Wednesday, November 23, 2011

A Duchie Award For Me, and A Coupon For You!

Some time ago (okay, over a month ago; ack; so sorry!), I received the Duchie Award from the lovely Lauren of Wearing History! I am always so honored to receive blog awards, but it feels extra special to receive one from someone whose style, skills, and creativity I admire so much!



“When you receive a Duchie Award, post on your blog (in any order)":

  • Five things you love about historical costuming/wearing vintage clothing
  • Three (or more) blogs to pass the Duchie Award onto
  • A link back to the blog who awarded you the Duchie”

Five things I love about historical costuming/wearing vintage clothing:

1. The details. Vintage patterns have beautiful details that most modern patterns just don't have. A sleeve from the '30s can have more features than an entire modern dress, and don't even get me started on all of the wonderful seaming and pleating!
2. As Lauren said, learning new skills is a huge part of making vintage clothing. Most of my '30s patterns have very limited instructions, and I am amazed at how far I have come since I began sewing with them. I remember saying things like, "It says to put the bodice together, but it doesn't say how!" In fact, I just purchased an early '30s pattern very cheaply because its instructions are missing, and I can't wait to get started on it!
3. Dressing my little one. While finding pretty dresses for little girls is not difficult, finding nice clothes for little boys is a different story. They can be had for a price, but even these stop being available after about age 2. If you don't want your little one going around in t-shirts that say something inane like "You Bug Me!" or "Macho Man!", you must either buy expensive clothes or make them yourself. I haven't been posting any pictures of my little vintage boy, but I have been taking them, so I will remedy that soon!
4. The Accessories. Hats, gloves, collars, cuffs, beautiful jewelry; there is so much opportunity for creativity with accessories.
5.The limitless possibilities. Almost all of my patterns have one or two variations, and I've found that I can make up the same dress using different materials, and it looks like a completely different dress. I can't see myself ever getting tired of '30s fashions!


And now to pass this award on to three more blogs! I always have such a hard time with this, because there are so many wonderful blogs out there, but here are three that I just love:

Lilacs & Lace- I first found Laura Mae through Sew Retro, and she makes the most beautiful vintage clothing! I'll never know how she manages to make so many wonderful garments so quickly!

Time Traveling in Costume-I love all of her beautiful creations! Plus, according to her latest post, she is getting ready to make some dresses from my favorite era; I can't wait to see what she comes up with!

My Happy Sewing Place-Debi just celebrated her blogiversery and re-posted photos of many of her lovely creations, which reminded me of all the beautiful outfits she has made over the past year!

Thanks again for the award, Lauren!

Also, Rhiannon of the lovely etsy shop Garb-oh Vintage has graciously offered my readers a 20% off coupon for Black Friday! Just use coupon code "SHOPFRIDAY" at checkout to save on some beautiful vintage clothing.

There you have it: an award and a coupon; plus, someone at Walmart told me that I look 25 yesterday...Christmas has come early for me this year! Ha ha

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Aviatrix Costume: The Jodhpurs

Whenever I make anything, even a costume, I always try to think of ways that I can wear or use it again. When I made these jodhpurs, I tried not to rush or to think of them as being "just a costume". It is SO easy for me to fall into this trap, especially when I have a deadline. That's not to say that I wasn't rushed at the end of the project; I always seem to finish everything at the last minute, and there were a few things that I would have redone if I'd had the time.


Here are some images from the '20s and '30s. The first two are of real women wearing breeches (for some great pictures of a few Hollywood starlets in action wearing jodhpurs, check out this post from Baroness Von Vintage), and below them, an image of a pattern envelope and an advertisement.



The description on this pattern calls them knickers and says that they are "suitable for General Sports Wear, Motoring, Riding, Motoring, Hiking, etc".


This ad is one of my favorites; she looks so glamorous in her riding clothes! And the men in their work clothes, with their shirts buttoned all the way up and tucked in; most men nowadays (mine included!) don't look half this nice when they go out to dinner!


My jodhpurs were made using this pattern, which I have been dying to make up:


I used the same fabric and vintage buttons as I used for my knickers. I am intending to make a vest to match someday, and I wanted to be able to wear it with both of them. I did make a few alterations to the original pattern. The pattern called for side pockets, which I eliminated; those kinds of pockets are never flattering on me anyway, and I thought that they would ruin the lines of the pants. I should have used some spray starch to stiffen up the sides a little; I think that if I had used wool or some heavier material, as the pattern called for, this wouldn't have been an issue. Please ignore my Peter Pan-pose here; according to my husband, I stand like this when I'm wearing pants. Weird.


I did put in the back pockets; I love doing these kinds of pockets, and I rarely get the chance to do them. My husband has let me make a few vests for him, but that's pretty much my only opportunity. I took a LOT of fabric out of the seat; as usual, I should have made a muslin, but, well, I didn't, and when I started putting it together, I realized that it pretty much looked like I was wearing a parachute behind me. I imagine that all that material is for ease of movement when riding, but as I will probably not have an opportunity to use them for that purpose, I was really going more for looks here. :)


It was really nice to sew something completely unlike what I normally make. Here's a picture showing how the front flap works. It is supposed to be lined so that the buttons slide between a casing created between the lining and the fabric, I assume to prevent them from catching on anything. Again, though, as I most likely will not be riding a horse nor flying a plane in these, I wanted my vintage buttons to show.


I love these jodhpurs, and as much as I dislike camping, I am really hoping for another chance to wear them!

Up next: the coat!