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V51: 1957 Little Brown Dress

Feb 20, 2012 22 comments
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. :-)
Vintage Vintage365

Comments

  1. Stephanie LynnFebruary 20, 2012 at 2:31 PM

    I love the lace overlay! And the hat! Yummy!

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  2. JoFebruary 20, 2012 at 2:40 PM

    This dress is so flattering! I love it when brown looks sophisticated and not drab. I'm envious!

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    1. Lauren RFebruary 21, 2012 at 1:07 PM

      Brown 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 :-\

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  3. SolanahFebruary 20, 2012 at 2:40 PM

    Oooo, you look so beautiful! The dress turned out so nice, I love the color and texture. And the hat just makes it ;)

    xoxo
    Solanah

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    1. Lauren RFebruary 21, 2012 at 1:06 PM

      Thank you, especially coming from you, I am so flattered. The hat was a $10 find in an antiques store in Alameda. /score

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  4. MaggieFebruary 20, 2012 at 2:45 PM

    Gorgeous!

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  5. SamanthaFebruary 20, 2012 at 2:51 PM

    this is GORGEOUS and you are stunning :)

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  6. Mackin-ArtFebruary 20, 2012 at 2:55 PM

    Beautiful!!!

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  7. Lynn BrooksFebruary 20, 2012 at 3:18 PM

    love the dress, so elegant.

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  8. Jen ThompsonFebruary 20, 2012 at 3:31 PM

    Wow! You re rocking that dress! What a classy style!

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  9. ZachFebruary 20, 2012 at 3:31 PM

    Great job; I love it!!! What did your grandmother say?

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    Replies
    1. Lauren RFebruary 21, 2012 at 1:05 PM

      She didn't say anything, lol. She's not all there...

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  10. SusanFebruary 20, 2012 at 4:18 PM

    Love the dress, especially the cut of the back. Well done!

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  11. AugustintytärFebruary 20, 2012 at 11:42 PM

    It's beautiful!

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  12. Hana - MarmotaFebruary 21, 2012 at 1:06 AM

    Lovely dress! My favourite part is the bow. And the V-neck in the back. And... well, you get the idea. :-)

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  13. Anne ElizabethFebruary 21, 2012 at 2:37 AM

    You look fabolous in this! It's really perfect for your figure! And the lace makes all the difference, it adds so much style!

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    1. Lauren RFebruary 21, 2012 at 1:04 PM

      I was worried it might look too dowdy, but I'm glad it worked out :-)

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  14. DebiFebruary 21, 2012 at 5:08 AM

    LOVELY!

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  15. AnonymousFebruary 21, 2012 at 7:08 AM

    You look lovely but the hat doesn't look like doughnuts, it looks like a giant mink caterpillar.

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  16. Lauren RFebruary 21, 2012 at 1:07 PM

    Thank you all for your lovely comments! <3

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  17. KittyKattFebruary 25, 2012 at 7:25 AM

    You look like my dearly departed Aunt Dora in your dress. So wonderful!

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