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The Mad Men Challenge: A Floral Mid-Century Shirtwaist Dress

The Mad Men Challenge is once again upon us and I just barely got my dress in at the last minute!

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This is the third go-round for Julia Bobbin’s Mad Men Dress Challenge.  I almost wasn’t going to participate as I was on a sewing hiatus when she announced this year’s sewing challenge.  But….. I couldn’t not do it as Mad Men is one of my favorite shows and I just LOVE mid-century styles.  So, yes, I’m in! 🙂

I went with another 1950’s/1960’s dress as I did last year.  This time though, I’m channeling my inner Trudy Campbell.  She does love her shirtwaists, doesn’t she?  She also wears a lot of different colors, so I’m certain this could have been a dress from her wardrobe.  I do know that it could also be one from Betty’s, but as I loathe her, let’s say I’m channeling my inner Trudy. 🙂

The pattern I used for my dress is Simplicity 1459, a 1950’s Vintage pattern.

I used a pale turquoise/cream floral in a silk/cotton twill sateen that I purchased last year from Fabric Mart at only $2.50/yd.  I originally bought this fabric to make a Sewaholic Robson trenchcoat with, but decided that I wanted to make that pattern with a solid fabric and thus this sat in my stash until I decided that it would be a perfect 1950’s/60’s dress!  It’s lined on the skirt with a white cotton batiste.

I pretty much followed the pattern instructions to a “T” and even made the ribbon belt when I’m not a big fan of them…. However, I think this one works for this dress.  If not, I can always make a self fabric one or one in a contrasting color.  I also made covered buttons.  I actually have never made any covered buttons, although I have many packages in my stash.  I had to have my husband first work on getting the back on and then when I thought he might wreck them, I took them over and had my dad work on it and eventually he got them put together.  What I really don’t like are the armhole facings.  I abhor facings and sometimes omit them, but I wanted to keep the vintage style going on the inside and put them.  I still hate them and will probably have to do some more tacking to get them to my liking.  Do you know how hard it is to fold an arm facing in on your back?  It’s not easy, my friend.

I also made a cardigan to go with this dress as you can see, which is why it took me a little longer to get everything together.  And yes, I know that my SW Corkswoon’s are not period correct, but they match and as they are so darn hard to walk in at almost 5″ tall and I don’t really need more height being 5’8″, I think I may only be wearing these for photos!

For my cardigan, I used Simplicity 2154.  This is one of my favorite patterns and I just love this cardi!  I made this once before and was looking forward to making it again.  This time I used an ivory sweater knit from Fabric.com.  Unfortunately, I did not notice until I had sewn it up that that particular sweater knit does not stretch…. Yeah, it’s a wee bit tight when I button it!  Lesson learned.

This sweater knit is a little bit more sheer than what I had wanted, so I will be looking for another white/ivory fabric to make another cardi.  I really have got the hang of making this cardi pattern now, so whenever I see some sweater knits in colors I’m looking for, I will definitely be purchasing some yardage.

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Under my dress I’m wearing my light petticoat made of white muslin.  The pattern for this is Simplicity 5006.  The dress pattern actually comes with a crinoline pattern as well if you’d like to go that route.  I wanted to make this dress a bit more wearable, thus the reason why I would either wear my light petticoat or nothing with it.  “Nothing” sounds rather shocking, doesn’t it?  😉

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And this is what it looks like without the cardi.

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And without the belt…

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I think this dress is perfect to wear on Easter.  Very spring-y and a wee bit formal.  Definitely a keeper.

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Happy Sewing!

 

 

 

 

Dress:  Simplicity 1459 in pale turquoise/ivory floral silk/cotton twill sateen made by me

Cardigan:  Simplicity 2154 in ivory sweater knit made by me

Shoes:  Stuart Weitzman

Jewelry:  Bauble Bar

Comments

  2. OMG, this is glorious! I was just picking out the fabric for mine and it’s not worlds apart from yours so I’m now super-inspired! And I love the belt – very cute.

  3. Oooh, beautiful, lovely, lovely dress! And the cardigan too!! As much as I love bright, patterned coats, I think you made the right choice in sewing this fabric up into a Trudy dress! It was meant to be!

  4. I have that fabric too! Unfortunately, not enough to make this exact dress, because clearly that’s what it’s meant to be. Seriously gorgeous. I love the drape in the skirt and it’s so flattering.

  5. I really like this dress. You always make such gorgeous dresses. I don’t wear vintage, but I don’t know why. This dress is beautiful. Fashion used to be so much kinder to women. Now, it just seems that rtw designers seems to despise the female real form.

  6. okay, first of all this very same fabric is all over the NY GD for like 10 a yard (WIN) and secondly, our dresses so need to hang together!

  7. That’s the first time I’ve seen this dress pattern. I like it alot! And the cardi looks great as well. I have that pattern and the cardigan never really appealed to me until now. I’ll have to try it sometime!

    • Thank you, Shanni! 🙂 I totally recommend picking the dress pattern up the next time they are on sale. The cardi pattern was one I bought as I wanted to make a cardi, but then I got the pattern out for this and wondered why I had never made the skirt or anything else on there?!

  8. I picked up this retro dress pattern; glad to hear you enjoyed stitching it. I love the collar and neckline you look fantastic. Teal is a smashing color on you doll and that print is perfect for a shirtwaist dress.

  10. The collar on this dress is ADORABLE! I also really, really love your fabric choice. I think Trudy would wear this in an instant!

  13. I love this dress. It looks so great on you, the colors are so spring like, pairing that with the lovely cardigan and your white shoes you have made this challenge your own.

  14. You look so pretty and did a great job! I did not know about these vintage patterns either and now I want to sew both of them. you are an inspiration! I will have a lot more free time this summer and hope to do a lot of sewing then

    • Thank you, Rhonda! The dress pattern is a new reissue and a very good pattern. The cardigan one is one that I just picked up for the cardi and then when I pulled it out I wondered why I had never made anything else from it!

  18. I like this one a lot and it’s very flattering on you! I’m seeing all these vintage dresses on younger women; however. I’m wondering how they’d look on those of us who are older. Not sure I want to go to the trouble and expense to make one; perhaps I’d better visit a vintage shop first and try some on.

  19. it’s awesome! the fabric buttons are perfect for the period, but still seem to work for now. and i really like the ribbon belt. so cute but not too cutesy.

    • Thanks, Bry! I really like the fabric buttons although they aren’t easy to put together! At least that kit was. Those are vintage from the 60’s and from my grandma’s notions stash. I have some newer sets and maybe they will be easier to work with.

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Mrs. Hughes: A retro inspired, vintage garment sewing and plus-size dressmaking blog by Tanya Maile Hughes.