To all who mourn in Israel, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory. Isaiah 61:3

Monday, November 30, 2015

1950s Christmas Separates!!

It all started very much like many of my sewing projects.  I was perusing Pinterest, trying to get some inspiration for the fabulous robin's egg blue, navy and brown plaid I had purchased at a thrift store last week.  Totally minding my own business, stressing out over the pattern I would use, did I want to use the plaid for the skirt or the jacket, did I want to use the robin's egg blue linen for the jacket instead?  And would I use the brown or the navy wool with the outfit? Then all of a sudden it was there like a beaming ray of moonlight on a dark winter's night.  The picture.  It screamed at me.  It beckoned me lovingly.  It seduced me with its sweetness.  I was hers and hers alone as I whispered, "Yes my sweet.  I will make you."

Below is the image.


Source:

Isn't she just the sweetest outfit?  I am so excited to start this project!!  Yes, I am totally, unabashedly,  willfully, and un-apologetically going to have a squirrel moment!!  I am moving the two 1940s suit projects way out of the way so I can work on The 1950s Christmas Separates Project!!!

I have had in my stash for quite a long time 10 yards of a silk taffeta fabric.  I am thinking it is a mixture of silk and something else because it doesn't hold a pleat or a crease very well at all, but I did a burn test and it is definitely silk (plus it totally smells like silk when I iron it.)  I haven't known what to do with it because of the fact that it can't hold a very good crease, so there it sat waiting for this day and this image.


It is the most gorgeous deep lipstick red color!!!

After I decided to make the above dress, my mind (with the help of Pinterest) went quite literally berzerk.  All of a sudden, my eyes were swimming in all the wonderful things that could and hopefully will be made from this silk....all in the form of separates!!!

There will (hopefully!!!) be made from the above silk:

1) a bodice
2) a pencil skirt
3) a full skirt
4) a coat
and hopefully if I have any fabric left over
5) a bolero

The plan is to of course wear the bodice with both the pencil and full skirt like the inspirations below:


Pencil Skirt Dress



Source: 


Full Skirt Dress



From Etsy.

The above image has off the shoulder, which I won't be doing, but the look on the whole is what I'm shooting for!!!


The Coat


Then there is the coat that I really want to make!!


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The dress and outside of the coat will be the red and the inside will be another fabric that is as of yet undetermined....but I LOVE LOVE LOVE this look!!!



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Another coat and pencil dress combo.  


The Bolero

(This will be the last thing to make as I am not quite sure there will be enough fabric left....fingers crossed!!!)


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Source:


Black Separates

Now we come to the not red pieces!!!



From Etsy

Super cute black blouse!!!


Source:

I am so loving the polka dot blouse here!  I am not sure if the spots are gold or black...will have to see if I can't find some gold polka dot fabric!! What fun!

Pieces for later!!

I am really liking the idea of being able to use these pieces for future outfits.  In just 5 minutes of looking for "1950s Red Dresses" I ran across several fun ideas!! 



Source:

Love the ivory sailor bodice of this dress.  It would look wonderful with the full red skirt!


From Etsy.  A similar skirt would go well with the bodice!


From Etsy...a fun print skirt would again go well with the bodice!!


A super fun large check gingham in red from Reminisce Magazine (Source: Pinterest)


Patterns that will be used

There will be plenty of Frankenpatterning!!!



The Bodice will be from Butterick 5880 




Full skirt from Butterick 5813




Pencil skirt and coat from Vogue 8687.

I am going to wait on the bolero pattern until I am sure that I have enough fabric!  And the blouse patterns are going to be looked into during the next Big 4 sale at JoAnn's!!

I think that is enough on my plate for now!  I am just so excited!!  OOOOH!!!  And I haven't even mentioned the accessories I plan on making!!!


I have some antique ermine tails and rabbit fur from a falling apart vintage coat that I am going to upcycle into a hat and muff!

Would love to add some holly to the hat like the one in this picture!!!

This is going to be so fun!!!  

Be blessed my friends!!

g

18 comments:

  1. Yaay thanks for lovely inspirations as I was planning a vintage-y Christmas outfit myself. I love the outfit you're about to do! And I'm in love with the coat shown on the very last picture, I need it in my life right now.

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    1. Oh what fun!!! I hope that you share pictures and do a huge blog post on your Vintage-y Christmas outfit!!! I can't wait!!!
      Blessings!
      g

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  2. Oh my heavens, are these going to be the sweetest separates ever and perfect for Christmas

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    1. Thank you so much Cori! I can't wait to get started!
      Blessings!
      g

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  3. Oh. My. GOODNESS. I'm dying. You have made me eternally jealous of your gorgeous Christmas outfits! Now I must make some!
    I can't wait to see them! That polka dot blouse with red skirt is my all-time favorite, I'm pretty sure! :) Have fun, Gina!!

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    1. Oh Esther!! I hope you make some Christmas pieces! They would totally be fabulous! I have decided to go ahead and get a white with black polka-dots fabric instead of gold as I can't find any here in town and ordering online something like this freaks me out!!! I can't wait to make that inspiration!
      Blessings!
      g

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  4. I LOVE that image as well! I actually started making that some outfit for Christmas last year but never finished it. I have to see if I can still find all the pieces to complete for this holiday season. :)
    -Emily

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    1. Seriously? The Polka dot/red skirt one? No way! That is too awesome! You need to finish it and we can wear them and get our pics taken and photo shop us together! What fun!!! I hope you finish yours!!!
      Blessings!
      g

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  5. I can't imagine myself in vintage style, but I love love circle skirts, particularly the first, red one with black sash <3 Can't wait for your outfit!

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    1. Hi Bella! I couldn't have ever imagined myself in vintage until last year at Costume College where I wore a 1950s dress and it was so fun!! I know you would look fabulous!!
      Blessings!
      g

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  6. Fingers crossed for this project - your blog is always a feast for the eyes and balm for the soul. I can't wait to see it finished. Are you going to make the petticoat for the full skirt yourself?

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    1. Oh thank you so much for this lovely compliment Rosa! Sometimes I wonder why I write the blog and so what you said makes it all good! I have already made a crinoline/netting skirt as I wore a 1950s blue with white polka dot dress to Costume College last year, so that part is already taken care of! Huzzah!!
      Blessings!
      g

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  7. Hi Gina! I thought I recognized your inspiration photo, and sure enough, I found the post that featured it and the recreated outfit....you might get a kick out of seeing this! Happy, happy sewing! I love how you are so excited. :)

    http://mode-de-lis.blogspot.com/2015/05/perfectly-parisian.html

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    1. Oh my heavens!! How fun that Lily made this outfit from the same card!! We have very good tastes I see!! Thank you so much for sharing this with me Sarah!!
      Blessings!
      g

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  8. What a swoon worthily fantastic array of images and ideas, dear Gina. Red + 1950s is such a winner in my books and I really look forward to seeing more about how everything turns out for you.

    Big hugs & joyful start of December wishes,
    ♥ Jessica

    *PS* Love your fur upcycling plans, too!

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    1. Thank you so much Jessica! I am really having a hard time being patient until the last pattern gets here so I can start!! This is going to be such a fun project. I've never ever done anything like this. The Victorian dresses I make require this much fabric for just one dress, so to be able to get so many pieces out of the fabric will be wonderful!! Thank you for the warm wishes!!
      Blessings!
      g

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  9. These are super cute- watching Pinterest "blow up" as our Emily puts it when you have an idea always makes me smile :)

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    1. Ha!! Yes I was quite blowing Pinterest up...I can't help it!! I am so loving these Christmas card dresses!

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