New Floral Dress - Simplicity 4298

Finished my new floral dress!  Same pattern as the little roses dress, Simplicity 4298 version #5.  I think this fabric worked great for this dress.

While I am happy with the finished project I was intimidated with the belt instructions.  Both dresses I've made look much better with a belt but I just made do with one I already had. After playing around online I found someone else who had the same problem with this pattern.  I found her blog post through Vintage Pattern Wiki.  She illustrated how she created the perfect matching belt for her dresses (both of which are so cute!).  Thank you for posting Aimee.

Historical Fashion

Huzaah! Went to the Bristol Renaissance Faire this weekend.  I wore a dress that my aunt put together about 10 years ago for me.  Here are some pictures of me, my dress and my friend Christine in chain maille.

While I love this dress and have gotten use out of it for the past 10 years (yes, I am a renaissance faire nerd and proud of it!) I can't help but dream of a more elaborate new costume.  I found this pattern at Simplicity and am trying to convice my aunt to help me with it.  It calls for more than 6 yards of home decor weight fabric (which means $$).  I don't think its a project I will be starting soon but I can always dream can't I?

Here are some more pictures from the faire.

Ladies in Waiting, these are the type costumes I would love.

Mmmmm....

Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth I.

A beautifully dressed Lady I stopped in the street. Another example of a dress I would love to have and wear to the faire one day. 

Simplicity 4298

My next project will be Simplicity 4298 #5.  I used version #2 of this pattern before to make my tan dress with roses (see 60s weekend dress). It was easy to follow and I love the variety that came with this one pattern.  

Although I'm still using a floral fabric its quite different than the other fabric I used. I loved the vintage look of the small roses but I don't usually wear such light colors.  Most of my clothes are black and while I am trying to get away from that I still like dark colors.  This new fabric has a little bit of both.  Its a navy blue background with asian inspired flowers of all colors.  

Now that I've been buying and creating vintage dresses I've notice many bright colors people wore in past decades compared to today.  Even modern colored dresses tend to not be as bright as is decades past.  Although I would like to add more colors I can't help but love wearing black sometimes. 

Collared Red Dress

Here are pictures of my finished red dress from a vintage Simplicity pattern.  Its a great dress to wear the office and I added a black scarf to give it a little more vintage flare.  My friend saw me and asked if I was a stewardess, lol.  I also included a picture of the nice button I found.  It had a little anchor on it, how perfect for a vintage dress!

Date Night

Went out with my boyfriend this past week. We went to a cute little Italian place called Rose Angelis. Its located in Lincoln Park and used to be an old house. All the rooms have been painted with Italian scenes. The food is so good! My favorite is Mezzalune al Burro but this time I tried Tortellone Con Salsa di Noce.  It was good but the cheese filled pasta and cream sauce was very rich. We had a few glasses of wine and left happy.


Here is what I wore, I was so excited to wear my crinoline under my polka dot full skirt. I also wore my 'Lilly Munster' bat necklace. Its not the best picture but I had to have this necklace when I saw it. It came from The Architectural Revolution on Clark Street.

Simplicity 1924

Here is my next sewing adventure. I found this pattern in a vintage shop in Rockville, Indiana last year. After completing my last dress I'm feeling confident to make another.

For this dress I've decided to use a red cotton. Maybe decided isn't the right word. I have red cotton already purchased in my closet. Originally I bought these 5 yards to make a full circle skirt. After making the doodle below I've decided red would look totally cute in style 1. Plus as a beginner the cotton is easy to work with. Maybe I will even have enough left over to still make the full circle skirt.....or at least an A-line skirt.

I've washed and ironed the fabric and now I just need the time. My friend is getting married out of town so I will be busy with the wedding (I'm in the wedding party). I'm sure I will have cute pictures to share from Florida where the wedding will be. Once I return I'll be starting this cute dress just in time for the May weather!

Happy Easter!!!

Its a couple days late but Happy Easter! Its finally warm enough to wear the yellow dress I got on New Years and what better day than Easter for it. I took this picture in front of my Mom's Tuplips in the front yard. Hope you all had a great day and enjoyed the weather!


Floral Headband - Charming Charlies
Vintage Yellow Dress - Ragstock

60s Weekend

I had a 60s weekend. I finished my dress and I couldn't be happier with it! Simplicity 4298, dress #2. There was no date on the pattern but I'm sure its from the early 60s. I kept at it while listening to the Doors on Pandora. Even though I mostly listen to rockabilly and punk I love the Doors.

Saturday night I watched Night of the Living Dead. I had to get some zombies in this weekend now that the Walking Dead season 2 is over.

Just finished this dress today and I'm thinking of wearing it to work tomorrow. We've been so spoiled with the weather this spring in Chicago. Hopefully it will continue to be warm enough so I can show it off.

Now its time to relax before the work week. Looks like Ray is on TV tonight. Guess I'll keep up with the 60s theme!

Rose Colored Sweater

Why is finishing a sweater the hardest part? I have finished knitting pretty much the whole sweater pictured above but have to sew it together and do the finishing touches and it will be ready. As soon as I'm done with this I have a matching dress to sew together.

Most Important Part of an Outfit

A friend of mine was talking about her grandmother's advice when she said your underwear can make an outfit. At first it sounds silly. What does it matter if you wear a thong or bikini or boxers? As much and I don't want to admit to thinking about underwear I though her grandmother had some good advise. After all, seeing a thong ride up over someones jeans is the complete opposite of classy.

I love the vintage and classic look of pencil skirts but modern low rise underwear just doesn't work when wearing one. Instead of buying granny panties I decided to look for a cute sexy alternative. What did I find? Some black lace, high wasted, garter belt panties in one. I found these on modcloth.com in black and nude. I bought one of each.

http://www.modcloth.com/shop/intimates/elegant-underpinnings-contouring-panties-in-black

Check out their website for more cute underwear and shape wear to make your outfits the most they can be.

New Year, New Dress!

Went shopping with friends on January 1st around Clark and Belmont area. I found the above dress at Ragstock and can't wait till its warm enough to wear it. I think this will go great with some white gloves and a nice sweater.

Also bought the shoes below recently. These are not vintage because its hard enough trying to find the right shoes let alone for them to be vintage. I've been searching for the shoes to fit my criteria for some time: black (I already have grey and tan), not too tall and comfortable enough to work and walk in. Of course they also have to go with my vintage dresses! I think these will work.

Happy New Year and Happy Shopping!