Hi lovelies!
Again later than promised (erk) I have for you a finished project!
This is a Vogue Vintage reprint of pattern V8789. There were 2 styles included in this pattern; the one I’m showing to you tonight is dress “B”. The pattern description reads “MISSES’ PETITE DRESS AND CUMMERBUND: Pullover dresses A, B have fitted bodice, skirt front and back cut-in-one, no right side seam and left side zipper. A: Bias bodice. B: Button and loop shoulder closing, dress cut on crosswise grain of fabric.” It is clearly a “New Look” style!
Vogue Vintage Model Patterns V8789 (1957)
When I shopped for fabric for this dress I couldn’t find anything with a border print. It’s a shame, since I think the border print is really charming on the envelope sketch, but I had to shop within my means. I settled on a sweet and inoffensive quilting cotton in a blue floral print.
The dress has been designed to be worn with a cummerbund. I don’t think they’re particularly practical so I’ve retained enough fabric to make a self-covered belt as soon as I can find some fabric belt kits. If you have a source, in Australia OR overseas, please do let me know!
As usual, I cut the pattern in some scrap fabric (actually an old bed sheet) and fitted a toile. It was so many months ago that I can’t find a photo even if I did take one; I’m sorry for that and I’ll be more careful to make sure I document these things more accurately in the future.
Here is the finished dress!
Dress front
Dress back
Shoulder detail: pearl stud buttons
Dress front – worn with a soft petticoat of 2 layers
It’s not super exciting but it looks quite lovely with a petticoat ! This is just a simple layered petticoat made from nylon organza. The pattern can be downloaded for free at http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/the-50s-petticoat.
And here are a couple of not-very-well-lit action shots. It’s the only place in my house with a full-length mirror at the moment. (When I’m in Tassie after next week (!) I’m hoping to harangue my lovely partner to photograph me instead. Selfies are a bit lame and awkward… sorry.
Weird downward-perspective shot 1
Weird downward-perspective shot 2
The hem was only just finished and hadn’t been properly pressed in these photos – I’ll have himself take one for me at a later time. In these photos I’m wearing the same soft, two-layered chiffon petticoat over a full-length, bias-cut cotton slip (stops the annoying chiffon from getting caught between your legs when you walk and stops me from getting a rash, as I’m allergic to polyester). The skirt is a true tea-length (at the widest point of my calf), however I am rather short (5’5″), and the flare of the skirt makes it difficult to judge.
I hope you enjoyed having a look at this project. Luckily, I also have dress “A” to show to you very shortly as well!
P.S. the incredibly lovely Em of Retro Glam (http://retroglam.wordpress.com/) has agreed to send me a copy of the excellent everyday blouse and 1/2 circle skirt pattern she is currently working on. I’m thrilled and will definitely be making some sweet cotton blouses and skirts for everyday as soon as I am able! I really look forward to showing them to you in time. Please take a look at Em’s blog if you are at all interested in dressmaking techniques. At the moment she is blogging an extremely helpful series of tutorials on how to draft the blouse and skirt, including fitting the toile (with those pesky darts!). I guarantee you’ll enjoy it!
Thanks for stopping by!
R xx
Rosie's Retrospective 
Beautiful! I love that style of neckline and the shoulder detail is to die for!
Thank you! It’s available at Spotlight or online via the Vogue Patterns website. I’ll call it a cruisy dress for intermediate seamstresses. More time-consuming than technically challenging. I’d recommend the pattern to anyone 🙂
Rosie! With everything you’re in the middle of how wonderful that you turned out such a pretty dress! Your gathered skirt in quilting cotton falls much nicer than the dirndl skirt of the dress I made out of quilting cotton. Just goes to show how much variance there can be. This looks so pretty on you!
I can recommend the self covered belt and buckle kits from http://maxantbuttonandsupply.com/catalog.php?id_cat=6 but the only thing is that their postage costs are so high. The 1″ belt kit cost $10 and another $9 for postage! But everything is packed so well it won’t get damaged at all in the shipping.
Maybe you can find something by Maxant avaialable from a dealer on the West Coast of the USA, the shipping might be cheaper to Australia from there. I don’t believe you should spend that much just for one beltmaking kit.
And thank you for the mention. I’m so excited to share this project with you, too. Stay tuned…in the New Year there will be a basic pencil skirt pattern drafting diagram which anyone can use. Please allow me some extra time. Work schedules are ramping up.