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You are here: Home / Retro Garments / The 1939 Soutache Dress

The 1939 Soutache Dress

04/10/2019

Hi there! Well, I’m dusting off this blog and getting back to it. I didn’t intend to stay away for four months, but I have. I’m pretty indifferent about computer work these days. When I sit at my laptop I think about all of the sewing or outside work I could be doing rather sitting here typing or editing photos. I do like to share what I’ve made with you and keep a record of what I’ve sewn, so I just need to set times to work on blogging and do it a little more consistently. I have been sewing and often share snippets on my IG (@tanyamaile), so I haven’t gone MIA, we’ve just had a bit of radio silence in this space. 🙂

Source: Vogue Patterns

For this dress, I used Vogue 9294, a vintage reissue from 1939. I chose view B and altered the sleeve. Aside from grading this up to a bust 50″, I did a slight swayback adjustment, which I could have admittedly done more of.

The fabric is a navy rayon challis from Stonemountain that I purchased about two years ago, along with the vintage green buckle (Wearing History) and vintage green soutache trim. I have been planning to make a navy and green dress for some time and finally got around to it this year. I sewed this dress back in January, and have been wearing it since.

I hand sewed the soutache braid on the neckline, sleeves and the skirt. I originally planned on sewing pockets on the front of this dress, but I was having a hard time getting them to look right. I decided to sew the soutache to mimic pockets instead. Later on, when I did my big sewing room clean up and redecoration in Feb/Mar, I found the pattern piece for the pocket shape, which the pocket would have been gathered and shaped around. I could have used that back in January!

This dress bodice has a bit of a blouson feel, which is more apparent in the back view. I’d probably do a little bit more of swayback adjustment and take it in on the waist next time as my belt helps keep the shape.

One of the things that I really love about this dress is the tie on the neckline. It gives a slight peasant dress feel and would be even more so with some puffier sleeves. It’s something that you don’t notice so much of on the pattern envelope.

This is definitely one of my favorite dresses and I look forward to sewing another version of this pattern again.

Plus, a few pics of me time travelling back to 1939.

Happy Sewing!

  • Dress: Vogue 9294, vintage reissue from 1939, in navy rayon challis, made by me
  • Hat: Vintage 1930’s/40’s straw hat
  • Shoes: Re-Mix Vintage “Scroll”
  • Earrings: Vintage bakelite
  • Bangles: Splendette
  • Lipstick: Besame 1931 Carmine (affiliate link)
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Filed Under: Retro Garments 14 Comments

« The 1939 World’s Fair Dress

Comments

  1. Leigh Ann says

    November 2, 2019 at 5:59 pm

    I miss your blog posts. I hope you’re just taking a break and not done with it forever. I know they take a lot of work and Instagram is so much faster. But I miss the in-depth posts.

    Reply
    • Tanya says

      November 6, 2019 at 6:57 am

      Hi Leigh Ann! I haven’t given up, but blogging has definitely been on the back burner and I put off writing blog posts. Hopefully I will get back to a routine as I have a lot of projects that I haven’t shared.

      Reply
  2. lauraingallsgunn says

    October 27, 2019 at 7:14 am

    Oh I had no idea you also had a blog. I am now following! Here is the direct link to the retro ornaments I made. http://decortoadore.net/2016/12/christmas-home-tour-2016-part-i.html
    I change my theme every year. You will love thies year’s 1950’s theme I have planned. 🙂

    Reply
  3. Lorali says

    May 7, 2019 at 8:19 pm

    This dress is awesome on you! Thankyou for taking time to share it with us. We are inspired yet again! 🤗

    Reply
  4. XGLS C says

    April 16, 2019 at 9:32 am

    exactly my style! Ladylike, figure flattering, and timeless. Thank you for taking the time to show us your beautiful dress!

    Reply
  5. monserrattlopez says

    April 13, 2019 at 6:03 pm

    That dress!!!! OMG!!! I love the whole thing!!! ❤

    Reply
  6. mommaloves7 says

    April 12, 2019 at 12:12 pm

    Ypur dress is way cuter than the picture!

    Reply
  7. Marianne says

    April 12, 2019 at 4:59 am

    What a lovely dress! I’m with you on the blogging. The picture stuff can be time consuming, time I’d rather spend on sewing. But in the end it is worth it to keep a record of handmade garments!

    Reply
  8. Suzanne says

    April 10, 2019 at 10:35 pm

    This is one of my favorite makes of yours – ever! It look wonderful

    Reply
  9. Betty Woo says

    April 10, 2019 at 9:04 pm

    Stunning (as always) and that green just pops! What a great combination that I would never have thought of. Beautiful lady in a beautiful dress.

    Reply
  10. Natasha says

    April 10, 2019 at 8:26 pm

    I love it, Tanya! As always, you do beautiful work. I’m glad you wrote a blog post. 🙂

    Reply
  11. Mickey says

    April 10, 2019 at 6:49 pm

    You look great! Love the dress.

    Reply
  12. elizabeth says

    April 10, 2019 at 6:47 pm

    You look beautiful! Love the dress and trim color!

    Reply
  13. hopflower says

    April 10, 2019 at 6:24 pm

    What a gorgeous number! It is so good to see you back, Tanya. I have always enjoyed your blog, and missed reading it.

    Reply

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