Two Coats 37 Years Apart

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 The moment I saw this.....

....it reminded me of this.  Do you see the similarity?  Or am I just crazy? 

First photo:  Coat by Gianfranco Ferre, 1987
Second photo:  Coat by Balenciaga, 1950

Faces of the Paris Couturiers, Part 3

FREE IMAGES You know their names, but what about their faces? In day 3 of a 3 part series, here are the faces of the French Couture from 1950.

Jacques Heim

Germaine Lecomte

Marcelle Dormoy

Jeanne Lafaurie

Raphael

Charles Montaigne

jen

Lucille Manguin

All photos by George Saad for L'art et la Mode

Faces of the Paris Couturiers, Part 2

FREE IMAGES You know their names, but what about their faces? In day 2 of a 3 part series, here are the faces of the French Couture from 1950.

Mme. Gres

Jacques Griffe

Marcel Rochas

Molyneux

Jean Patou

Marie-Blanche de Polignac, daughter of Jeanne Lanvin

Marie-Louise Bruyere

All photos by George Saad for L'art et la Mode

Faces of the Paris Couturiers, Part 1

FREE IMAGES You know their names, but what about their faces?  In day 1 of a 3 part series, here are the faces of the French Couture from 1950.

Christian Dior

Jacques Fath

Jean Desses

Pierre Balmain

Robert Piquet

Nina Ricci

Marie-Louise Carven

All photos by George Saad for L'art et la Mode

Weekend Eye Candy - Jacques Fath, 1950

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Ball gown by Jacques Fath, Spring 1950.  Need I say anything more?

Weekend Eye Candy - Jean Patou, 1950

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Remember when you were little and your mom would dress you in red and green plaid for Christmas?  This is how grown up girls do plaid.  Dress by Jean Patou, 1950.

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Weekend Eye Candy - Germaine Lecomte, 1950

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This incredible example of drapery was designed by Germaine Lecomte in 1950.  The dress is made of red iridescent taffeta.  It's such an appropriate color for this flaming hot dress, don't you think?

Now Add a Vest - Sewing at Home, 1950

FREE IMAGES Yesterday, we looked at the possibilities of expanding your wardrobe by breaking up your suits into separates.  Now look what happens when you add a vest (or weskit) to the mix!  All photos and patterns are from 1950.

Here's a great example of sewing separates and wearing the pieces as a suit.  And when you add a vest to the mix, you get a more tailored and polished look than with a blouse, sweater or top alone.  Louis Vuitton luggage is not included.  And may I say, I absolutely LOVE that huge silver cross she is wearing at her neck.  The cross is by Roger Van S, but there is no note as to whether it is a necklace or pin.  Photo by Richard Avedon.

The red wool vest is made from Simplicity pattern 3298, view 4.

It is worn with a checked wool skirt made from Simplicity pattern 3027.  

NOTE: We talked the other day about sewing tops from wool jersey.  This is another pattern that would work for that!

And the ensemble is finished off with a topper jacket made from Simplicity 3327 in green wool coating.

Here's another example of a suit sewn as separates and then adding more possibilities with a vest.

The suit was made as separates from Simplicity pattern 3333.  

Make the jacket in a bold check and the skirt in a co-ordinating solid wool.

Now add the vest made from Simplicity 3298 and you've got separates that look like a suit!  

If you wanted a 3-piece suit, you could make all three pieces from the same fabric.

Here are some more vest patterns from 1950 that will stretch your wardrobe possibilities.

Simplicity 3299

Simplicity 2943

Separate That Suit - Sewing at Home, 1950

FREE IMAGES This week, we're going to continue our look at sewing vintage pieces at home, starting with a lesson on suits.  I often wonder why more women don't purchase vintage suits.  When you think about it, you're getting two pieces that will mix and match with others in your wardrobe for the price of one.  Think of your suit in terms of parts.  Wear the jacket with other skirts, pants, jeans or over a dress.  Wear the skirt with a sweater, blouse or a jacket from a different suit.

In the same vein of thinking, if you're not a suit kind of a gal, then look at suit patterns as separates.  Make the jacket alone, or use the skirt alone.  Or make the jacket and skirt from different fabrics.  If you've wanted to sew a pencil skirt, but can't find a pattern you like, look at suit patterns.  OR, if you can't find a suit pattern you like, combine a pattern for a jacket with a different skirt.  See what I mean?

Today, let's look at some suit jackets worn as separates, all from 1950.

At left: Simplicity 3099 jacket pattern sewn in houndstooth wool.  In the photo above, the jacket is worn with a coordinating skirt sewin from pattern 2383, but any skirt will do.
At right:  Suit sewn from Simplicity pattern 8055.  These pieces can easily be broken up to wear with other items in your wardrobe.  See what I mean?

At left:  Suit made from Simplicity 8157.  Another way of splitting up a suit.  Sew contrasting details on a solid jacket in a patterned fabric used to make the skirt.  Think plaid, tweed, houndstooth, herringbone.  Then make another skirt in the solid fabric of the jacket.  Wear the patterned skirt with a sweater or a different solid skirt.  See what I mean?

At right:  Navy and white wool check jacket sewn from Simplicity pattern 8208 (sorry, I couldn't find this one online anywhere).  The skirt is sewn in solid navy wool, but this jacket could also be worn with a skirt in red, white or gray.

Don't look at your suit as a suit.  Look at it as separates!  See what I mean?

Weekend Eye Candy - Christian Dior Suit, 1950

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Who needs a handbag when you've got pockets like these?  Christian Dior gray wool suit, Fall 1950.

Sew it Yourself Knit Tops - 1950

FREE IMAGES Remember my rant over the summer about garbage garments that today's manufacturers are making?  It's getting to the point where I can't find good looking, well fitting knit tops anywhere.  And trying to find something that will last more than a few wearings?  Forget about it.  Silly me!  Why didn't it occur to me that I can make my own?  Next time I go to New York, I'll be shopping for beautiful jersey knit fabrics to sew some vintage inspired tops for my closet.

When I first saw this image in the 1950 pattern magazine I've been blogging from this week, I assumed the tops were purchased sweaters worn with sewn skirts.  Wrong!  All of those tops (except the gray blouse) were sewn from Simplicity pattern 3300.  The designers used wool jersey for these, and today you can find wonderful examples of that fabric that are blended with a touch of synthetic so they become hand washable.

Simplicity pattern 3300 from 1950, used to make the tops shown in the photo above.

And all the pencil skirts were made from Simplicity pattern 3330.  The possibilities are endless!

This wool jersey top was sewn from Simplicity pattern 3335 from 1950.  I can't find one online right now, but there are plenty of comparable patterns for sale out there.

Simplicity 4815 would work for a similar top.

This jersey top has a pattern knitted into the fabric.  I love this!

The top was sewn from Simplicity pattern 3302 from 1950.

 Not shown, but Simplicity 3027 would also work for making a top and cardigan in wool jersey.

Speaking of sewing with vintage patterns, I added a bunch from my grandmother's sewing room to the SewHallie Etsy shop yesterday.  Take a look!  My favorite?  This Vogue Special Design evening dress. 

Isn't it a beauty?

Sew It Yourself Dresses - 1950

FREE IMAGES I recently added a couple of vintage Simplicity Pattern magazines to my collection.  The images shown here today are from a 2-page advertisement for Bates Fabrics dating to 1950.  We are so lucky today that we have internet shopping so we can find many of the original vintage patterns that were featured in the old sewing magazines.  You can search for a particular pattern on the Vintage Pattern Wiki, where hundreds of vintage pattern enthusiasts have uploaded images and information about thousands of vintage patterns.  Or you can simply do a search for the specific pattern you are looking for and you're likely to find it about 75% of the time.  That way, you can make your vintage dress in a fabric you like and in a size to fit you!

A pretty off-the-shoulder evening gown made in Bates stained glass cotton print and cotton velveteen from Simplicity pattern 2964.

At left:  A pretty full skirted dress with contrast collar and cuffs made in cotton flannel in a paisley print from Simplicity pattern 8210 (the only pattern I couldn't find available today.)
At right:  A full skirted shirtwaist dress with tucks at the bodice made from woven cotton plaid from Simplicity pattern 8144.

My favorite of the dresses show here, a daytime dress with big pockets, here accented with braid trim made from Simplicity pattern 2971.

I have a few vintage patterns from my grandmother's sewing room still available at SewHallie.  Maybe something will inspire you!