Hello, what is that appendage on the front of my pear shaped neon yellow top? Why, it’s a vintage style coin purse (see last week’s post)! The inspiration has been inhabiting my subconscious for at least 3 years since I saw this image of a tweed skirt on Pinterest (image is from the FIT archives)… Read More Yellow Pear Pique Top (with Bonnie Cashin’s “Purse-Pocket”)
Coin purse, vintage style clutch or whatever you want to name it, this is what I made recently – and I love this quick-to-make project!! Since this is the first one in my vintage-coin-purse sewing repertoire I have some thoughts….. Why have I not done this before? Okay, seriously, let’s begin at the beginning. I… Read More Tiny Vintage Style Purse
April is Earth month and before it ends for the year 2020, I would love to share a vintage sewing book with you. The New Encyclopedia of Modern Sewing, circa 1946. There is no author, but it is “Edited by Frances Blondin”. It’s Published by Wm. H. Wise and Co., Inc. “Through special arrangement made… Read More Upcycling Clothes in 1946
Balenciaga’s way: In the book Couture Sewing, there’s a section on “stays”, with details on under-bust stays, pleat stays, waistline stays, and even crotch stays (yes, there is such a thing in haute couture). This particular Balenciaga dress, circa 1965 actually uses a stay on each back armhole area in a capped sleeve to control… Read More “Stay”ing the Armhole: Tip From the Haute Couture
……. which I’ve dubbed “eccentric princess of patch pockets”. Claire Shaeffer says in her book that this pocket “suggests spilled liquid”, and I’m filing that factoid under “Awesome Design Inspiration”. Here’s how I went about trying to copy it. As you can see, the final destination of the Schiapparelli pocket is the plaid tunic, Vogue… Read More The Schiaparelli Pocket
Hi readers! I recently dove into my sewing ‘collection”, and pulled out some long-stashed stuff that was purchased just because it was so pretty and so old — a treasure to fashion history afficionados; at the very least, something interesting. I wonder who was the wearer of this jabot, or should it be called a… Read More Antique Netting Collar/Jabot
These thoughts are dedicated to my friends who are obsessed with costume design in old Hollywood movies that were produced before they (my friends) were born. In 1932 my mother was 7 years old, and lived in a faraway land. For her, Joan Crawford, Adrian and the Letty Lynton dress were not a thing. In… Read More Nothing’s New – Chanel Channels “Letty Lynton”
……of this Madeleine Vionnet design, circa 1922. It is 95 years old, and yet so 2017 in it’s modernity, the ombre vibe emanated by the color blocking, and the simple geometric shapes joined in an innovative fashion. Madeleine Vionnet was known as a master of the bias grain. Yet, this outfit hangs on the straight… Read More Can’t Let Go….
Hi Readers, is this a cute wrap or what!! Its stylish and practical, and seems cozy enough for very mild winters in my area. It has a sleeve for one arm and the other arm is put through an opening which is hidden under a flap. Slick! Or, the stole can be thrown over… Read More Stylish Stole
Hi, all! This is the last post about this particular jacket – I promise. After asking your opinion in the last post about how to make the seams more prominent, I added saddle stitching to the seams. So, here it is. I like the loose, monk-like vibes of this jacket; and there was a request… Read More One More Time: Jacket, circa 1935, Saddle Stitched
