Verity Vintage Studio

1940s Purple Print Dress

I picked up 3 yards of this Cotton + Steel cotton print on a clearance sale from Hancock's last spring. When it arrived, I liked it a lot better in person, but I didn't want to make it into a maternity dress, so I shelved it for the time being. I knew it would make a perfect 1940s dress - a rare larger, scattered print!

 

This spring I pulled it out and paired it with one of my more recent pattern additions, taking advantage of a center front seam to change it to open down the front with an invisible zipper.

 

It went together very quickly - the only detail is the bodice darts and shoulder gathers.

 

Then I decided this would be a good dress to try a new skill, so I inserted lace on the sleeves. That was simple enough but time consuming. I probably spent as much time doing 2 short 1/2 inch rows on each sleeve as putting the entire bodice together. I can't imagine how they did the Edwardian petticoats back in the day by hand, and with rows and rows of much tinier insertion lace!

 

The neck came down way too low, so I added some fabric. Another time I will cut it up higher and taper the collar off shorter.

 

But I was very happy with the fit (for once), and how comfortable it is. The cotton does wrinkle a bit of course, but it is smooth and sturdy. I've heard good things about Cotton + Steel but this is the first time I've used any of their fabric, and I like it. 

 

The color is a great addition to my wardrobe, and I love the shade of ivory of the print. All my ivory vintage accessories happened to be the exact same shade also, so everything coordinated perfectly. 

 

The day I was wearing this, it was terribly and incessantly windy - which made it really challenging to take pictures. Close ups were ok, but the wind blew my skirt so badly that finally I had to hide behind the house to get a decent full length picture! :-)

 

The dress looks very springlike, but is also a dark enough shade that I don't have to wear layers underneath, so it is much cooler for hot weather. I think this is my favorite new warm-weather dress this year so far!

 

It may not be a specific reproduction print, but I think it really works!

Simple Black 1950s Dress 3 Ways

I've heard a lot about how handy it is to have a simple black dress that can be versatile and accessorized so many ways, so when I got some nice black rayon a while ago I decided to save it for just such a dress. 

 

It had a small pin stripe in it, so I used a 1950s pattern for a relaxed, casual style that was specifically designed for striped fabric and used the stripes in different ways - horizontal on the skirt, and in Vs down the front and back. It was super simple, with a small collar and some dart tucks at the waist.

 

I wanted a cool summer dress I could wear without layering, so I chose a short sleeve version. The dolman sleeves are certainly cool and comfortable, but I don't really like how they look on me (despite how easy they are to make!) so I'm not sure I would make this pattern again.

However, this was a quick dress to make since it was so simple, and I can definitely attest to the versatility of the fabric choice. Besides these pictures, I have also paired it with raspberry pink and with teal. It does go with everything, and can be dressed up or down. Perfect for those hard to match hats or gloves that you love but never wear!

Like this one...I rarely wear this hat, but it's such a pretty one and matches the lilacs so well.

 

For this look, I kept the black with a floral belt and slingback heels, and added color with my gloves and hat. Classic pearls finish the outfit for a garden tea party sort of theme.

 

Then I switched it up with all one color of accessories, for a simple cream-and-black ensemble that would fit a lot of different occasions.

 

Finally, for a more dramatic, Spanish influenced outfit - touches of red and a big black hat are definitely in order!

 

I do really love this rayon fabric. It has a nice drape and the weight is perfect for a dress - plus it has a pleasant dry, crisp feel to it despite the limpness. I wish I could find it in more colors. 

 

My red Marilyns are the perfect style to go with this type of dress.

 

This is just a few of the different looks that can give a classic staple dress different personalities, depending on the accessories chosen. I'm sure I will experiment even more in the future with this dress - and love how adding staples to my wardrobe really helps with outfit choices.  

 

Sewing Inspiration and Some Randomness

I have been far too busy this week to write up a proper detailed blog post, and since I've posted all the projects I have currently photographed, I would have had to find something else to write about anyway. But I have rounded up a few images from Pinterest to share with you.

First off - lovely spring style inspiration from the 1950s. What's not to love about this classy outfit? Cool and comfortable and well fitting - the gingham play with the tiny check is really neat to see. Even for such a simple outfit, the tiny white buttons and piping add a special touch. Love the earrings and gloves too. And I wonder if the 3 strand choker necklace/scarf thing was a trend? I kind of like how it looks!

 

And I got very excited when I saw this pin, realizing that, while I believe this is a true vintage dress, JoAnn has what looks like an exact reproduction (with a color shade difference) of this very print! I'd like to see the fabric in person to make sure the print is as large as the photo, but if it is I sure want some! Large prints are hard to find; it's the cutest novelty print and would work equally well for the 1930s or 1940s.

 

Speaking of sewing and prints, I tend to use my prints for an entire outfit, maybe paired with a solid piece for contrast. But these images are making me rethink that. I need to get more adventurous and reverse that habit, using prints for contrast with solid colors, whether it's dots, strips, or giant gingham. I even have some coral and white dot fabric similar to the one trimming Elizabeth Taylor's dress below...hmm...

1930s 2 piece Yellow Cherries Dress

This was a very unusual sewing project for me because I never wear yellow! Yet this fabric was too cute to resist, and I actually don't mind how it looks on me, so I guess being adventurous with color is paying off. This is the only yellow me-made thing in my closet - and I love the splash of color and variety it contributes!

 

The pattern was a mail order pattern from the early to mid '30s - my first 1930s project this year so far. At first glance, the illustration looked like it was a dress with a peplum, so that's what I thought I was making until I got out the pieces to cut out the dress. I discovered it's actually a 2 piece, which I didn't mind at all since that means I have more versatility and can mix and match.

 

The instructions were very sparse, so it's a good thing I have had experience putting together similar garments.

 

I made the yoke and tie out of white eyelet. I didn't like either of the sleeve options, so I went with a cute puffed sleeve that took less fabric from another pattern.

 

This was from the day when long skirts were "in". The original skirt pieces looked like a maxi skirt when I cut them out. I hemmed this one up 3 inches and it still is quite long. 

 

The skirt construction was a bit interesting since there was a front and a back piece, both cut on the fold, with no shaping at all. To give my hips some extra room, I cut the back piece a little wider and added 2 small darts to shape it. 

And it had no waist band! No yoke, no waist band, nothing - it was constructed by stitching some belting to the top of the skirt, turning in the belting, and whipstitching it down. I've never made a skirt like that before, but it did make it super easy.

It was supposed to close with snaps, but I decided to go futuristic and use a zipper - but I did use a vintage metal zipper, if that makes it any better. :-D

 

While not a reproduction quilting cotton, it has a very vintage vibe. I love the cheery spring look. It matches the daffodils!

 

And I love cherries! I kept with the theme and accented with a cherry brooch and earrings. 

 

My brown and white Peggy spectators were perfect with this outfit - showing that they work for 1930s as well as 1940s!

 

I can wear the blouse with or without a belt. With a belt is more Period, but without is more comfortable. I flatlined it with some lightweight cotton broadcloth and topstitched the hem - it actually was pretty quick to make. The vintage red buttons are exactly the same color as the print, and I added some coordinating tiny ones on the sleeves just for fun. 

 

I did have a some fit issues with the blouse, so if I make it again I hopefully will get a better fit. Despite that, I really like how this outfit turned out and it definitely has inspired me to make more 2-piece dresses!

Traveling 1930s Style

A few weeks ago, we took a short road trip a few hours north. The strip of highway we traveled is one of my favorites and I never get tired of its incredible, varied beauty. We pulled over for a short break at one of the overlooks above the immense and stunning White Bird Valley which the highway skirts after it climbs out of the canyon. While paused there, I took the opportunity of a more interesting background than my usual for a few impromptu outfit photos.

 

My outfit for the day was 1930s themed. I wore my teal rayon suiting 1930s skirt (which is an amazing fabric and perfect for traveling - doesn't wrinkle and is as comfy as any jersey knit), and my 1930s/1940s wedge Greta shoes from Remix, which are a good walking style. My standby favorite sweater blouse is modern, though vintage styled, and while I originally wore it 1950s, it has the classic lines which make it also a good fit for the 1930s, depending on pairing and accessories. 

 

It was a comfortable ensemble for a car ride, yet dressy enough for an outing. If I had known I would be taking photos, I would have grabbed a hat and lipstick, but hey - this is an everyday me.

 

For some of these pictures, I was reminded of vintage snapshots of ladies in 1930s activewear touring Egypt or other exotic places. White Bird Valley may not be Egypt, but it looks exotic enough to content me. :-) 

 

Now I just need a dainty pair of vintage binoculars to use as a photo prop!