Power Dressing

I work part-time at a store that sells resort wear, so my work wardrobe consists entirely of t-shirts and sweatshirts that say “Charleston” across the front or are covered in fanciful beach theme designs. But what I really want is a job where I can wear this dress:

First things first, I’d need to procure some of those white, wrist-length gloves.  Then, I’d make the longer-sleeved version in deep, smoky gray wool for fall, and the short-sleeve one in garnet red.  And maybe also khaki.  And navy blue.  Can you tell I love this pattern?

I love the darts in the front, and that gathered detail in the back.  I love the length, and the long, unbroken line from shoulder to hem.  And don’t all of the women in the illustration look like they could solve a crisis without even messing up their practical-yet-stylish hair?

I’m going to have to find this pattern, which according to the wiki is from 1956, or find enough similar pieces that I can draft them together.  The front wouldn’t be hard, but that back yoke might be beyond my limited skill.

Sometimes I’m tempted to do stupid things

Last night, I was contemplating my need for new carry-on luggage for my trip to New York and had one of those fabulously impractical ideas that I now can’t seem to get out of my head – wouldn’t it be fun to own a vintage suitcase?

I know, I know.  They invented rolling luggage for a reason.  But it seems like that reason is mostly to keep weaklings from having to exert themselves and to allow people like me to pack too many pairs of shoes.

Think about it: If you know you aren’t going to have to lift your bag, you can talk yourself into packing heavy books you won’t read and high heels you won’t wear.  But if you have to lug a bag around by the handles, everything gets weighed and reconsidered before it gets packed.   At least, that’s how I justified firing up ebay and searching for vintage suitcases.  There’s something very appealing about the idea of toting around a light blue vintage hard-side suitcase while wearing a full-skirted dress you sewed yourself.

I eventually bought a heavily discounted Jansport duffel bag and almost matching laptop bag, both of which are stuffed with stiflingly practical features like backpack straps and water bottle pockets.  But I get the feeling that this urge to own something a little cuter and much less functional isn’t going to just go away.  So I’m watching a few items on eBay.

You know.  Just in case.

Spring/Summer Project: Navy Shirtwaist Dress

As part of my goal to make sewing a wardrobe-building activity (especially with real world work looming), I planned out a color palette and list of items to sew this spring and summer. I’m using red, navy, white and some yellow. I’m all about the 1950’s full skirt/fitted waist look, so my first serious project is a navy blue and white polka dot shirtwaist dress that I’m Frankensteining out of a McCall’s button front blouse (M5138 ) and a skirt I drafted myself.

Behold, my duct-tape dress form Doris in the bodice section:

The collar didn’t go in very neatly, but I didn’t have the patience to screw around with it so I’m leaving it as it is. I also don’t like the way the facings are done in the pattern, so I probably wouldn’t sew with it again.

I’m putting a waistband between the skirt and the bodice for some definition, and I had already sewn in it when I realized that although the fit through the bust and ribcage was great, the bodice flared weirdly over the lower part of my waist. So now I have to take it out and fiddle with it a little.