Sunday 1 January 2012

1940s New Years Day Dress

On Boxing Day I learned that my local town centre was putting up an New Years Day event called Vintage Stony. I do like a good vintage event and there aren't many where I am so I was keen to spend the first day of the year looking at pretty old cars. I convinced F and decided to make a dress to suit the occasion. A bit of a crazy plan, especially as I've had a cold for the last week but I managed. I chose Simplicity 4867 and although I bought it for the pretty scalloped dress i decided to do the other version as it would be easier.
The dress was fairly easy to construct. Saying that I had to undo the yoke about three times but that was all due to my poor attention spam. The first time I sewed it the wrong way up as I didn't read instructions sheet properly. Second time I thought I had sewed it wrong because the back bodice was just to big for the yoke piece. I unpicked it and cut new pieces and then read on the pattern piece that the back was to be half gathered. So, it wasn't wrong after all but I had already ripped it off.
Whilst I'm not aiming to be genuine 1940s I think this dress feels very 1940s. I used a cheap linen blend from my stash and used a brooch my future MIL gave me for Christmas to add a bit of dazzle. My gorgeous shoes are from Miss L Fire.
The event was full of gorgeous cars but understandably so full of people as well so photos are not that great. To add to that the light was poor and Fs camera decided to add grain and blur every detail.
The dress fits fine. It's not perfect but taking in consideration I didn't do a muslin I think it worked well. I think the fact the waist is gathered not darted also gives it a looser look. I cheated on the sleeves as they were intended to be set in but I couldn't cope with it so gathered them. And because I had 4 days to complete this (and I worked between Christmas and New Years) the inside is a bit horrendous.
I hope you all had a fantastic time celebrating the New Year and I wish you all a great, great 2012! I would also like to thank you all for being a part of my blog. It is truly appreciated and makes me very happy! I have some wild plans for 2012 but knowing myself I might change them so no resolutions for me.






23 comments:

  1. Happy New Year!
    I love your dress - it really suits you!

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  2. I love it! And it's perfect with the shoes!

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  3. Happy New Year! I think it looks lovely! Well done on putting it together so quickly, and whilst working and feeling rubbish. Who cares what the inside looks like ;) Are they the shoes? Or your plan B? Either way, they're gorgeous!

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  4. You look fabulous in that dress! Such a gorgeous colour, too :)

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  5. You look stunning Suzy. I love the dress, the hair and shoes. Perfect. Happy new year and all the best for 2012.

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  6. I am very jealous, such a fabulous dress! And gorgeous shoes too. What a lovely idea, you are lucky having things like that local to you, just what is needed to get people out of their houses after Christmas! x

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  7. Suzy this is so lovely that it really doesn't matter what it looks like on the inside! I'd love to just whip up something for a specific occassion ;o)

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  8. It's beautiful! Happy New Year, Suzy.

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  9. Happy new year Suzy, dress looked fashionably 40s. Great colour on you too !

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  10. Happy New Year Suzy!
    Your dress looks really pretty on you, and I love your shoes too!
    I hope you still make the awesome scalloped one too! Having made this one you will know what little refinements to make, as if you'd already made a toile.

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  11. FANTASTIC dress! I just love this 40's pattern...and you had the perfect place to wear it! What a fun way to ring in the New Year!!

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  12. You look amazing in this dress! I can't believe you got it made so quickly, and I love your shoes! I hope you have a fantastic 2012!

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  13. Gorgeous Suzy - you made a fab job of the pattern and look totally 1940's. Your shoes are very nice too! x

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  14. The dress is darling especially since you didn't make a muslin, and you look great posing with the cars.

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  15. That's a really cute dress! I think it must be one of those that you think is dodgy but everyone else says it looks great. Most of the things I make fall into that category hehe.
    40's patterns have such great details don't they :-) I like the yoke and the little gathers.

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  16. Oh Suzy, it's gorgeous! Love love love this! I can't believe you made it so quickly, that's such good going. Love the hair too. x

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  17. Such a lovely dress Suzy - well done for pulling this off while feeling under the weather!!! I love the colour on you. And your shoes are awesome!

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  18. Happy New Year! I wish you lots of fantastic sewing!
    Great dress, congrats.

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  19. Love this dress! And I love the shoes!!! *___*
    Great job!

    This is my sewing blog:
    http://alicecloset-sewing.blogspot.com/
    If you want to say me "Hi!"
    Thanks!

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  20. Happy new year, Suzy! The dress is fabulous and I bet you're not surprised to hear that I love the shoes, too! x

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  21. The dress suits you so well Suzy! Great job, I can see you wearing a mid-dark green version too :)

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  22. Thank you all for your lovely comments!

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