Good morning, friends!
Yes, I am definitely stretching out the dresses that I made back in JULY. Is it September already? Yeah, I’m slacking! I actually only have one more dress left to share with you that I wore on our summer vacation, plus two others that I completed over the summer. I may get done sharing them by the time I start sewing/sharing my fall/winter garments.
Source: Decades of Style Patterns
This is yet another Decades of Style 1940’s Dorothy Lara Dress. Yes, I’m in love with this pattern. It has all of the elements that I enjoy — peasant style, 1940’s silhouette, and it uses little fabric (3 yards!). Plus, it’s now available in a PDF version!
This dress is made in much the same way as my other Dorothy Lara dresses. This time I used a black floral cotton voile. I picked this fabric up last winter at Fabric Outlet in San Francisco. I was there to buy cold weather fabrics, but this bolt reached out and grabbed me and urged me to give it a good home, so I couldn’t say no, even if it was a bit inappropriate for the season.
The fabric is sheer, but I left it unlined and instead made a slip to go with it. I used the slip pattern from McCall’s 6696, with a thin rayon jersey from my stash. That pattern is for a woven, but I used a knit and sized down about two sizes. It was incredibly easy and quick to sew, albeit a little plain — but I don’t really want embellishments on a slip that is meant to be worn under a sheer dress.
The only thing that I dislike about this dress is the interfacing that I chose to use for the waistband. I thought the lightweight knit interfacing that I had would work, but it didn’t, and I was using what I had. If I had a fabric store nearby I would have gone and purchased some, but as I live 30 miles from the nearest JoAnn’s, I made do. Of course, I was reading Beth’s blog one day and was reminded that I could have used silk organza to interface that sheer waistband. I definitely need to remember such things! Thankfully the interfacing peek-through is not so visible when I’m wearing the dress, which is what matters most.
I absolutely love this dress. When I saw how it was coming together, I thought how beautiful the pairing of this fabric was with the pattern. When I bought this fabric I didn’t have a pattern in mind, it was just something that appealed to me that stored for later use. When I wore this in NY it was more of an evening look for me that I wore out to dinner and later to an event at Madison Square Garden. It was very hot and muggy and I felt slightly less so sporting this frock.
On the wall behind me are two of the crewel embroidery art pieces that my mom made, probably back in the 70’s. Aren’t they beautiful? My mom used to be a very crafty lady (sewing, knitting, embroidery, painting). She retires from her distinguished government position at the end of the year, so perhaps she will return to such pursuits. 🙂 I’m making a few photo-taking spots in my house and this is the beginning of one of them. This wall is in a spare bedroom that is my dressing room/boudoir.
- Dress: Decades of Style 1940’s Dorothy Lara Dress in cotton voile, made by me
- Slip: McCall’s 6696 in rayon jersey, made by me
- Earrings: BaubleBar
This dress is such a mirror image of you with your hair and the flowers picking up the color of your lipstick. Beautiful! You totally reminded me that I need to make a simple slip. That’s one of those easy projects that’s been in my queue for forever and I’ve never gotten around to it because…nude jersey is not super exciting. Ah, but all the time that could be saved in lining things by simply making a slip! It must be done!
Thank you, Elizabeth! I think you’re right about the mirror image. I thought it looked good against that wall, so that’s a good reason why! Yes, slips help you not have to line things…. although I tend to wear the dresses that are lined more, rather than wearing a slip with the unlined ones!
What a gorgeous dress. I love it, you look fab in it and what a great pattern to only take 3 yards. That is great fabric and the poppies look like little hearts. Have you had your hair cut? It looks great. What a fab idea to have a photo wall, especially for the days that outside is not suitable. Not even thinking about cold weather sewing here but the dark nights are already upon us. I love the embroideries and have loads of them, though not done by anyone I know. Your Mum sounds like a talented lady. Xx
Thank you! You know, for some reason it never occurred to me that those are poppies, but yes, they definitely are! I love them. It’s also great to have an indoor photo area for many reasons, and one that you don’t have to move things out of the way to take photos.
I did cut my hair a few weeks ago. 🙂 I took these photos right after I got it cut. Unfortunately, the curls like to fall out of this style very quickly!
Super dress, it looks gorgeous and the lovely fabric suits this pattern
Thank you, Lynsey! It’s definitely one of my favorite dresses. 🙂 Sometimes I wonder if I have too many!
Sooo pretty!! And yes I love those old embroidered pictures! I keep my eyes open for those when I go antique shopping. Your mom’s are beautiful. My grandma made me one with butterflies when I moved into my first house.
Thanks, Shannon! I’ve never noticed them when antique shopping, but I guess that I don’t look much either! I’ve never made any, but I did make a wonderful cross-stitch one for myself with a wizard that I can’t find!
Beautiful! And did you get a hair cut? It looks fab if you did 🙂
Thanks, Carlee! I did indeed get my hair cut a few weeks ago. Actually, just a few hours before I took these photos. 🙂
Oh wow! Surprising nobody I just love this. What an excellent fabric and dress pairing! I definitely need a darker DL dress now, it looks so effortlessly elegant! I can feel a sewing bender coming on where I just sew one hundred of this dress. Especially if you keep making ones that are so beautifully executed. Very inspiring!
I love how the fabric flowers are echoing that crewel embroidery! I love crewel, and I am so terrible at it.
I, for one, will very much enjoy seeing all of your versions of the DL dress! It looks fabulous on you!!!! It’s quite addictive, isn’t it?
I’ve never tried crewel embroidery, but it is so lovely. I may try doing some sometime….
Very flattering dress, love the fabric.
Thanks so much, Ginger! 🙂
Lovely dress, you look stunning! 🙂
Thank you, Jannie! 🙂
OMG, this is soooo cute!!! And I think you did a fantastic job! And it looks wonderful on you!! I’m really enjoying your blog! Thanks for doing it.
Thank you!!! I love this dress immensely and happy that you like it, too. 🙂