Now Add a Vest - Sewing at Home, 1950

Yesterday, we looked at the possibilities of expanding your wardrobe by breaking up your suits into separates.  Now look what happens when you add a vest (or weskit) to the mix!  All photos and patterns are from 1950.

Here's a great example of sewing separates and wearing the pieces as a suit.  And when you add a vest to the mix, you get a more tailored and polished look than with a blouse, sweater or top alone.  Louis Vuitton luggage is not included.  And may I say, I absolutely LOVE that huge silver cross she is wearing at her neck.  The cross is by Roger Van S, but there is no note as to whether it is a necklace or pin.  Photo by Richard Avedon.

The red wool vest is made from Simplicity pattern 3298, view 4.

It is worn with a checked wool skirt made from Simplicity pattern 3027.  

NOTE: We talked the other day about sewing tops from wool jersey.  This is another pattern that would work for that!

And the ensemble is finished off with a topper jacket made from Simplicity 3327 in green wool coating.

Here's another example of a suit sewn as separates and then adding more possibilities with a vest.

The suit was made as separates from Simplicity pattern 3333.  

Make the jacket in a bold check and the skirt in a co-ordinating solid wool.

Now add the vest made from Simplicity 3298 and you've got separates that look like a suit!  

If you wanted a 3-piece suit, you could make all three pieces from the same fabric.

Here are some more vest patterns from 1950 that will stretch your wardrobe possibilities.

Simplicity 3299

Simplicity 2943

Separate That Suit - Sewing at Home, 1950

This week, we're going to continue our look at sewing vintage pieces at home, starting with a lesson on suits.  I often wonder why more women don't purchase vintage suits.  When you think about it, you're getting two pieces that will mix and match with others in your wardrobe for the price of one.  Think of your suit in terms of parts.  Wear the jacket with other skirts, pants, jeans or over a dress.  Wear the skirt with a sweater, blouse or a jacket from a different suit.

In the same vein of thinking, if you're not a suit kind of a gal, then look at suit patterns as separates.  Make the jacket alone, or use the skirt alone.  Or make the jacket and skirt from different fabrics.  If you've wanted to sew a pencil skirt, but can't find a pattern you like, look at suit patterns.  OR, if you can't find a suit pattern you like, combine a pattern for a jacket with a different skirt.  See what I mean?

Today, let's look at some suit jackets worn as separates, all from 1950.

At left: Simplicity 3099 jacket pattern sewn in houndstooth wool.  In the photo above, the jacket is worn with a coordinating skirt sewin from pattern 2383, but any skirt will do.
At right:  Suit sewn from Simplicity pattern 8055.  These pieces can easily be broken up to wear with other items in your wardrobe.  See what I mean?

At left:  Suit made from Simplicity 8157.  Another way of splitting up a suit.  Sew contrasting details on a solid jacket in a patterned fabric used to make the skirt.  Think plaid, tweed, houndstooth, herringbone.  Then make another skirt in the solid fabric of the jacket.  Wear the patterned skirt with a sweater or a different solid skirt.  See what I mean?

At right:  Navy and white wool check jacket sewn from Simplicity pattern 8208 (sorry, I couldn't find this one online anywhere).  The skirt is sewn in solid navy wool, but this jacket could also be worn with a skirt in red, white or gray.

Don't look at your suit as a suit.  Look at it as separates!  See what I mean?

Sew it Yourself Knit Tops - 1950

Remember my rant over the summer about garbage garments that today's manufacturers are making?  It's getting to the point where I can't find good looking, well fitting knit tops anywhere.  And trying to find something that will last more than a few wearings?  Forget about it.  Silly me!  Why didn't it occur to me that I can make my own?  Next time I go to New York, I'll be shopping for beautiful jersey knit fabrics to sew some vintage inspired tops for my closet.

When I first saw this image in the 1950 pattern magazine I've been blogging from this week, I assumed the tops were purchased sweaters worn with sewn skirts.  Wrong!  All of those tops (except the gray blouse) were sewn from Simplicity pattern 3300.  The designers used wool jersey for these, and today you can find wonderful examples of that fabric that are blended with a touch of synthetic so they become hand washable.

Simplicity pattern 3300 from 1950, used to make the tops shown in the photo above.

And all the pencil skirts were made from Simplicity pattern 3330.  The possibilities are endless!

This wool jersey top was sewn from Simplicity pattern 3335 from 1950.  I can't find one online right now, but there are plenty of comparable patterns for sale out there.

Simplicity 4815 would work for a similar top.

This jersey top has a pattern knitted into the fabric.  I love this!

The top was sewn from Simplicity pattern 3302 from 1950.

 Not shown, but Simplicity 3027 would also work for making a top and cardigan in wool jersey.

Speaking of sewing with vintage patterns, I added a bunch from my grandmother's sewing room to the SewHallie Etsy shop yesterday.  Take a look!  My favorite?  This Vogue Special Design evening dress. 

Isn't it a beauty?

More Sew It Yourself - 1950

Yesterday I showed you some photos of clothing  made from Bates cotton fabrics in 1950.  Today's examples were made from Milliken Woolens. Yes, you can make your own suits and coats at home.  The possibilities are endless!

At left: A pleated skirt and bolero made from all wool plaid, worn with a red blouse made from rayon twill. 
At right:  A simple navy dress made in navy wool basket-weave fabric.  The short topper coat is in red wool fleece.  Unfortunately, I cannot find an example of Simplicity pattern 3033 that the dress was made from.

The skirt and blouse on the left were made from Simplicity pattern 3157 from 1950.  It's interesting how the look of these pieces changes from summer to fall with a change in the choice of fabrics.

The bolero jacket on the left was made from Simplicity pattern 3093.  Yes, you can mix and match pieces from different patterns to make your own take on a suit!

The red topper jacket shown on the right above was made from Simplicity pattern 3090.  I love how this can double as a suit jacket or outerwear!

At left:  A suit made from a wool/rayon blend in navy with tiny red dots.
At right:  The same navy wool dress shown at the right in the first photo is worn with a longer coat in green wool fleece.

The suit on the left was made using Simplicity pattern 3127.  Look at the versatility this pattern gives you! 

The green 3/4 coat shown on the right was made using Simplicity pattern 3090 again, this time in the longer version.  Both pieces look great over the navy dress, don't you think?

Sew Your Own Vintage Swimsuit and Cover Up - 1965

We really are lucky nowadays that there are many wise women who search out and sell vintage patterns.  What better way to create your own vintage look?  Here are some ideas for swimsuits with matching cover ups sewn from McCall's Patterns in the summer of 1965.  If you do a web search for the McCall's pattern number you like, you can find most of these patterns available for sale.

A two piece swimsuit with matching jacket.  Add a border of wide lace at the jacket hem for a bit of flirtiness.  Made from McCall's pattern 7753.

McCall's 7753

Another two piece swimsuit, this time with a blouson top made from metallic mesh fabric.  Sewn from McCall's pattern 7796.

McCall's 7796

Two piece swimsuit worn with a beach jacket made from sheer white lace.  Sewn from McCall's pattern 7775.

McCall's 7775

Get two looks in one.  Make the one piece swimsuit in basic black and wear it with or without the sheer polka dot blouson top.  Made from McCall's pattern 7798.

McCall's 7798