Romance is in the air - Vogue 2805 Oscar de la Renta lace blouse sewing pattern

Vogue 2805

Misses' Blouse and Camisole
c. 1980s
Vogue American Designer
Oscar de la Renta

Loose fitting lace blouse. A: pullover has standing neckline ruffle, back neckline slit with button and thread loop closing and extended shoulders. B pullover has neckline binding, back slit with button and thread loop closing, front, back and sleeve gathered into front and back yokes, yoke ruffle and above elbow length full raglan sleeves with elasticized ruffle at lower edge. C front wrap has v-neckline neckline binding and ruffle and below elbow length gathered at cap and elasticized ruffle at lower edge. Self lined camisole has shoulder straps and elasticized upper back edge.

Set your Valentine's heart aflutter wearing one of these beautiful, ultra-feminine lace blouses. There may be no date on the pattern, but one look at the exaggerated shoulders and big hair and you know it's from the 1980s.

Warning! Shameless self-promotion starts now: This pattern, in a size 16, is available in my Etsy shop.
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Vogue 2296, American Designer Don Sayers, Dress and Belt

Vogue 2296
c. 1980s
Misses Dress and Belt
Vogue American Designer
Don Sayers

Dress with loose fitting blouson bodice and straight skirt, gathered into waistline seam, has front button and bias loop closing, pockets in side seams and center front hemline slit. Full length dolman sleeves narrowing at wrist have button and bias loop closing at lower edge. Self belt has self covered buckle.

Dolman sleeves continued...

Another of my secret crushes - the dolman sleeve narrowing to the wrist. This time on an evening dress from either the late 70s or early 80s. I'm dating it based on what I remember wearing to the dance clubs (disco) during that time frame, and I do remember the patterned black hose with the strappy sandals.

Personally I would never have worn this dancing as I would have gotten much too warm with the long sleeves. But it would have been a great dinner dress wouldn't you say?
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Vogue 2328, American Designer Jerry Silverman, Dress and Jacket

Vogue 2328
c. 1970s
Misses' Jacket and Dress
Vogue American Designer Original
Jerry Silverman

Loose fitting, below waist length jacket has front, back and three-quarter sleeves cut-in-one. Fronts do not meet. Dress, fitted through the bustline, has contrast shoulder straps that criss cross in back, side zipper closing, underdress and very narrow hem finished by hand or by machine. Jacket and dress have edgestitching and contrast bands. Jacket is cut on cross-wise grain of fabric.

Dolman sleeves - 70s evening style!

I admit it. I've always had a secret crush on dolman sleeves. They're no good for me. They don't flatter me. Yet I'm drawn to them.

This jacket is one of those secret dolman sleeve crushes. Wouldn't it be heavenly to wear the jacket sewn out of a silk chiffon or georgette? A bear to sew - do you see the wavy band edges on the model's jacket? I suspect they aren't meant to be way. But oh, what a dream to wear as it would simply float over your garment and sway lightly in the breeze as you walked.

Alas, I truly have no place to wear such a creation so this one will remain in my pattern collection to pull out and admire when I'm dreaming of dolman sleeves 70s evening style.
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Simplicity 5173, c. 1960s, One-piece dress with dolman sleeves

Simplicity 5173
c. 1960s
Misses' one-piece dress

Dress has high round neckline, below elbow length sleeves, set in deep square armholes, are gathered to button trimmed wristbands, center back zipper closing and top stitching trim. Slim skirt waistline is gathered at front and dart fitted in back, with a pleat at bottom of center back seam.

Aren't these sleeves fantastic? Almost a dolman style with a deep square armhole. The sleeves turn a simple sheath dress into something wonderful. I planned on sewing this one - the pattern is even my size. Of course I would have worn one of my grandmother's 60s era brooches at the neckline as the lady in red is doing.

However, I came to realize this isn't one of my favorite dress shapes so I won't be sewing it after all. But, if you're interested, it's available in my Etsy shop here.
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Vogue 9628, c. 1960s, Blouse with front seaming

Vogue 9628
c. 1960s
Blouse "easy to make"

Tuck-in blouse is joined to a hip yoke. Short sleeves and sleeveless.

Fabric suggestions include crepe - satin - shantung - surah - faille - taffeta - faille crepe - velveteen - cotton broadcloth - chambray - pique - linen

This blouse deserves more than cotton broadcloth or pique. I mean look at it! At first glance it appears to be a just a simple, sweet summer blouse. But look again. The back has shoulder and waist darts along with a zipper at the neckline. And that diagonal seam in the front with the short bust dart provides not only shaping but visual interest.

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Vogue 5818 c. 1960s Tunic and blouse

Vogue 5818 c. 1960s blouse, originally uploaded by Sharon Sews.

Vogue 5818
c. 1960s
Tunic blouse and blouse

Sleeveless tunic and above or below waist length blouse has oval front neck-line, deep V in back.

This vintage sewing pattern, still factory folded with an insert magazine subscription insert, was the pattern that began my vintage sewing pattern collection. I found it in an antique shop about 20 years ago.

It was the same day I found a fabulous early 1960s white shell of similar styling. Except the shell was completely beaded with a fringed bead trim. At the time I was thrilled to pay $9.99 as it was so unique.

I paid $3.99 for the pattern. At the time I thought it was a lot of money for an old pattern, but there wasn't the abundance of online vintage pattern stores at that time and I loved the cover illustration.

And the magazine subscription insert was for Ladies Home Journal magazine, "the magazine women believe in", 10 big issues for only $1.50.

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Vogue 5956 c, 1960s, Jacket, Skirt and Blouse

Vogue 5956 sewing pattern, originally uploaded by Sharon Sews.

Vogue 5956
c. 1960s
Sleeveless Jacket, Skirt and Blouse

Sleeveless, fitted jacket buttons below collarless neckline. Tuck-in blouse with shaped collar has long sleeves pleated to buttoned band cuffs. Slim skirt with released front dart pleats.

Don't you just love that red number with the black gloves? She could have just stepped off the set of Mad Men.

Actually, eliminate the gloves, shorten the skirt to the knee and it could easily be worn today. Come to think of it, that black and white polka dot number could easily be worn today. Although I might add some cobalt blue or yellow shoes.

Would you wear either today?

P.S. This pattern is for sale in my Etsy shop. Honestly? It's too small for me and I didn't want to bother sizing it up.

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Simplicity 5144, c. 1972, Set of Skirts

Simplicity 5144
c. 1972
Misses' Set of Skirts in Two Lengths

The skirt v. 1 and 2 with waistband have front button closing. The skirt v. 3 and 4 with front separating zipper have shaped front edge, waistband, top stitching and optional carriers and purchased belt. V. 1 and 3 are mini length. V. 2 and 4 are ankle length.

In addition to being a pattern-a-holic, I'm a thrift store junkie. I blame my mother. We shopped garage sales and Goodwill when I was younger - always thrilled to find a treasure we could use at a bargain price. I'm not sure if it was because she enjoyed the thrill of the hunt or because she needed to be frugal with a large growing family. I suspect it was the latter.

As a thrift store junkie I try and hit the local ones every two to three months. Of course I browse the craft and jewelry sections but also the clothing section. I can't tell you how often I have discovered almost new items of clothing that are appropriate for me to wear to work, and many times in almost new condition. (You now know my secret to my large work wardrobe - thrift stores and sewing ability.)

Sometimes I come across vintage clothing. As was the case two weeks ago. I'm pretty sure I found view 4 from this pattern sewn out of a heavy 70s tapestry fabric. The skirt was obviously hand sewn - not because it looked home made but as a sewer I can usually spot the tell tale signs.

I immediately pulled it from the rack and showed my daughter (who usually accompanies me on my thrift store jaunts) and commented "Someone made this and I even know which pattern they used!"

It was bottom front curved hemline that reminded me of this pattern. The next time I visit that store I'll bring along my camera in the off-chance the skirt is still waiting for it's new owner.
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McCall's 1745, c. 1952, Misses' Hats and Bags

McCall's 1745 c. 1952 Misses' Hats and Bag

Hat view A for felt fabric only. Beret view C. Bag is 8-1/2" high.

Isn't the little flip at the back of the white hat just adorable? Kind of distracts you from the freaky alien eyes for the beret wearing model doesn't it?
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Vogue 6122, c. 1960s, Evening jacket and cape

Vogue 6122
c. 1960s
Misses' Jacket and Capes

Circular jacket with elbow-length kimono sleeves is trimmed with gathered self ruffle. Wrapped cape has deep, away-from-neckline collar. Shawl cape is turned back over shoulders.

The pattern cover is quite tattered but I still couldn't resist adding this to my pattern collection.

Sigh. Wouldn't it be lovely to toss one of these over your gown before heading out for the evening? I would feel oh-so-glamorous!

Of course the elbow length gloves would be a necessary addition - and temps above freezing would be nice also...
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