Wednesday 4 July 2012

My 1950s Novelty Print Book Dress!


Project: 1950s Novelty Print Book Dress
Stash Buster? yes, this fabric has been waiting for some love for a while!
Items From Stash: actual 1950s novelty print dress fabric *swoon*, vintage belt buckle
Date Started: March 2012
Date Finished: June 2012
New Techniques Used: none
Wear Again? yes please and as soon as possible!


 Thank you all so much for your lovely comments on my sneak peak of this dress, I think it's safe to say that you like it just as much as I do! But here she is in all her detailed glory for your viewing pleasure :)


This is my first time using a vintage shirt-waist dress pattern and I must admit that I was nervous at first. As I started cutting out the pieces I was worried that the finished dress would end up quite frumpy, after all it doesn't actually show much flesh, but it turns out that I couldn't have been more wrong! This dress is the perfect example of how a well made, figure hugging yet modest dress can feel super sexy - I definitely do when I'm wearing it! I feel like I'm channelling my inner Joan, so of course I couldn't be happier :)


I did very few alterations to this dress, apart from adding a couple of inches to the hips (for my ample posterior!) and taking a few inches from the length I left it just as it was, and it fits me like a glove. I'm particularly in love with the pleat details on the back and the little matching fabric belt I made with a vintage buckle that was a gift from a wonderful friend (thank you Harriet!).


I think you can safely say that I am a complete shirt dress convert and I definitely foresee lots more of these in my sewing future. They're a little bit more fiddly than your average dress, but my goodness they're gorgeous when they're done! And they're great for prancing around and posing in...


... which I think you can see I did!


Bye for now lovely readers!

Katie xxx

12 comments:

Elise said...

Aah your dress is fab!  It's really well fitted, totally makes me think of a librarian but that could just be the book print! :)

Kerry said...

It's so pretty! The pattern really does that fabulous fabric justice. You look great :)

Ginger said...

This is SO. CUTE.  I can't get over it!  Love it!!

Leah Franqui said...

Oh, Katie, this is just divine! So adorable and well fitted and I LOVE THE FABRIC. Boy oh boy do I love that fabric. Well done, just gorgeous! 

Georgina Vinsun said...

You do make me want to learn to sew... Bloomin' beautiful dress!

emma collier said...

WOW WOW WOW!!!! My jaw just hit the floor.....you look amazing! The dress....the hair....perfect! You must be enjoying trying out new things with shorter hair now :) I've got rather bad dress envy now I have to admit ;)

xxx

Sabrina said...

You are definitely channeling some inner Joan there! Looks fantastic. I think I need a shirtdress now... ;p

Eileen said...

Shirt dresses ARE wonderful and yours is no exception! Job well done! As an aspiring librarian and avid reader I'm in LOVE with your fabulous print. 

Christina said...

I haven't been around here a while and I remember the stunning fabric! And the shirt dress is lovely! I can understand that you feel sexy in it. The shirt dress I'm always hanging out in at home is slowly giving in to wear. I guess I will add one to my ever growing sewing list now, too.

Marie said...

What a stunning dress Katie, I love your fabric so much! You look totally gorgeous ;o)

CuckooChanel said...

Too cute!! I love fun prints like this, and your fit is absolutely perfect. You are too adorable.

Kamea Tisdale said...

gorg! I love novelty prints =]

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