Learning the construction of 18th century garments helped me understand how to sew what I loved for everyday clothes: a touch of vintage style.
vintage = of old, recognized, and enduring interest, importance, or quality: classic -Webster Dictionary
While I sometimes wear a 1950s dress while out and about, I sometimes incorporate elements from historical styles that I love, like ruffles, eyelets, embroidery, damask, lace, voile, scallops, circle skirts, and classic lines, which I call Vintage Flair.
BRIEF VINTAGE FLAIR MOMENTS WHEN YOUNG
Likely, it all began with my gorgeous dresses and bathing suit collections my grandmother from Pennsylvania sent to me in Hawaii.
Although I lived there as a baby until I was three, I had the nicest bathing suits of anyone! Those were the days!
My grandmother in Pennsylvania sent me the prettiest things that I adored and wore a lot!
When I moved to Texas from Hawaii, I got my first winter coat that I wore to Santa in Wonderland at Joskes near the Alamo in downtown San Antonio.
Years later, when I first saw Natalie Wood Miracle on 34th Street, I was reminded of this moment and the similarities struck me.
Shortly after I moved to Texas, I received shipments once or twice a year from a girl a few years older than me.
Living across the street from my grandparents in Pennsylvania, her mom sent her outgrown clothes to my mom for me to grow in to.
Since she attended a private school, these dresses were gorgeous: lace, sheer fabrics, layers of petticoats, frills, and ruffles.
Usually, these dresses were reserved for only the best occasions, like the yearly Christmas pageant at school.
But daily wear was usually boring.
I DIDN’T ALWAYS LIKE SEWING
I had only sewn super simple outfits, at my mom’s strong encouragement, when I was growing up.
That was only because she didn’t enjoy sewing, but in the spirit of providing for her family, she sewed all she could to extend the budget to more necessary areas.
Nevertheless, she always marveled at her Aunt Laura in New York City, who sewed beautiful couture 1940’s and 1950’s stylish lady’s suits to wear to her job as executive secretary.
Then in my high school Home Economics class, we were each required to sew a garment to wear to a fashion show.
Loving one of the suggested patterns, a sundress, I sought to sew that with floral fabric, but my mom insisted on something more practical…a robe. =/
Well, that summer I had enough allowance saved to buy the sundress pattern and floral fabric.
Although a bit challenging, I worked through the complications, resulting in a fun and cute dress to wear, which I often did.
That led me to experiment with designing my own tops out of scrap fabric, which impressed my mom.
In college, I bought several pieces of 1980s clothing of the time, which I liked a lot!
It was such a treat after not so fashionable clothing when I was younger…and I was SO glad that 1970s was finally out!
INSPIRED BY A FRIEND TO LOVE SEWING FOR EVERY DAY
Meanwhile, a college friend showed me her wardrobe of gorgeous dresses that won blue ribbons at the Comal County Fair.
After college she became my roommate, inspiring me to try to sew my own dresses.
With her there to encourage me if I got stuck, I was amazed at the dresses I sewed…eventually enough to wear every day at the school where I taught.
And then some shorts and blouses, and skirts and I was happy, since I couldn’t afford on the rack clothing…at least the styles I liked.
The styles I liked were much cheaper to sew than to buy ready made.
Eventually I was married and had my daughter, who was so well behaved that I found time to sew lots of shorts and blouses for my everyday.
SEWING HIT A WALL
Then my son came along and that was the end of sewing clothes for every day wear.
By now I was finding great bargains of cute clothes at the yard sales on base, especially in officer’s housing.
I stocked up and that kept me going.
After we moved back to San Antonio, while homeschooling my kids in the early years, I returned to sewing out of necessity.
However, the patterns were more difficult to understand and the fabrics were of poor quality.
Nothing came out right.
I quit sewing and nearly gave away my sewing machine.
Instead I saved my money for finding off the rack that I really liked and making it last, although sometimes I was just stuck with dumpy feeling off the rack garments that didn’t fit well.
18TH CENTURY SEWING RENEWED MY LOVE FOR SEWING FOR EVERYDAY
Then we moved to Virginia where I learned how to sew 18th century style.
After my kids moved on to college, I found time to apply what I learned about 18th century sewing to contemporary garments aka couture for the home seamstress.
Not that I’m an expert at it, but the book detailed at the above link encourages those who sew at home can learn couture.
I also started sewing some 1950s dresses for daily wear…returning me to memories of Joske’s.
Check this link for details on the 1950s dresses I’ve sewn.
VINTAGE FLAIR THAT I’VE SEWN
My most popular 1950s dress is this Horrockses style dress which I sewed with vintage styled fabric.
Nearly every time I wear this in public, I receive verbal compliments or I notice people taking pictures of me.
This is another 1950s Horrockses style dress, also sewn with vintage styled fabric, that I greatly enjoy wearing while out and about.
When my daughter couldn’t find exactly what she wanted for her wedding dress, she showed me a picture which reminded me of a 1960 pattern, reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn’s Givenchy Funny Face gown.
For my mother-of-the bride dress, I used a 1950s pattern, reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn’s Givenchy Sabrina dress.
This is one blouse that I sewed quite easily back in San Antonio when other patterns and fabrics made me give up.
Here is another successful dress I had sewn in San Antonio while homeschooling my kids, years before the taking of this photo…
Sometimes I redesign something I find in the store, which I call Refashion Remake.
This skirt was originally an off the rack maxi skirt that was very plain, costing $5.
Taking it home, I refashioned it to be shorter with ruffles, reminiscent of 1820s gowns that I love.
I also love this blue jean blouse that was off the rack, such a classic style that goes with anything.
For details about these and other Vintage Flair outfits, check this link.
VINTAGE FLAIR THAT I’VE PURCHASED
Again, my ruffle skirt and blue jean blouse, this time paired with a black jacket with leopard print lining.
Perfect for me, so subtle for my quiet personality.
While on vacation in Colorado several years ago, I purchased this fleece lined pink suede jacket with rhinestone buttons at the Flying W Ranch in Colorado Springs.
On that very warm summer day, night time descended for a Cowboy dinner and music show with temps dropping to quite chilly, as is typical in the Rockies.
When I wore this souvenir on this chilly day in Yorktown, Virginia, I received a compliment from someone, though my husband had to tell me about it, because the sweet lady had spoken in my left ear that doesn’t hear so well from head surgery years ago.
It was so kind of her to notice and compliment me.
I loved this fun sundress, which I purchased at a yardsale on base at officer’s housing.
Great quality and cute, with brightly colored bows in the back to secure the bodice.
Each bow was a different color, magenta, yellow, and blue, to match the splash of colors throughout the dress.
This floral blouse, and another I never got a picture of, I wore all the time. I miss them so much but I need only find a good vintage flair blouse pattern and get some great floral fabric to sew some up.
And oh, those ruffles on my daughter’s blouse, which I also found at a base yard sale.
I purchased this fun bathing suit off the rack, which reminded me of a figure skater’s dress.
Later, while watching I Love Lucy, I noted she had a lovely black dress with a sweetheart neckline much like this, so that made this more fun to wear.
I SEWED MY OWN BLUE JEANS
Now I was ready for a major adventure…blue jeans…because I couldn’t find any that fit!
These are my first pair of blue jeans I’ve sewn for myself!
