Wednesday 9 January 2013

More than a Dress


The matching dress for the Chanel jacket is completed. What's brilliant about this dress is that it can be skirt and a pinafore too. Watch and be amazed....

Dress on its own = dress



blouse worn on top = skirt





Dress with jacket = suit

I made a matching belt, using two leftover buttons as a buckle. Just measure your waist and add a few inches for overlap: cut some interfacing to size to stabilise the fabric; mark buttonhole placement so that you can breathe comfortably: make button holes and sew on buttons.

Dress with shirt underneath = pinafore


Isn't that brilliant?


The pattern for the dress is Vogue Vintage V1137 (and as I write this Vogue are having a 48 hour $4.99 sale on all vintage patterns). This is the dress that goes with the opera coat.


No real major alterations done except that I lined the whole dress whereas the pattern only calls for the bodice to be lined. Seemed a bit silly to me to line half a dress. I didn't add the pockets.









There's a pretty little V at the back too but the shoulders do lie right on the edge of the natural shoulder and so ribbons to hold bra straps may be in order. Because the tweedy-boucle fabric was a bit bulky I sewed the zip in by hand. It's not invisible, but then the pattern doesn't call for an invisible zip - it being 1950 and all that.


SWAP '13 item number 2 from Audrey completed.
Was that a leopard I hear roaring?

43 comments:

  1. This entire collection is outstanding! Great and beautiful work. You could pack just these items for a trip and be ready for anything!

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  2. So versatile and it looks fantastic on you! I really like it as the jumper with a shirt underneath.

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    1. Thanks Suzy - too warm for you at the moment though

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  3. Very good looking and love the belt.

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    1. Thank you Lisa. Thanks too for stopping by and reading

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  4. Ladylike, sassy, wonderful. I love these so much!

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    1. Not a spot or stripe in sight either! Just goes to show you. Thanks Anne

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  5. Gorgeous! Gosh, you do beautiful work.

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    1. Thanks Coco - my work is definitely put in the shade in comparison to yours. Gorgeous back at you.

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  6. what a beautifully made and versatile dress! I love it. You are a real inspiration

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    1. Nay Alison - you are inspirational - you do everything!

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  7. Great dress - and outfits! I really like the pinafore look, classic. Roaring? can't wait!

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    1. Roaring is waaay outside my style comfort zone... we'll see.

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  8. Oh my. I would have such a hard time choosing how to wear this gorgeous dress. It's superb.
    I look forward to your next piece.

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    1. Oh no pressure then? Simple, I think.

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  9. That's very versatile. And pretty. I like the sparkley fabric.

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    1. Not my usual choice of fabric Gwen but I like it too. Thanks

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  10. Great styling ideas! Love all the looks. That dress and jacket are TDF!

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    1. They are (will be) my funeral clothes!

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  11. Lovely! Now you need to take a trip as all you'll need to take is your dress, jacket and two blouses. You could go a week with just these few pieces. Lovely, lovely!

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    1. But Rhonda I need shoes, shoes shoes and a bag

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  12. Gorgeous dress - and so versatile! It looks great on you!

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  13. I love it! Congratulations!

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    1. Thanks for that - means a lot to me.

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  14. I really like the dress on you, and the fabric is lovely.

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    Replies
    1. Your own Chanel is pretty darn good. Thanks Starry

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  15. Brilliant! Now I want to make that dress and that jacket too.

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  16. Very versatile. I love it with the white shirt.

    You did a great job on the zip, btw. I actually zoomed in to check :-)

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    1. Ah the problem of technology. It looked OK to me without my glasses on so that's good to know - thanks

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  17. Wow impressive and beautiful

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    1. Now really Pauline - it's the model underneath! Not the clothes! LOL

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  18. You've gone and done it again ! I LOVE the placement of the buttons on the belt and how it complements the buttons on the jacket. The dress and the jacket go together so well , but I love all the looks that you've created. Inspiring work.

    Janice.

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    1. Easy belt Janice - no buckle to bother about and uses up some leftover fabric as well.Thanks

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  19. Hi there Ruth,

    I am really enjoying your blog, as a newbie to your site.
    Love the dress with the chanel jacket.................shame the jacket I am making is for my daughter and not me! Have checked my stash and I have the pattern, so can't wait to make the dress for her as well. My turn after that maybe??

    Thank you so much for the inspiration.

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    1. Thank you so much Mary for stopping by and reading. You deserve this jacket.

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  20. The dress is useful! Any style looks really gorgeous!!

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    Replies
    1. I'll have to make it in another, less sparkly fabric, I think

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  21. What a fabulous dress and jacket. Love all your outfits. Well done!

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  22. The dress looks lovely with the matching Chanel jacket, but is wonderful that it can be worn in so many other ways.

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  23. Very beautiful Ruth and versatile. I can see that I need that Vogue pattern. Your parcel turned up yesterday and the fabric is beautiful as yet nothing planned for it but watch this space. Once again many thanks for the material!!.

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