Saturday, July 10, 2010

Rockabilly


Please note Buster's paw under the door. He dislikes being excluded from the outfit shots

I've got loads of academic stuff on my plate, but I have been taking time to recreational stuff too, like meet friends and play with the kitties. My major accomplish so far has been this 1961 rockabilly style dress, which I completed (almost) today (after weeks of stop and go sewing). I'm pretty proud of this highly imperfect dress, and I just need to add some bias binding to some of the seams. I'm in luck that these full shirtwaist dresses are in luck, but I think I'll be rocking this summer, floral dress for a while. (The jumpsuit has taken a back seat, as my co-sewer has been traveling, running marathons and putting us lazy gals to shame). The material is from P&S Fabrics in lower Manhattan, which is outside of the Garment district, and therefore cheaper and less scary. This fabric was on sale, maybe $3-4/yard?

Now that it's (almost) completed, I am at a loss as to how to style this. The pattern suggests pearls and flats. I also see a cute belt and cardigan for the fall. But what colors? Lime green is a bit out of my usual color palette. Would a light grey work for this? I feel like black would be too harsh, but my other cardigans are black, brown, and black and white.


The hardest part was fitting the bodice (as Elaine of the Selfish Seamstress has wisely noted, you have to take care when sewing 1950s style clothes for a non 1950s style body). It also had kimono sleeves, which are even more of a challenge to fit (but less so to sew). I had to make the darts more appropriate for someone who doesn't wear a conical shaping bra. But there is still a decent amount of gapping. I am just resigned to the fact that there is a good deal of "give" in the bodice, as I'd like to be able to hold onto subway straps in this dress.


I am proudest of the button placket. Buttons are pricey (like up to 2 dollars each), which is probably why cheaply made fast fashion often has ugly buttons. I got 7 white-ish buttons for about $1.50 by salvaging them off a men's button down from the thrift shop, and later used the shirt to practice button hole making, which is a whole 'nother adventure.


There's a funny front zip on the skirt, and a little hook and eye that I awkwardly used to keep the whole thing together. And while everything fits, I am definitely not used to the rockabilly style waist cinching!
Have a lovely weekend, bloggy buddies!

Dress: Self made
Shoe: BC Footwear


17 comments:

  1. Poor Buster. No one puts baby in the closet!

    I love lime green and wear it lots. It looks good with navy, as you'll see if I ever get around to posting a shot of the outfit I'm wearing for my first day of conference tomorrow. It also looks great with red. If I had that exact dress, I would be pattern mixing it with my white Old Navy cardigan with the big red flowers. Or I'd wear a white cardigan with it. As for grey? It depends on the shade.

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  2. Aw, cute dress! Nice work!!! It looks a lot like the 2 rockabilly style dresses I bought from eBay - we'll have to sport ours together the next time you're in town :)

    I agree that this would look wonderful with anything red! It'd be a nice contrast. I really like green with teal too.

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  3. How cute is Buster!!!
    Love this dress.
    Sublime!

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  4. You are amazing - that dress rocks! I think it's more versatile than you think - gray would be great but even navy or pink for some punches of color :)

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  5. Wow, just Wow. I am so impressed with you at this moment. Yes, there have been other moments of Wow-ness, but this one is the Wow-est. You made that! The dress is so cool/adorbs. It can go with anything. One thing I learned from blog stalking, there are no rules of what goes with what...mixology baby!
    Do me a favor, put it together with your black cardigan and those BA black heeled sandals of yours and take a picture. Do you have a clutch? Add that too. I'm just curious...

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  6. I'm so impressed! I've been sewing for years & have never worked up the moxie to attempt buttonholes. This looks cool and crisp and "ladylike."
    As for me, I'd wear one of my several green cardigans. How about a cream/ivory one for you? Or a nice punchy coral.

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  7. Thanks for the great suggestions. I'll be scouring some second hand shops for versatile, colorful and light cardis. And SU: I'll have that shot for you in a couple days.

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  8. SWEEEEEET! I have such respect for DIY girls with sewing skills. Love this silhouette on you. The length is perfect. I'd love to see a shocking neon orange or pink skinny belt (or two) from J.Crew wrapped around your teeny little waist.

    Good job!

    ♥ V
    http://www.gritandglamour.com

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  9. I'm impressed. Good job with the dress!

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  10. Yay! Look at you talented lady! I have been too lazy to sew anything but skirts (or hemming things) for a while! I love the color on you!

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  11. very smart ideas on scavenging the man's shirt for buttons, then using the shirt for practice. true frugal sewing. congrats!

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  12. i am very impressed! please teach me how to sew!!! beautiful dress!

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  13. Yay! Look at you talented lady! I have been too lazy to sew anything but skirts (or hemming things) for a while! I love the color on you!

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  14. very smart ideas on scavenging the man's shirt for buttons, then using the shirt for practice. true frugal sewing. congrats!

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