gallery

notes

pattern:
Butterick 6701 (bodice)
McCall's 2029 (skirt)

fabric & notions:
printed rayon, cotton (lining), fabric covered buttons

general notes:
This outfit was made to wear to a retro themed birthday party some of my girlfriends threw in 2004. I didn't have much time to make this outfit but I had a lot of fun with it.

The bodice was made from a re-issue vintage pattern, Butterick 6701. Unfortunately this pattern is now (again) out of print. It really is too bad as it is a nice pattern. The pattern is designed to have a very fitted waist, on an very hourglass figure. I used the three snaps that the pattern called for, (the buttons are decoration), but I had problems with the bottom snap popping open when I sat down (dratted fitted waist!). That put a bit of a damper on the birthday cake portion of the party. I would replace the snaps with eyes and bars before wearing it again.

The skirt was made with my favorite bias skirt pattern, McCall's 2029. The fabric was a printed rayon I found on Wal-Mart's bargain table a few years ago. The red fabric covered buttons were from my great grandmother's collection.

The hat was one I re-made for the occasion, modeling it after a hat in the 1946 film The Best Years of Our Lives. This hat began it's life as a hat blank I found in the bridal section of a Michael's ages ago. I took the top of the crown off and added wire to the brim in order to shape it the way I wanted. I then added ivory dotted tulle and silk flowers.

The earrings and brooch originally belonged to my (other) grand grandmother and the necklace is my mother's. The charm bracelet was a splurge from the local department store and the kid gloves were a thrift store find. My sister did my hair in two top rolls and a hair net, following directions from 1940's Hairstyles. Add some red lipstick and instant retro!

This gown was worn:
Retro Birthday, 2004