Timeless Classics

Vintage dresses are made up of clean lines, darts, pleats, buttons, and feminine shapes.

But most importantly, they are about a great fit!

Challenge: Sewing a garment from a vintage pattern is challenging. The pintucks, pleats, and precise fit can be difficult to master. Choose a vintage pattern and modernize the piece. You can modernize your piece with styling, embellishment, or fabric. 

I made myself a personal goal of sewing up a solid. Solids in my wardrobe are almost non existent except for the many black trouser pants I own. It was hard to stick with this plan as I tortured myself with this fabric as a muslin...

I seriously had to talk myself out of not finishing this and submitting it as my final project. Why might you ask? Well in keeping in line with the challenge rules I didn't think these vintage looking scissors was conducive with the word modern, mmkay?  Look for this to be turned into a Beignet.

To recreate my Pinterest inspiration I first modified my pattern by extending the button placket (you can see the original button placket stops at the crotch area as one version is a pant dress).  I also eliminated the side panels, altered the back piece to be cut on the fold because I didn't want a CB seam, narrowed the sleeves and added faux sleeve cuffs and self drafted sleeve tabs.  After a tissue fitting I also determined I needed to narrow the shoulders and shorten the waistline.  To get a slimmer fit I added back contour darts as well.  Here you can see the original pattern and the altered pattern side by side.

The fabric I used is a Donna Karan cotton from Mood that I snatched up when it was 50% off.  There is a very subtle tone on tone polka dot pattern in the fabric.  The website says it's a floral print but I'm not seeing it...

Oh yeah how bout' them scissor buttons on that self drafted sleeve tab, yeah?!  After staring at scissor print fabric for an entire week I had to incorporate scissors somewhere in the final peeps!

One final note about the fabric, it was really sheer.  Luckily I had bought enough of this fabric to fully line the dress.

I have a feeling this dress will be in heavy rotation from my closet.  It's very comfortable and can be styled so many ways.  Perfect for the changing temps.  In the Fall I can pair it with a chunky scarf and boots and in the Spring a statement necklace and flats.  Oh and I never forget a belt.




Sorry for the heap of photos I'm about to unload but this was from two days of photo shoots. Sunday as per usual I was dealing with this..


Out of 100 pics I only got a few good ones.. a lot of hair in the face, dress up over my head, and "screw you wind" looks on my face so I had to rush home after work Monday to get some decent pictures just in time for the deadline. But Sunday I did get some good ones of my loves...



Voting is up on the Fabric Mart blog so go HERE to see all the other creations and vote for your favorite.  Voting ends Wednesday at midnight. 
Voting is closed. Check here to see who won this challenge!

What do you think about the blog makeover?  I got an itching for a change and I really like the fresh, clean look.