#sewchicpatterns.com

Sew Chic is an independent pattern company that offers the kind of detail you usually only find on vintage patterns. This new one for spring is a high-waisted skirt or trousers. If you haven’t tried on anything cut this way through the waist, it would be best to try something on in a store or muslin this one before you get started. Some people love the look, but some people find it feels odd to have the waist come up so high, and some really long-legged women through off their proportions when they put them on.

The skirt is fitted through the waist and hips, and to the point that it actually tapers in under the hips in order to flare out into extravagant godets. I would call this a party skirt as it will give quite a swish when you walk. The pants are the full trousers with wide legs which women wore before the skinny pants of the 1950s hit. Back then, trousers on women were for sports and resort wear or for cleaning out the barn, but now these would look great at the office. Both skirt and pants have pockets tucked into the upper edge of the gather found on the side front panels.

Holiday Gifts: Vintage Patterns

These websites do not seem to have offer gift certificates, but whoever objected to a card with a crispy bill in it and a wish for many hours of happy sewing?

So here we have Eva Dress with some dramatic 1930s evening coats, and don’t we all need an evening coat? Other than blowing up and clarifying the instructions (instruction sheets in the 1930s were usually no more than a large single-sided sheet), these are  original vintage patterns reproduced. So you must muslin them to make sure of sizing and technique.  Find them here: https://evadress.com/

Then there is Decades of Style with a 1930s capelet jacket. This is another garment  that goes well for evening in a velvet, but I can imagine it in a tweed for a daytime look if you want to wear it more often. These are vintage patterns are-sized to modern standards, but again you are urged to muslin as you don’t want to wreck that lovely velvet or tweed you had in mind. You can find them here: https://www.decadesofstyle.com/

And lastly, Sew Chic is a vintage look, but with modern sizing. Of course, with a fitted evening dress like this where you need the bodice, the skirt, the shoulders and the sleeves to all fit perfectly, you muslin first. Especially as you will be making this in a fine crisp silk like dupioni for which you will have paid a pretty penny. You can find them here: http://www.sewchicpatterns.com/

The Portrait Collar Blouse from Sew Chic Pattern company

In honor of spring which we had for a few days here before winter promptly returned with a vengeance, I offer this blouse from one of the independent pattern lines that specialized in vintage style. Designed to be worn with one button open or closed up to the top button, its wide neckline is always a dressy look, able to hold its own whether at a summer wedding with a shorter skirt or at the opera with a long sweeping one. The fabrics suggested range widely, but I would stick to the eyelets, batistes, the swiss dot, or voile for the summer day-time wedding and the more crispy taffeta and dupioni for the evening look. of course, a pale taffeta is lovely for summer during the day too Lace can be added to the pleats in front, and one can imagine using very dressy buttons too. There is a gusset under the arm to ease the fit of the cut-on sleeve, and directions for a fuller bust can be found on-line. The blouse can be worn outside or tucked in, but if worn outside, take care. A sheer fabric will allow your skirt or pant fabric to show through as you can see in the second photo. Think about whether you can live with that or pick about one of the heavier silks instead. These are modern sizes with a vintage flair.

Sew Chic’s London Coat Dress

Just in time for the holidays, the Sew Chic Pattern Company has put out a new pattern reminiscent of the 1950s. The bodice has the sweetheart neckline of the era, and a flared skirt and both close with buttons on the side. The dress is fitted at the waist with a separate pattern piece which is played up in this instance with a satin fabric in the same holiday red.

Sew Chic patterns have modern sizing, but since pattern sizing have little to do with the ready-to-wear efforts to humor us through vanity sizing, make sure to measure yourself before you buy. And do a test garment of muslin before you cut into an expensive silk.

For more pictures of this pattern, go here:

Fifth Avenue by Sew Chic

I have put off buying this pattern only because I fear my life is not as glamorous as the dress would be.

It is a close fitting dress with a sweetheart neckline, a 1950s favorite, but then it is softened by a drape and gather around the neck and across the hips. This follows the rule of informal balance, which requires that you not seem to lurch to one side as it makes people fear that they need to catch you.

And this kind of draping, according to the Dress Doctors, is suited to the woman over thirty who has filled out her curves enough to make the most of draping.

Done up in a quiet color as here, it is elegant. In a brighter color, it would make your arrival an event.