mock mid-'30s dress

I just finished this yesterday - serendipity, since it had been on the table for a couple of months but I just recently started pushing to finish, before I realized it would be right for this week's challenge.

Oddly, it started out from an early '60s pattern, McCall's 6309
http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.259824566.jpg
I knew it needed a firm fabric, but I needed washable summer dresses, so I used a sort of quilt-weight cotton print. Just as well, because the pattern doesn't make up like the image AT ALL. Basically, it was cut like an early '50s dress. The bust was huge, and the skirt did not have the bell shape at the top.

However, I'd left the hem extra-long (I always do, I'm tall and I like to leave options) and once I took the bust in I realized it had more of a '30s feel. So I went with it! I used some of these patterns for inspiration:
https://vpll.3dcartstores.com/1930-Day-Dress-With-Puff-Sleeves_p_22.html

https://vpll.3dcartstores.com/1934-Sun-Dress-With-Shoulder-Ties_p_26.html

https://vpll.3dcartstores.com/1930-Dress-With-Left-Closure_p_34.html

The sleeves on the McCall's were totally wrong now, and I didn't have anything I liked in my pattern stash, so I wound up drafting a sleeve based on McCall 9243 (http://www.etsy.com/listing/80109150/late-1930s-pattern-day-dress-with?ref=sr_gallery_22&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=1930s+dress+pattern&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_order=date_desc&ga_page=2&ga_search_type=all&ga_facet=). I don't have that pattern, I just looked at the mini pattern layout on the back and worked up something that looked like the sleeve piece.

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Albums: 1930s-inspired blue-and-white dress

Comment by Rachel Pinheiro on September 13, 2011 at 7:41am: Cute. Love that you use quilting fabric

Comment by Anne Barnes on September 13, 2011 at 8:53am: I want your shoes!

Comment by Cathe on September 13, 2011 at 11:51am: Oh what a pretty dress. I love the details and the alterations you made really makes for the perfect fit. I agree your shoes are sweet! A lovely outfit!

Comment by Jessamyn on September 13, 2011 at 2:52pm: Thanks for your kind comments! The shoes are actually retro-styled Aerosoles from a couple of years ago. I took out the ties they came with and replaced them with white ribbons with a navy stitch detail on either side. I recommend this kind of exchange for bumping shoes up a notch in both vintage flavor and just plain cuteness! Just be sure to use a sturdy, grosgrain-type ribbon to keep things crisp.

Comment by Jen on September 13, 2011 at 6:12pm: gorgeous dress (and I'm with Anne and Cathe on the shoes)

Comment by Kat on September 14, 2011 at 12:47am: Very pretty! :-)

Comment by Cathe on September 14, 2011 at 7:51pm: Thank you for the insight on your shoes and how to class them up! Love them and your adorable dress, so pretty!

Comment by Barbara Jugovac on September 17, 2011 at 2:08am: Pretty pretty, and, oh! the shoes...!!

Comment by Eliza M on October 5, 2012 at 7:29am: I love this dress, so feminine and simple to wear.

mock mid-'30s dress

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