Thursday, July 8, 2010

Dress Serendipity

I'm sure I'm not the only one who fell in love with the 1930s Minnie dot dress which Dear Golden had listed on Etsy earlier this year.  Lucky lucky me, I was in the right place at the right time, and the right size, to make it mine.  Lauren of Dear Golden had told me the dress had been made back in the 30s by a woman who was a talented seamstress.  This little detail endeared it to me even more.  Now, today, I almost swooned when I happened to come across an image of the EXACT pattern # which the lady must have used to make the dress!!!  I'm literally tingly all over! Just the most amazing bit of serendipity, that is! Interesting side note:  I think this dress exemplifies the difference between the vintage image of a dress in a pattern illustration and the actual look of the finished garment.  On the pictured ladies, the dress skirt looks more columnar.  Just a perfect example of the gap between the ideal and the real--the same gap we've been talking about in relation to vintage ideals of beauty in the 1920s and 30s, and the ways REAL women looked and dressed in these eras. Note to self: maybe try this frock with a darker slip next time? hehe.

14 comments:

garofit said...

Wow, this looks wonderful! And yes, it is a great example to illustrate the ideal versus real look & shape, but let me tell you, this looks pretty fantastic on the real you :)!

lauren said...

I am stunned, this is one of the coolest blog posts ever! I can literally feel your excitement over finding that pattern, unreal! you look awesome in the Minnie dress, you really do.

Carys said...

What a beautiful dress, and amazing coincidence!!
From Carys of La Ville Inconnue

Ithilien Fields said...

This is why I love your blog: you don't look exactly like the images on pattern covers, but you do look fabulous!!! I sew most of my clothing from 30's patterns, and it helps me keep everything in perspective when whatever it is first starts coming out of my machine.

Emily said...

This is so cool that you found the pattern cover that matches your dress!! Seriously, so so neat!!

Anonymous said...

That is beyond cool! I hope you can track down and buy your own copy of the pattern one day.

Anonymous said...

You have the most amazing luck this way! That dress.... wonderful. The sleeves are most unusual, a variation of the "cold shoulder"?

Courtney said...

That is an amazing dress and looks so perfect on you! I love that you've found the pattern. Very cool.

Francy said...

Wow, lovelove this dress on you!

Kir said...

Whoa, that's so incredible! What an exciting find! The dress looks fabulous on you by the way. It is interesting how the pictures look and how they actually look on normal people. What a lovely dress though! I'm rather jealous. ;)

Anonymous said...

Just found your blog through Dear Goldens..... what a fantastic story and DRESS! Looks supremely gorgeous on you!!!

BaronessVonVintage said...

both the dress and the pattern image are finds of a lifetime. Very grateful, for sure!

The Mad Twins said...

This dress is adorable!

xx

Lauren Hairston said...

The details on the dress are just amazing. Just think about all the thought and all the love that must have gone into making it! What a great find. Great fabric, too.