Sewing vintage clothing.

I work full time, in a partially managment position, partially clinical (seeing patients in hospital). I wear jeans and mucky pants at home all the time. Feeding out in the mud and dark is not really conducive to keeping clothes clean. I like to wear skirts or dresses to work. I hate the current fashions available[!]. Lightweight material and horrible colours. A few weeks ago a friend showed me a pattern that an elderly relative had given her - it was circa 1950s. Really cool!!!!! She told me to look on the auction site we all know so well. There were heaps of vintage patterns for dresses that I liked!!! So I found material and patterns and got out the mannequin and now I am sewing winter dresses, with summer ones planned too.

I finished a 1960s style pinafore last week and am nearly finished a 1950s tea dress. I have a pattern for a dropped waist dress, newer pattern, but copying a 1920s style. I've got plans for 2 other outfits too. I even found some of the material I want on TM. I have some lovely silk waiting for a blouse.

Its really neat having clothes that I like!!! Colleagues at work are nearly as excited as me - they are asking everyday when I will finish the tea dress and will I really wear it to work!! I am old enough that I am happy to wear what I like, not what is on the shelves. Besides when I'm wearing a 1950s dress, its so old that its new again!!!

I'd love to see pics of your new creations! What exactly does a tea dress look like? I'm going to start sewing our own clothes - partly for the same reason as you and also for the budget...although that one may not weigh up against the price you can get some kids clothes either from The Warehouse or that good old auction site mentioned above []

OMG, a tea dress, one you wear around the house when people drop in for tea, I have not heard of that for years.
Yes, pictures please.

This is not just a chick thing. I've got things in my wardrobe that are older than I am and I sometimes wear them. A favourite is a tweed sports coat that belonged to a teacher my dad had at high school.

Yes please, Anne - pictures!!!! This sounds exciting.
Cheers, Mich.

I'm glad to hear others hate the current fashions and congratulations that you are doing something about it and creating pretty alternatives. Pictures would be great please

Ah...so a tea dress can look a lot of different ways, but is a semi-formal dress?

ooohhh photos. Ah well, they'll have to be on the mannequin - can't photo myself, but will do once the next one is finished.

This tea dress has a fairly fitted bodice and then a very full, gathered skirt. I have used quite light cotton for it (it was the pattern I liked), so I have lined it - which is a little tricky with a very gathered waistline for both the dress and the lining - but it helps the skirt stand out a little more. It has a fairly large peter pan style collar, and I'm going to finish it with a wide black velvet belt and a black bow at the neck line. I'll get photos up by the end of the weekend. This tea dress won't be formal, but made up in other fabric it could be used for evening.

I have one other tea dress pattern and one which could be, but I think is probably a work dress - it has an inverted pleat down the back of the skirt.

Highgirl, in the end these will cost more than clothes at cheap places, but will fit me better, I'll like them better and wear them more because of that. And because they are so out of date anyway, they'll never be out of style[]. And they won't cost as much as buying from high end outlets or even middle range ones.

How much is a pure silk blouse worth now? Reasonably heavy weight, textured silk?

With Mad Men making 50s/60s fashions fashionable again, you're actually at the cutting edge (groan, sorry). As long as you don't start wearing the foundation garments!

I went to Spotlight today and picked up a copy of their Get creative magazine. On page 62 they have pictures of vintage dresses such as you describe and say the Vogue patterns have been re-released because they believe such styles are enduring. I have to say they are lovely - but then I'm old enough to have nice memories of wearing them as a teenager!!

My wedding dress was styled after circa Victoriana/pre-Roaring 20s patterns. Wish I could get my almost 19yo daughter past what passes as "fashion" today...le sigh.

Diane

Hijacking this thread slightly, I'd like to do older stuff, Victorian, even Elizabethan, medieval stuff, but I don't have the skills do take a picture and wing it. Where does one get a reseasonbly priced mannequin. They all seem hideously expensive!

Igor you were born to late I think but understand your thinking same as me too I refused to forget the 60s best years ever LOL

What I need to to actually discover what decade does suit me, and be brave enough to go with it. Most of the time I'm in jeans and fleeces. I need a Trinny and Susannah Makeover STAT!

Robinsons Folly?;376021 wrote: Hijacking this thread slightly, I'd like to do older stuff, Victorian, even Elizabethan, medieval stuff, but I don't have the skills do take a picture and wing it. Where does one get a reseasonbly priced mannequin. They all seem hideously expensive!

For victorian etc patterns, look in some of the modern pattern books under "costumes" - sometimes you'll find them there.

Look on TM for mannequins, or ask at your local sewing / material shop. Get an adjustable one. I take mine in for summer dresses, out a little for winter dresses and out lots for pinafores. They're all expensive, untill you start considering the cost of made to measure clothes in the style and colours you really want.

My tea dress is finished - having taken it all apart to take in because it was too loose. I am pleased with what I have done, but it looks a little victorian!!! Its because of the material colour. I need to do something to give it a lift, stop it being so somber. I've washed it after sewing so I'll press it tonight and post a photo so you can give me some ideas for the lift.

RF, maybe you can borrow my pattern? Victorian dresses as you feed out and lamb would be great at this time of year[].