The fact that I can get into them at all shocks me -- they are tiny! (however, in all honesty, I only ever got the zipper up on the black one once, and even then I couldn't breathe. Me thinks Grammy was an elf.) The brown one has actually held up well enough that I've worn it out twice, although I let it out a bit as I am fond of breathing. (Have I mentioned my grandmother was an elf?) She would have been in her early/mid twenties when she was wearing these around about 1952. The white/blue dress is from the same period and is the one my great-grandmother wore to my grandparent's wedding. (I wanted to include pictures -- the dresses are *fabulous* but they seem to be in a very safe place. A very very safe place. You know how it is.)
I don't think you can see much of the seaming (wow but I need a better camera...) but the lines and details are amazing. I plan to copy all of them, so I'll be able to share what was going on inside and all the nifty little gussets and pleats an whatnot. My plan it to start with Meema's as the sleeves are just amazing. (Trust me) and its by far the most fragile of the three.
I have to finish up a trio of UFOs (sooooo veeerrrryyyyy cloooose) and then its onto copying! (copying RTW seems to be my thing lately. I just haven't been in the mood for pattern fitting.)
Does anyone else out there have things your grandmother wore? Any links? I'd love to see them. I have books on fashion history, but I think its just as interesting to see what people were really wearing, rather than the couture stunners that dazzle but weren't really the sorts of things the motley crew would be wearing around and about.
Oh, those are gorgeous! I love the neckline on the white/blue one. Can't wait to see the deets. :)
ReplyDeleteAlthough I've worn a number of my mom's old dresses from the 60s over the years (I wore her grad dress to my own high-school grad), the closest to anything as old as these is the 50s shrug I copied my pattern from---it apparently belonged to one of my mom's older cousins, who was a teen in the 50s.
You look beautiful in those dresses. I know your grandmother must be so happy to see you in them. Can't wait to see your remakes!
ReplyDeleteAllison what dreamy dresses, & how wonderful to see them being modeled by you! They are such a flattering shape, all of them & I think it's great that you get the odd occasion out of them. I remember my dressing up box & the dresses that were in that, IF ONLY I still had them........I think it's a great idea that you are going to develop some patterns of your own from them- look forward to it!!
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