Red, White and Polka Dots

Despite the name of my blog and my love of 40s fashion, I'm not a super patriotic person. I've never been much of a "team" person (I despise almost all sports) and my experience with the military during my husband's deployment left much to be desired. But I do make an exception for the 4th of July. It doesn't hurt that red, white and blue are great colors on me.

This year I'm actually wearing last year's dress. Since I was a bad blogger and didn't get any photos last year, it's still new to you. And look, polka dots!

The pattern I used is Anne Adams 4832. Generally, I stick to Simplicity, Butterick and McCall vintage patterns but this one was just too cute to pass up.

And I lucked out in finding this great blue linen embroidered with red and white polka dots. So yummy!

I ended up making this dress a bit shorter than I usually like just to try it out. I still prefer a slightly longer skirt length but it's fun to be different sometimes.

I decided that this outfit had a bit too much blue so I pulled out a great red belt to break it up a bit. Belts have such transformative powers for outfits!

I also chose a red hair flower and red earrings to help this outfit pop. Alas, I didn't have a red snood but this ensemble convinced me that I really need a red one so I've ordered one. (I think I also need green and yellow and white but those shades will have to wait.)

And I got to pull out one of my favorite vintage purses for this festive day! I don't use vintage purses for my day to day outfits because I can't fit all of my stuff in such a tiny bag but for the odd special occasion, I still pull them out.

My holiday weekend was pretty low key. Just playing board games at home with my hubby all day and then a BBQ and fireworks at my brother-in-law's in the evening. The older I've gotten the more I've grown to appreciate a quite holiday rather than an endless parade of people to see (especially for people like me who are introverts and get easily over stimulated by large groups of people), a mile long list of activities to do and piles of unhealthy food that lead to tummy aches and extra pounds.

I was much happier to have time to watch some youtube videos including a great snood collaboration between two of my favorite youtubers, Ashley of Lisa Freemont Street and Jen of A Vintage Vanity. This is my version of Ashley's style and I'll be wearing Jen's style later this week.

And, of course, I found some time for blogging activities! My hubby snapped this shot of me updating my Instagram account. You can follow me here.

 Did you sport a patriotic outfit this weekend? Leave me a link if you shared one on your blog!

50s Back Button Blouse

This blouse was also completed during my sewing mania! My 30s outfit was worn on Sunday and I wore this on Tuesday. Oh, the crazy weather continues. 

I snagged this lovely 50s blouse pattern on etsy last fall and even started grading it up. So I jumped on the chance last weekend to finish up the drafting and whip it up.

The Facts
⁃ Fabric: navy blue cotton with white polka dots (free)
⁃ Pattern: Butterick 9274 view B
⁃ Year: 1950s
⁃ Notions: one snap, 4 buttons ($3)
⁃ Time to complete: 2 hours
⁃ First worn: March 2012
⁃ Wear again? Yes, The darts ended up a bit awkwardly placed but you can hardly tell on this dark fabric. I always intended this to be a wearable muslin so I'm considering this a success. It was very fast and I'm envisioning loads more of these in my spring/summer wardrobe.
⁃ Total price: $3

I was a bit nervous about the neckline because I usually hate things that are so high necked but it turned out really nice. And my bra straps don't poke out!

It buttons up the back. I love it! I picked large white buttons to pull in the polka dot theme. I styled it with Colette Pattern's Beignet and a belt from Cassie Stephens.

The whole ensemble turned out very patriotic which was great since Ohio had voting yesterday with all of the other super Tuesday states and I voted.

I wish I was back in the Army...

Today's ensemble is military inspired all the way! I have had the song "I wish I was back in the Army" from White Christmas stuck in my head for the past few days. This is the result. I love this olive army green dress. It's just military enough without being over the top. I just need a really great military hat to pull it all together.

Salute!

Outfit:
Dress: New York and Company
Shoes: DSW

I love the curves this dress gives me.

Today's hairstyle is victory rolls with a page boy look in the back from Lisa Freemont Street's tutorial.

Victory rolls have always given me trouble but having leftover curls from yesterday's pin curl set helped. Though with my issues with symmetry, I think I'd be better off with side part victory rolls.

And speaking of youtube, look out for a new tutorial from yours truly later today.