The Curious Case of the Baronial Buttons

When I saw this adorable striped 1930s sundress in my friend's etsy shop, Garb Oh Vintage, I knew I had to make it mine.  When it arrived and I tried it on, however, I found that the navy buttons tended to sit in a spot that was a bit too --ahem-- saucy for my demure tastes, so I quickly relocated them today before my outing to Fort Edmonton Park with a few of my pals.  See below for a 'before' and 'after' of the great button transplantation :).

1930s Sailor Sun Dress: Garb Oh Vintage

1930s Tricolour Crocheted Purse: Etsy

1930s Sailor Straw Hat: A Vintage Affair, Calgary

1930s Style Sandals: Remix Vintage Shoes

Blondell's Dream Boat Fashions

Can't quite decide which is cuter: 1930s Joan Blondell or these 30s nautical inspired togs?

Image via Fuzzy Lizzie

Image via My Vintage Vogue

Image of item sold on ebay

Follow the Fleet Sailor Flour Sack Frock = Find of a Life Time

30s feedsack and floursack dresses come in so many different forms.  Some are humble and sweet. Some are homely and homespun.  Others are nothing short of fabulous.  The most mind-blowingly awesome 1930s floursack dress I've EVER found, and that is staying in my personal collection forever if possible is a white and navy sailor dress.  Yes, guys and dolls, this was made out of flour sacks by some amazing Depression-era dame, possibly after seeing Jean Harlow's sailor dress in George Hurrell's 1932 photo "Sailor Suit Girl" or maybe in honour of Bette Davis's famous ice cream photo OR even after seeing Follow the Fleet?  Personally, I think it's from 1933, so I feel like Jean inspired this one.  One way or another, I definitely know how lucky I was to have found this dress...and for a STEAL I tell you! I feel sorry for the vintage dealer I got it from, actually. She had no idea what she had here.  Okay, I'm heading back out to enjoy the sunshine.  Have a glorious weekend!!

1930s flour sack sailor dress: top secret vintage dealer

1930s yellow bakelite sunglasses: eBay

Relevant Youtubage: Gracie Allen singing and Eleanor Powell dancing,"Honolulu" (Gracie's got an adorable sailor dress on, dontcha know!)

Play (Suit) Time (well, almost)!

Oh me oh my, as usual, Glamour Daze blog has me swooning, this time over a video clip showing the Ambassador hotel and its Hollywood poolside guests attending a pretty over the top party, circa the 1930s. To make it even more perfect, it's set to Al Bowlly singing "Heart and Soul."  Double swoon!  This clip really externalizes what I have on my mind right now, fashion wise:  30s resort and sportswear separates.   I seriously want everything in this video, especially the sailor-inspired dresses and the various halter and deco playsuits which I screencapped below.

If you love that second image like I do, luckily, Lauren, of Wearing History has got a fantastic pattern for a sailor dress and playsuit. The one she has repro'd is from the 40s, so the dress might be a bit shorter than a 30s one, but the look is similar to the early 30s playsuits shown in the clip.  I know the amazing Casey over at Elegant Musings made the playsuit using Lauren's pattern and her finished product has definitely inspired me to consider tackling it as well!

I think I might go with more of a stripey pattern for my "playsuit," like below:

In addition to the sailor inspired dresses and playsuits, I've got my eye on some 30s halter tops and playsuits.  Once again, Wearing History has just the thing for the seamstresses:

Eva Dress also has a couple of great vintage repro. patterns for 30s halter tops and halter sport suits, which seem to combine elements shown in the above Wearing History patterns.   The first pattern includes a hat pattern!

If I can just keep my sewing momentum going I may just have what I desire by summertime;


Oh, for period perfect footwear, I saw a vintage pattern being sold by Tinpotlil on Etsy that tells you how to make your own 1930s beach slippers/sandals!