Good morning, friends! I’m super excited to share this dress with you! It’s a continuation of my foray into 1940’s styles, this time another Decades of Style 1940’s Dorothy Lara Dress.
Source: Decades of Style Patterns
This is the second time I’ve made this dress. The first one was in silk and this version is in silk cotton. It’s made in much the same way as my first dress, with the exception that I didn’t line it.
I graded this up one size to about a size 48″ bust. The only other alteration to this pattern being about an inch added to the length of the skirt.
This dress has gathers that are sewn down to resemble faux smocking in a peasant dress style. It’s a tedious process, but results in a beautiful effect. I finished the seams with Hug Snug rayon seam binding which I also used like hem tape.
I love the raglan sleeves on this dress and the gathers on the bust. Combined, they make this dress super comfortable and more modest, which is my preference.
The star of this show is the fabric. This is fabric I designed using my stipend at My Fabric Designs. I’ve never designed fabric before, nor have I considered it, but I thought it was a good opportunity to try it out. For my first fabric, I chose to make a dizzy hearts design. It’s inspired by a red/white hearts silk cotton fabric that I saw once at Britex in San Francisco, which was unfortunately sold out the next time I stopped in.
I chose the silk cotton fabric from MFD. This silk cotton fabric is a bit different from others that I’ve sewn with, which are more of a voile or batiste weight. This fabric is a bit more like a satin, with a sheen on the right side and matte on the wrong side. I had meant for this fabric to be more of a red color, but it turned out to be kind of tangerine or watermelon. Due to the sheen, the fabric appears as if it changes colors as well. It was super easy to design this fabric after watching the tutorials. I’ve ordered a color sheet, so next time my fabric will come out the color I expect to be.
I was super impressed by the quality of this fabric. I took a swatch of the fabric prior to pre-washing it to compare it to the fabric after I washed it. I washed this on cold water in the delicate cycle and then dried on low in the dryer. The swatch on the right is unwashed fabric with the washed fabric on the left. It looks and feels pretty much the same. The fabric is a little sheer and [for me] requires a slip to add opacity.
Regardless of what color the fabric is, I really love how it pairs with this pattern. It drapes beautifully, which is perfect for the gathers on the dress. With the faux smocking and rayon seam binding, this dress used A LOT of thread. It took almost an entire spool of thread to make this.
I used a vintage fan of my grandparents’ for a photo prop. They acquired the fan when they lived in Spain in the 1960’s, so it dates back to the mid-century. I’ve been wanting to take some photos with it, so I figured that it was a good time to take it out. I’m planning another Dorothy Lara dress in yellow polka dot silk crepe de chine, so the fan may make another appearance. I do have a collection of vintage 1940’s hats, but they’re a bit dressy for this type of pattern. If I make a suit or a fancy dress, you can bet one of my hats will be accessorizing my outfit.
I’ve already worn this dress and it’s comfortable to wear. I’m happy to have a more casual version of this pattern as my other one is a bit dressier, so I’ve only worn it once. What a shame, huh? I need to remember to take her for a spin out more often as well!
Note: I received this fabric at no charge from My Fabric Designs. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
Happy Sewing!
- Dress: Decades of Style 1940’s Dorothy Lara Dress in custom designed silk cotton, made by me
- Shoes: J. Crew
- Earrings: BaubleBar
- Fan: Vintage
I’m so glad I came across your post on Bloglovin’. My husband and I are huge fans of Rockabilly music and culture and I’ve always wanted to have a nice sundress that would work at one of the concerts we attend. I’m sure I’ll find inspiration here!
Thank you! Decades of Style has a beautiful 1940’s sundress: http://www.decadesofstyle.com/collections/1940s-sewing-patterns/products/4003-1940s-siren-sundress. I’ve been thinking about it for myself, but am unsure about the back.
I would never have guessed that this color was kind of an “oops,” because it just glows on you in the best way! You wear it very, very well. Love your dress and your styling, as per usual. =)
Thank you, friend! Happy mistakes are the best ones.
Absolutely gorgeous! I love the colour on you. 🙂
Thanks, Andie! 🙂
that is super cute, perfect summer dress.
Thank you, Beth! 🙂
Tanya, this is beautiful! Off to check out the fabric website now
Thanks, Abbey! The fabrics are expensive, but if there’s something one-of-a-kind that you want, I’d say it’s worth it as the fabrics are very nice.
So pretty! All that gathering was totally worth it! And I really like that color on you! A happy mistake.
Thanks, Meg! The more I make this dress the less tedious the gathering stitches become.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this one! It’s kind of cool that the color didn’t turn out how you were planning, because this color is beautiful! I imagine you will get lots of wear out of this during the summer. Gorgeous!
I do love this color! I’m looking forward to a red dress again sometime soon.
That’s so cute! And just perfectly your style. I think the dress might have felt more formal if it had come out a true red – that coral colour makes it nice and casual, and it’s so pretty on you!
Thanks, Gillian! I do like this more casual style to my dressier version. It makes it more of an everyday dress, which is definitely more useful in my closet.
How wonderful to not only be able to say ‘yes I made this gorgeous dress’ but on top of that ‘oh by the way, I also designed the fabric!’
Your dress, as always, looks lovely on you Tanya, the tangerine works perfectly with your colouring.
Love the matching shoe ribbons.
Debbie x
Thank you, Debbie! I’m extremely happy on how it turned out. I had never thought about designing fabric before. This was an easy print to make. I’ve designed three fabrics now and each has steadily increased in complexity. Designing your own fabric is really a great option when you can’t find what you want!
It’s a lovely coincidence that those shoes matched. When I saw the pairing, I decided the fabric was more orange than red.
I’ve heard about designing fabrics from Mary but never looked into it myself. I wonder if it is an option in the UK. Although knowing my addiction to collecting fabrics, it might not be such a good idea 🙂