Gosh, I wasn’t expecting to be done with so much time to spare. I forget that vintage sewing takes so much less time than historical sewing, even with working out the pattern and making lots of mistakes!
I had some fiddles in finishing the dress, of course. Finishing always takes more time than you think. I messed with the hem more than once and I may mess with it again – first it was too thick and wide, now I feel it might be just a tad too long. I wanted a skirt length that would work for both day and evening, but I’m not sure this length is flattering – the shorter it goes, the less formal, though…
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| I’m wearing a gorgeous citrine colette necklace and matching earrings from Dames a la Mode. I got to choose the stone color and the setting color, and the necklace was handmade for me by Taylor. |
I also messed with the belt a bit. It’s a self belt backed with an interfaced piece of the dupioni silk. Despite the velvet playing nicely all through this project, on this very last bit it didn’t want to, and crawled around. I ended up sewing one side of the belt by hand, but once turned and pressed, it worked perfectly.
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| The shoes that started it all! I made the dress for the sole purpose of matching these incredible emerald green “Gabrielle” pumps made by Miss L Fire, my favorite vintage inspired shoe brand. |
A button and loop, some tacking down of facings and seam allowances, and then it was done! Wow, surprisingly easy and extremely comfortable.
44 Comments
Hikayeci
December 7, 2015 at 9:07 PMi love it ! and the shoes, they are just adorable 🙂
Lauren Stowell
December 8, 2015 at 9:57 PMThank you! It all started with the shoes 🙂
Anonymous
December 7, 2015 at 9:11 PMIt's beautiful!
Lauren Stowell
December 8, 2015 at 9:57 PMThanks!
Juliana
December 7, 2015 at 10:01 PMthis dress is so gorgeous! Early 1930s are my jam, and I've enjoyed seeing your creations so much! Can't wait to see more!!
Lauren Stowell
December 8, 2015 at 9:58 PMThe early 30s are definitely my jam too. My favorite vintage period by far. More 30s clothes! All the 30s clothes!!
A
December 7, 2015 at 10:37 PMGorgeous! I wish I had something that glamorous to wear. You did a wonderful job.
Lauren Stowell
December 8, 2015 at 9:58 PMThank you!
Stephanie Lynn
December 7, 2015 at 10:48 PMSo fabulous!
Lauren Stowell
December 8, 2015 at 9:58 PMThank you!
MrsC (Maryanne)
December 7, 2015 at 11:13 PMIt is every kind of divine!!! I like the length myself, I think it achieves the exact thing you want. And all my dresses are that length so I would say that 😉
Lauren Stowell
December 8, 2015 at 9:59 PM30s lengths are weird, but when you get it right it really hits the mark. I feel like this dress has the right look at this length. I can always turn it up again if I really end up hating it in the future 🙂
Cathi
December 7, 2015 at 11:34 PMThose shoes are to die for and that dress…..
Lauren Stowell
December 8, 2015 at 10:00 PMI almost cried when I saw these shoes. I just had to have them! Then I had to make a dress to match them, haha. Funny how that works 🙂
Amy
December 8, 2015 at 12:01 AMThis looks very like my grandmother's wedding dress from 1938. I just wore it for a vintage event yesterday! I need to try to recreate it so I don't have to endanger the original any more than necessary, and your success is definitely inspiring. Beautiful work!
Lauren Stowell
December 8, 2015 at 10:00 PMThat'l be a great project, pulling a pattern from your grandmother's dress, and also will be incredibly informative in studying the construction and reproducing it. A lovely thing!
jninecostumes
December 8, 2015 at 1:01 AMThe dress is absolutely fabulous! And the shoes! I really liked your posts on the sleeves and fiddling with the patterns adjustments.
Lauren Stowell
December 8, 2015 at 10:01 PMI'm glad you found it helpful!
Cherise
December 8, 2015 at 8:05 AMThat dress is absolutely gorgeous: the color, the material… And it goes perfectly with the shoes too. Great work! 🙂
Lauren Stowell
December 8, 2015 at 10:01 PMThank you!
Liv Elin
December 8, 2015 at 8:24 AMIt's absolutely gorgeous, length and all! Is that some sort of outer garment on your arm?
Lauren Stowell
December 8, 2015 at 10:01 PMThanks! It's just a long coat I had with me, because it was *freezing*
Agi
December 8, 2015 at 8:45 AMI love this dress! And I think the cut is very nice, almost has a modern twist to it. Very nice!
Lauren Stowell
December 8, 2015 at 10:01 PMThank you!
Nina
December 8, 2015 at 8:56 AMIt looks dreamy! I've managed to avoid working with velvet so far, but think a holiday dress may be the perfect excuse.
Lauren Stowell
December 8, 2015 at 10:02 PMThere are lots of different kinds of velvet, and they all act differently. Generally speaking, velvet is a b*tch. I somehow got lucky-ish with this stuff – it's stretch velvet and I cut all the pieces on the bias, which I think made a huge difference in how it acted.
Shirlee Fassell
December 8, 2015 at 2:32 PMSo elegant!
Lauren Stowell
December 8, 2015 at 10:02 PMThank you!
RLC
December 8, 2015 at 3:33 PMBeautiful gown. I particularly like the buckle you chose for the belt.
Lauren Stowell
December 8, 2015 at 10:02 PMThanks!
Amoris
December 8, 2015 at 8:32 PMBeautiful! I think the length is just perfect, you look very elegant and luxurious.
Lauren Stowell
December 8, 2015 at 10:03 PMThank you!
PinhouseP
December 8, 2015 at 8:59 PMAy ay, it's gorgeous! I almost bought velvet yesterday because of you! Now I think I need to go back 😉
I find hem lengths difficult. Yours looks just right.
Lauren Stowell
December 8, 2015 at 10:03 PMDo iiitttt! You know you want to sew some velvet 🙂
Anonymous
December 8, 2015 at 11:03 PMIt's beautiful! I've got an itch to do a 1920s dress in velvet. It's good to hear that stretch velvet worked out so well for you!
Lauren Stowell
December 11, 2015 at 9:06 PMThanks! I think part of the reason the stretch velvet was so agreeable was because I cut all the piece on the bias….except the belt, cut on the straight, which is the only piece that gave me trouble with crawling around and such.
Michelle
December 9, 2015 at 5:20 AMWow! I think I'm another one who caught the velvet itch! haha …One burning question though: What kind of underpinnings did you use to get such a smooth silhouette under a dress that, being cut on the bias, has to show every line? I have such problems with that!
Lauren Stowell
December 11, 2015 at 9:05 PMI wear a "wear your own bra" body shaper – like an open-bottom girdle with straps over the shoulders. It has very few seams or textures in the fabric. Over that I wear a slip.
Rosa
December 9, 2015 at 12:07 PMFabulous. Utterly. And it compliments your skin so wonderfully!
Lauren Stowell
December 11, 2015 at 9:04 PMThank you!
Black Tulip
December 10, 2015 at 9:39 PMThat is fabulous, you look as though you've just stepped out of the current 1930s exhibition at the Lady Lever!
Lauren Stowell
December 11, 2015 at 9:04 PMThank you! I love the Lady Lever gallery, too. Wish I could see that '30s exhibition. I greatly enjoyed the Downton exhibition last year.
ACS Blog
December 13, 2015 at 12:59 PMThat dress looks magnificent on you! I love the color; I think it worked really well with the fabric and the design, too! And totally love the shoes! Where did you get it?
Lavender and Twill
December 16, 2015 at 9:40 AMThis is just a stunning ensemble, and you look amazing! Kudos to you for getting that velvet to co-operate so nicely. I saw those Miss L Fires and thought that they were absolutely gorgeous, and you've really turned out a dress that is on par with their beauty! Christmas perfection! ❤
xox,
bonita of Lavender & Twill