Verity Vintage Studio

The Polka Dot Project - Green 1950s Dress

My latest Polka Dot Project used an all-over pin dot cotton fabric I got at JoAnn a long time ago and had this pattern paired with for almost a year before it finally became reality.

 

It's a slender style 1950s pattern, with an asymmetrical pocket that the skirt sweeps up to meet with pleats.

 

That's the special feature. The rest of it is simple - princess style lines.

 

I made this pattern, sizing it down about 3 in., and followed View 2 pretty closely.

Although you'll notice that my pocket ended up on the wrong side! That was one of those face-palm moments when I realized I was cutting out the single layer front skirt pieces on the wrong side of the fabric. Thankfully since I cut them all out on the wrong side, it still worked - just I ended up with a pocket on the right instead of the left.

 

Aren't the pleats cute, though?

 

The tiny round pearlized buttons and round buckle echo the polka dots.

 

I paired it with pearls and a white 1950s hat, but though white shoes probably would have matched better, I wanted another excuse to wear my new Chelsea Crew green sandals - one of the few retro style modern shoes that actually looks like a reproduction (more 1940s than 1950s though). I've seen ads in vintage magazines for sandals that look just like this, and have another pair of vintage ones that has an identical woven-crossed toe.

 

It's so much fun to see an idea come to life, especially after being in your mind and lying on a shelf for almost a year! When I realized I could make it as part of my Polka Dot Project, it got bumped up in my sewing queue and now crossed off.

Item of the Week - Flower Linen Earrings

These dainty asymmetrical flower earrings crocheted in a natural linen color, coordinated with brown dangle glass beads, are Item of the Week in my Etsy Shop and are half price for one week only - slashed from $9.

Attending a Car Show - 1950s Style

One of our local small towns in our new home state of Idaho is Emmett, so far my favorite town ever. It's the right size - not too large or too small - and so friendly. The main square has colorful false front buildings, like all western towns should have. One of their big yearly events is the Show 'n' Shine car show held in July. Of course we had to go!

 

And of course we girls couldn't resist the chance to dress up 1950s in order to pose with some of the cars. 

 

My two sisters attended in full-skirted 1950s outfits - one homemade, one vintage from 1958. So I decided to make a dress with the opposite silhouette of the era to diversify things a bit.

 

It was a "wearable muslin" and turned out very well, though I will change a few things when I make it again.

 

I liked it very much for a slender style of dress - not too tight, but tailored - with details like the hip gathers and yoke, the faux bolero, and the pleated neckline. I actually added two more pleats to raise the neckline, and was pleased with how well the change blended in.

 

I want to make it again in some stashed charcoal linen, with embroidery on the pleats, hip yoke, and sleeves, to wear with pearls for a classic 1950s dressy outfit.

 

I had a hard time deciding what to pair with it, but after studying vintage pattern illustrations to make sure that a bag and shoes could match, while contrasting with the hat and gloves, I ended up pairing it with a white vintage hat and cut-out gloves, a chunky 1950s necklace, and a non-vintage but vintage style "hatbox" purse that also had some lavender in it, and the brown of the bag tied in with my vintage heels.

 

We got a lot of compliments, especially from older folks who remember when everyone dressed like this.

 

It was a beautiful day - sunny and breezy and not too hot. There were around 1,000 cars and tons of people, but it was pleasant to stroll and comment and gasp. We left on overload - too much gorgeousness! 

 

The mid-1950s is one of my favorite eras for cars, especially when it's a Chevy Bel-Air. But then I'm a sucker for two-tone cars of any make. And to my brother's frustration, I care nothing for the internals as long as it's gorgeous on the outside!

 

If I use it for a photo prop, could buying an old car be a business investment?? :-)

 

Some of them seated 4 on sofa-sized seats and were bigger than our 12 passenger van! I would not want to try parallel parking in some of these.

 

This one was for sale! We already have a long to-buy list of various old automobiles for when our ship comes in. This is Elsie, the younger sister, whom I am influencing in style, in case you can't tell. She recently started sewing and planned and made her own outfit, from some of my patterns, with only a little help. Didn't she do a good job?

 

When we have a ranch we have to have a ranch truck like one of these, right?

 

 I like this candid shot - I have no idea what we were talking about! But it also demonstrates the contrast in 1950s styles. And the primary colors in the background are kind of fun.

 

So many pretty details...car designers back then were anything but utilitarian. Why, oh why, can't they make 'em like this anymore?

  

 

The crowning moment was when we were admiring this beautiful 1954 Buick Skylark - one of only 850 made, and less than 100 left. Just my taste in color scheme, too!

 

Then a very kind gentleman opened the door and said, "Take pictures of her sitting in it. Want to sit in it?"

 

Did I!

 

Couldn't I please be transported to the 1950s for a leetle bit?

 

*Sigh!*

The day ended with an evening cruise where all the cars took a spin (or several) around the block. All those old engines throbbing, and so many beautiful cars in a row! Meanwhile the sun mellowed into evening light, shadows lengthened, and another perfect Idaho summer day drew to a close.

 

After the cruise the cars would scatter back to their homes all over several states, but a lot of them live close by! We never go to town without seeing a few old cars parked or being driven around. Someday we hope to be among them. But meanwhile we saw our fill for one day, and went home happy and just steeped in Americana.

 

 

Photo credit for this post goes to my 12-year-old brother, Bobby!

New Listings in the Etsy Shop

Later this week stay tuned for a lengthy post on a local car show. But first, the spotlight is on a few brand new listings to the Etsy shop!

 

1940s Classic Spectator Heels, size 7 or 7.5 

 

Rare Vintage 1950s Coverall Pattern (no envelope), size 12

 

Crocheted Chenille Baby Bolero, 9-12 mo.

 

1940s Mail Order Housedress Pattern, size 18

Item of the Week - 1950s Hat

This cute vintage 1950s black hat is Item of the Week in my Etsy shop, on sale at half price for one week only - slashed from $10.

The Polka Dot Project - 1940s Overblouse

My first Polka Dot Project this summer, when I began concentrating on sewing with this lovely print, was a 1940s skirt from a heavy gray fabric scattered with 1/4 in. off-white polka dots. I had enough scraps left to use for contrast, so I had the idea of making a coordinating blouse to wear with the skirt.

 

This time I used polka dots as a contrast instead of the main fabric. The idea was to be able to mix and match - wear either of them separately or together as a 2 piece outfit, so common in the 1940s.

 

This also being a trial of a pattern I intended to make in different fabric to wear to an event, I naturally chose the overblouse paired with the skirt in the original pattern.

 

Most blouses in the 1940s were worn tucked in. Any blouse designed to wear out over the skirt was called an overblouse, unless of course it was a jacket or sweater.

 

My only pick with the outfit was that the blouse covers up the cute stitched-down pleats in the skirt!

 

This one I liked very much. It doesn't need a belt, it's comfortable and looks tailored, yet without a business-suit feel. Perfect for a summer dressy outfit.

 

It was also easy to make. I had a few trouble spots - getting the gathers even on the front, and the center front point of the collar - but it was very simple and easy to understand the construction, even with the funny shaped front piece.

 

 

And the gathers I think are quite flattering.

 

So there's one successful trial crossed off my to-do list for this fall, and another polka dot piece added to my wardrobe!

July Tutorial - Bead Dangle Necklace

Need a quick jewelry project for a special occasion?

I had a favorite bead dangle necklace bought at Cato a while ago, and when I decided I wanted a patriotic theme necklace for this 4th of July holiday, copying that style was my first thought. It's super easy! All you need is beads and very basic jewelry making skills.

Of course I used red, white, and blue beads, but you can customize the colors for any palette.

 

You will need:

necklace chain

several sizes of beads

needlenosed pliers and wire cutters

headpins 

small lobster clasp

small oval jump rings

 

1. Make your dangles. You can make less or more... I made 13 in all - 7 large and 6 small. To do this, thread the beads on the headpin, cut the pin about 1/2 in. from the beads, and using the needle nosed pliers, bend the spare wire in a circle.

 

2. Cut your necklace chain to the preferred length - mine was about 20 in. Attach the lobster clasp to one end by opening the last link and closing it over the lobster clasp loop. This has created the base for the dangles. If your chain has wide enough links, you can use it as an extender as much as needed.

 

3. Open a small jump ring (twist it side to side instead of lengthwise), insert it in the loop of a large dangle, and through a loop at the center on the necklace chain. Bend shut.

 

Repeat on one side of the center dangle, alternating a small dangle with a large one. I put mine 3 chains apart, but you can crowd or space them out as desired for a chunkier or more delicate look.

 

Do the same thing with the remaining charms on the other side of the center - and you're done! Super easy and yet quite a statement.

 

It added a perfect quietly patriotic touch to my outfit for the 4th. (Sorry I only have a cropped group shot - I was also wearing a newly made 1940s blouse!) 

Now I want to make more in other colors!

Till next month,

~Kristen - Verity Vintage Studio

 

Look for my new tutorials posted sometime during the first full week of every month. Hairstyles, crafts, repurposing, project journals, do-it-yourself vintage or alterations, etc.

Item of the Week - Vintage 1950s Pattern

This lovely 1950s vintage dress pattern is half price in my Etsy shop for one week only - slashed from $8.

 

My Blue Striped Pre-Rationing Dress

After plowing through a few semi-difficult sewing projects, I wanted something easy and quick. I also felt like I should be making a dent in the trial versions of some of the outfits I have lined up to make for reenacting this fall, so I decided to combine the two desires and make this simple dress from the late '30s or early '40s.

 

It had long been on my to-make list, and I decided it was time to actually make it. For the trial version I made View 1, though View 2 is what I had in mind for the final version. Just to change it up a bit.

 

It was so simple I made it in just a few hours, yet it has enough interesting elements that it doesn't look basic. Which is nice.

Incidentally, my fabric choice paired with accents of red, while intended to be more of a nautical look, fits right in with the 4th of July week!

 

I can also pair it with a belt instead of the sash for a slightly different look.

 

The fabric was fun to work with. The striped had some stretch (not Period I know) so it was very easy to ease or stretch where needed as I stitched, and the fit of course has more give. I have enough left of the striped for a blouse too, and the contrast was a remnant, so it worked out well as a stash-buster.

 

I was glad I made a trial version since I discovered a few small alterations I want to make for the final version. The front crossed panels were a bit too blousy, so I'll take a pinch out of them next time.

 

I do love the sleeve and yoke detail - very easy to do despite the skimpy instructions, since I've had some experience with similar patterns.

 

When I first got the pattern I filed it in my "Classic 1940s" section, but after making the dress and seeing the generous skirt length without any lengthening from me, I took a closer look at the graphics and decided it is more of a late '30s dress - or at least before fabric rationing had impacted fashion.

 

So now I am unsure whether to use it for my original WWII costume idea or not...I did look up vintage photos on Pinterest to see if puffed sleeves were used in the '40s, and found enough pictures of dresses with them to make it a feasible option if I shorten the skirt a bit.

 

But even as is it is a very comfortable dress - partly due, no doubt, to a modern fabric choice! - and is easy to wear. Plus blue is a good color for summer and goes with several accessory colors, so I'll still put it down as a success.