1943 Vintage Vogue Dress

     
     

Having been inspired by rewatching Goodnight Sweetheart (many times) I decided to have a WWII spree. I decided to start by creating at outfit I could wear to the 'Wimpole at War' event, at which I am volunteering.

My first stop for patterns was, naturally, my pattern books, but I could only find two 1940s patterns, neither of which would be suitable (but will no doubt feature in the spree at a later date). My next step would have to be comercial patterns old and new, so I tried to find contemporary patterns in vintage shops, but with little success as few had all the pattern pieces AND fitted me, and I didn't really want to mess around with patterns on my first atempt at an era, or for something which had a deadline. So I went to Vintage Vogue, which I had heard mixed reviews of. Having found a dress which I thought was gorgeous I then found some material which matches pretty well the material of one of Pheobe's dresses in Goodnight Sweetheart.

The dress went together suprisingly easily, considering the quite complicated nature of the pattern I picked. I alterned in slightly, using a buckle to fasten the tie and using different techiniques which I felt more appropriate and period.

While I was on my initial spree around the Vintage Shops I did, however, find the most amazing 1940s coat I have ever seen. It pinches the waist in perfectly, and came from Oxford Street according to the label. I also found a little hat, which finishes the outfit off perfectly. I had enormously trouble finding 1940s shoes that fit...and not just that they were all too small as I had expected.

My next projects will include: 1940s utility wear, a suit and an evening gown (no dates currently set)

Pictures

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