vintage patterns « Grandma's Sewing Cabinet

Vintage Inspiration of the Day: 1950s Dress Without Waist Gathers

By Dr. Julie-Ann, on March 9th, 2012%

The wasp waist and full skirt epitomize “The New Look” created by Christian Dior after World War II. The fitted waist with full skirt generally lasted until the early Sixties when Jackie Kennedy became the new style icon. When people think of this look, they often think of the skirt being gathered at the waist. . . . → Read More: Vintage Inspiration of the Day: 1950s Dress Without Waist Gathers

Vintage Inspiration of the Day: An Age Appropriate Sheer Dress

By Dr. Julie-Ann, on February 7th, 2012%

One of the things I love about watching movies from the Golden Age of Hollywood is the costuming. Even the poorest of shop girls always managed to wear fabulous clothes!

One of my favorite looks is a chiffon or organza dress or blouse that is demurely lined. Do you think I could find any examples . . . → Read More: Vintage Inspiration of the Day: An Age Appropriate Sheer Dress

Vintage Inspiration of the Day: Adapting a Basic Sheath

By Dr. Julie-Ann, on January 19th, 2012%

In a podcast last summer about planning your wardrobe like a fashion designer, I mentioned that this Simplicity pattern would be used to create core pieces of my capsule.

Simplicity 3129; Personal collection

I’ve worn basic sheaths for what seems like eons, so I wasn’t concerned about whether that look would look good on . . . → Read More: Vintage Inspiration of the Day: Adapting a Basic Sheath

Vintage Inspiration of the Day: Early 1950s Simplicity Stoles

By Dr. Julie-Ann, on January 16th, 2012%

I’ve been on a massive organization kick for the past week. While digging around in our basement (burying the skeletons I found in the closet), I discovered that I have a lot more patterns than I thought I owned. I won’t need to be buying any for a long, long, long time.

Lo and behold! . . . → Read More: Vintage Inspiration of the Day: Early 1950s Simplicity Stoles

Vintage Inspiration of the Day: 1940s Vogue Blouse

By Dr. Julie-Ann, on January 2nd, 2012%

One of my goals for 2012 is to start thinking of my sewing in terms of “collections” rather than “projects.”

Another goal for 2012 is to only own beautiful and/or confidence-building clothes by the end of the year. This year-long challenge is inspired by Solano of the Vixen Vintage blog. On December 5, she wrote:

Vintage Inspiration of the Day: 1952 Van Houten Double Peplum Suit Jacket

By Dr. Julie-Ann, on December 12th, 2011%

Perhaps it is because I spent all those years standing up in front of people either teaching or conducting workshops, but I am enamored with beautiful suits. And as I was indulging my addiction to vintage clothing over at My Vintage Vogue, my breath was taken away from me when I laid eyes on this . . . → Read More: Vintage Inspiration of the Day: 1952 Van Houten Double Peplum Suit Jacket

Vintage Inspiration of the Day: Flapper Dress

By Dr. Julie-Ann, on December 8th, 2011%

For the past several days we’ve been looking at drop waisted dresses. Dr. Molly commented yesterday,

However as I have no waist to speak of – never really had as I was one of those girls with a “boy-figure” – I would not be sure how it would look and how to fit a pattern . . . → Read More: Vintage Inspiration of the Day: Flapper Dress

Vintage Inspiration of the Day: Pleated Drop Waist Dress

By Dr. Julie-Ann, on December 7th, 2011%

Yesterday I posted a semi-swirly dress that is ideal for jitterbuggers. Well, what about the rest of us that don’t dance? I found this dress on Flickr.com. It also has a dropped waist but it is more mature looking. It looks like something I’d wear now that I’m a woman of a certain age.

Vintage Inspiration of the Day: When the Jitters Start Bugging You

By Dr. Julie-Ann, on December 6th, 2011%

Joni Marie Davis sent this photo of her parents to me. She writes,

This is my favorite picture of my mother and father, probably around 1940 or so. What do you think about that dress? They loved to dance. My mother was an accomplished jitterbugger. I just thought you might enjoy it.

Joni Marie . . . → Read More: Vintage Inspiration of the Day: When the Jitters Start Bugging You

Vintage Inspiration of the Day: Soutache Dresses Up

By Dr. Julie-Ann, on December 5th, 2011%

One of the things I learned in design school is that there really are a limited number of silhouettes in fashion and the details are what set designers apart.

For today’s inspiration, we have a 1940s white pique garden party dress being offered by Vintage Frocks of Fancy on Etsy.com. If you look at the . . . → Read More: Vintage Inspiration of the Day: Soutache Dresses Up

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