It's been really fun to dig into my closet and wear things that I haven't worn in a while like this great chartreuse dress.
I made this back in Summer 2012 from Butterick 5281 which is a reprint of a 1946 pattern.
The bodice came out a bit odd and it was almost on the chopping block in last October. Now I'm really glad that I kept it.
I actually really adore chartreuse! Plus this dress is so comfortable!
Speaking of changes, I dyed my hair! If you follow me on Instagram, you already saw a photo of the dye I used. It definitely didn't come out the color on the box but I really like it!
To tone down the chartreuse, I accessorized with brown. Plus I have a great brown and chartreuse hat!
Overall, I'm quite happy with this outfit!
What things have you been changing up in you look lately?
love the color. i do love the war years, and it'll always be my favorite, but it doesn't love me as well as i love it. so i tend to go for circle/full skirts for a rockabilly look.
ReplyDeleteThe 50s definitely love me more than the 40s but since I can make my own pieces, I can help the 40s love me more.
DeleteOooh I love your outfit! I have that pattern, and have been wanting to make it. I wasn't sure how it would actually look on, so I'm glad I got to see it on you! I am dying to make more vintage clothing, I just have trouble finding patterns that work.
ReplyDeleteYour hair looks beautiful too! :-)
Vintage patterns are the way to go! You may have to hunt a bit, but you can definitely still find 40s patterns in the $10-15 range on etsy and ebay. The fit is so much better than modern patterns, it's amazing!
DeleteAlso, you might check out some of repro pattern companies: http://star-spangledheart.blogspot.com/2013/11/repro-patterns-and-where-to-find-them.html
DeleteThanks for the link! I will definitely check those out. I bought an Anne Adams pattern a little while back, but since then I lost a couple inches. I made a mockup anyway, thinking that it wouldn't be too awfully big. It is 2 or 3 sizes too big. It's crazy how much ease they allowed back then! I wear looser than average clothing too. I have another similar Hollywood pattern that's too small, which I'm going to size up. Hopefully it'll work!
DeleteMy shoulders are very wide, so it makes alot of the "big 3" vintage patterns not work.
Thanks!! :-)
If you have wide shoulders, you might need to do a wide shoulder adjustment. Colette patterns has a great tutorial for this: http://star-spangledheart.blogspot.com/2013/11/repro-patterns-and-where-to-find-them.html I have the opposite problem and always have to do narrow shoulder adjustments to get things to fit correctly.
DeleteGreat hair color on you:) I think it's fun to change things up a bit. It keeps the excitement of vintage. I find that I go on tangents and then try to hunt down similar things. I go within the 1930s to the 1950s. Right now I am very much into novelty skirts. This is why it is good to keep some things in your closet:) I'm now on a mission to find artist inspired prints from the 50s, then you really feel you are wearing a work of art:) Love this hair color and your dress is very pretty and very wearable:)
ReplyDeleteLove your hair! "Red heads" rule, whether by birth or box.
ReplyDeleteNot giving up my long skirts quite yet but your dress is cute. :)
Val
Oh my that color looks amazing on you! Not a lot of people can pull that color off but oh you look beautiful! Def rock the 40s more-its such fun and it really flatters you :) xox
ReplyDeleteYour hair color and dress look great together! :)
ReplyDeleteI love this look! You should definitely dip into the '40s more often because you wear it so well. Great color in the dress (and your hair)!
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Jenny
I LOVE it when hats and dresses match so perfectly, and yours definitely does!
ReplyDeleteHow did you feel about the pattern you used for this dress? I've made it a couple times, and I find it to be a bit weird. What did you think?
The bodice fit is a bit weird. I didn't like the gathers by the zipper and I have narrow shoulders so the pleats are a bit squished. The linen I used stretches a bit too so that's why it's so blousey.
DeleteI might give the pattern another shot but I'd definitely want to do a muslin first.
Another fabulous look! I actually quite like the bodice. It looks authentic to the decade.
ReplyDeleteThe 40's look suits you very well! And I love how you toned the chartreuse with brown, it looks very good.
ReplyDeleteThis dress looks seriously fantastic on you - both the cut and colour. Chartreuse is one of those great vintage hues that just does not even begin to get close to enough love in the fashion world these days.
ReplyDelete♥ Jessica
This is one of my favorite colors and it looks fabulous on you! I love the clean lines of the dress!
ReplyDeletexoxo
-Janey
This dress is absolutely perfect! I have been looking for vintage patterns and I want to learn to sew within the next year, and this one has certainly caught my eye. Also the choice to make it in chartreuse was wonderful and it suits you so beautifully.
ReplyDeleteI need more chartreuse in my life!
ReplyDelete