if it is cool it can look like mud. Mud Dress, ew :-
Solanah
February 20, 2012 at 10:40 PMOooo, you look so beautiful! The dress turned out so nice, I love the color and texture. And the hat just makes it 😉
xoxo
Solanah
Lauren R
February 21, 2012 at 9:06 PMThank you, especially coming from you, I am so flattered. The hat was a $10 find in an antiques store in Alameda. /score
Maggie
February 20, 2012 at 10:45 PMGorgeous!
Samantha
February 20, 2012 at 10:51 PMthis is GORGEOUS and you are stunning 🙂
Mackin-Art
February 20, 2012 at 10:55 PMBeautiful!!!
Lynn Brooks
February 20, 2012 at 11:18 PMlove the dress, so elegant.
Jen Thompson
February 20, 2012 at 11:31 PMWow! You re rocking that dress! What a classy style!
Zach
February 20, 2012 at 11:31 PMGreat job; I love it!!! What did your grandmother say?
Lauren R
February 21, 2012 at 9:05 PMShe didn't say anything, lol. She's not all there…
Susan
February 21, 2012 at 12:18 AMLove the dress, especially the cut of the back. Well done!
Augustintytär
February 21, 2012 at 7:42 AMIt's beautiful!
Hana - Marmota
February 21, 2012 at 9:06 AMLovely dress! My favourite part is the bow. And the V-neck in the back. And… well, you get the idea. 🙂
Anne Elizabeth
February 21, 2012 at 10:37 AMYou look fabolous in this! It's really perfect for your figure! And the lace makes all the difference, it adds so much style!
Lauren R
February 21, 2012 at 9:04 PMI was worried it might look too dowdy, but I'm glad it worked out 🙂
Debi
February 21, 2012 at 1:08 PMLOVELY!
Anonymous
February 21, 2012 at 3:08 PMYou look lovely but the hat doesn't look like doughnuts, it looks like a giant mink caterpillar.
Lauren R
February 21, 2012 at 9:03 PMMink Caterpillar! I LOVE IT!!
Lauren R
February 21, 2012 at 9:07 PMThank you all for your lovely comments! <3
KittyKatt
February 25, 2012 at 3:25 PMYou look like my dearly departed Aunt Dora in your dress. So wonderful!