Did any of you do anything fun last night? I never celebrated Halloween growing up but last year we did take the boys out trick or treating. David grew up with that tradition and I thought we could try it. The boys had fun last year and had even more fun this year despite the chill. They covered about twice as much ground as they did last year - even Malachi - and came home with their pumpkin buckets stuffed with fun-size Snicker bars, packets of Skittles and M & M's, toosie pops and that dreadful nightmarish creation of "Fun Dip" sticks, in packets,with chemically-looking colored sugar to dip them into.
Last night I finished sewing down the other belt tab and sewed up the hem. So structurally the dress is done and I just need to decide on how to finish it. I was browsing through my collected images of 1920's dresses and found a few possibilities.
Note: I have NO idea where I saved all these pictures from so if there is a picture posted that violates a copyright, please let me know and I will remove it asap!
First up is this one. The neckline is wide and scooped yet is finished with a big floppy collar. I like how it makes the dress more "dressy" than a plain unfinished neckline.
Then there is this one. I like how it looks but am afraid that with my renovated dress, it would just scream "1980's!". I remember collars like this being popular when I was a little girl in the late 80's, early 90's. I want my dress to definitely be more reminiscent of the 1920's than the 1980's (which can be tricky, because some of the style details WERE very similar in those two decades!)
This one has a V-shaped detail at the neckline AND a collar.
These three dresses from 1923 are just gorgeous. Love them! I especially like the one in the middle. I like the sleeve style a lot (a different, lighter fabric for the lower sleeve, which would work well with my cotton gauze fabric) and I love the hat. Oh yes. I LOVE the hat. I think I could easily make the bodice/sleeves on my dress look similar to this one.
This one has a center front panel on the bodice that contrasts with the rest of the dress. And a sash at the waistline. I like it. Maybe I could do rows of trim simulating a center front panel on the bodice?
THIS dress is just perfectly gorgeous. I can't describe it. It's perfect. I do plan on making a repro of this one but for now, I am liking the little tucks at the neckline.
This one also appears to have tucks at the neckline that go down into tucks at the waist. So I think my idea of taking in the neckline with a few little tucks will be okay.
This dress is from later in the 20's but also have a V shape contrast area on the front bodice. I am assuming this is because of the little coat that matches the skirt, and the skirt is attached to a plain bodice. However, the look is pretty, and slimming too which is a nice thing in dresses like these which make you look all the same width from shoulder to hem! Unless you are naturally straight and slender I think trim is VERY important to get the right visual effect.
Now I must be off and vigilant in my guarding of the candy-buckets. Or else my children will be running on a sugar high for an indefinite period of time. And that would not be good.
Love,
Sarah
I think the hat in the first line drawing is interesting it seems to have a triangle brim rather than oval.
ReplyDeleteI know when I do my dress I'm going to do a 'v' down the front some how to balance it out.
You could do a 20's dress sew-a-long.
I know, that hat is interesting. I think it is has a slightly shaped brim that is flipped up a bit at the front. I get a similar shape with my quilted hat when I flip it up at the front, since I cut the brim so it is wider at the sides, narrow at the back and normal width at the front. Of course my brim is not as wide as that one, so it's not exactly the same!
ReplyDeleteI think I am going to go with a V shape illusional trim. I played around with the dress this morning. I took off the sleeves, took in the bodice at the side/shoulders so it fits better and draped a piece of the cotton gauze at the neckline. I think what i will do is attach a long rectangle of the gauze at the center front neckline. It will hang down to about thigh length, or a bit above, and will be pleated to a tie or bow at about waist level, so it creates the shape/illusion of a V shape thing but is actually a free hanging piece just tacked on, kind of reminiscent of a scarf. I've seen a lot of drapey bits looking at fashion plates/patterns/photos so I think it will be okay to try it. It definitely makes it look better than just being a plain bodice!
P.S. A 20's dress sew along is a good idea! I've never done one before but I may just have to try that sometime soon!
ReplyDeleteLook forward to seeing the results.
ReplyDeleteI've found the 1950's dress sew-a-long very helpful and encouraging
http://www.edelweisspatterns.com/blog/?p=814
and its set me looking for more sew a longs.
When your not that confident like me that kinda virtual sewing 'club' helps.
And I'm sure a 20's dress would be simple enough to allow a mixture of beginners and experienced sewers to join in.
Lovely images! That dress with the lace and tucking is just wonderful. I'd love to see your rendition of it.
ReplyDeleteSounds like your boys had a blast!