Kids, it's still 1942 at MPB for better or for worse. So bring out the popcorn and let's watch "Holiday Inn," "For Me and My Gal, "You Were Never Lovelier" and "Casablanca" -- a quadruple feature. Just stay home from work, OK?
Never one to let parental visits get in the way of my sewing (I just throw 'em out at a certain point), I did make some notable progress on my 1942 Hollywood dress yesterday.
Skirt done!
Obviously this will need to be hemmed, among other things. The bodice is almost done; it needs sleeves, waistline pleats and gathers and then to be attached to the skirt.
As you can see, the skirt is quite swingy and drapey. Upon closer examination, the slightly-off-grain issue I mentioned yesterday seems less dramatic; in fact I think it's actually supposed to be somewhat on the bias. As far as matching the pattern on either side of the skirt, well the pattern is quite busy and falls naturally into pleats, so I don't think it's a problem; we'll see what the finished garment looks like.
Here's a close-up of the gathered yoke...
And the neckline. This will be all-but-covered by a bow of some sort.
I really want to finish this today, if possible. I may let the skirt hang another day or so before hemming just in case it needs to stretch itself out a bit more. I also have to track down Cathy, who was last seen sitting vigil outside Lindsay Lohan's minimum security prison. And then there's the question of shoes.
My but that flowered fabric is busy, isn't it? We'll have to tone that down somehow.
And so the day begins....
Even if you can't stay home today, please enjoy Fred Astaire dancing with one of my favorite gowns worn by a popular starlet of the time whose name escapes me. (Dance begins at 2:30 for opponents of lip-synching)
Enjoy!
Thanks for making me smile!
ReplyDelete"Holiday Inn" is my favorite holiday movie ever. "White Christmas" just stinks in comparison.
ReplyDeleteLooks good, Peter! :)
ReplyDeleteYou seriously forgot Rita Hayworth??? Tsk Tsk
ReplyDeleteRita's gown is gorgeous! I wish there was a close view. How did they affix the sheer part to the rest of the bodice? It almost looks like it's painted on her.
ReplyDeleteThe dress is lookin' good!
ReplyDeleteCount me in on a movie marathon; though I must insist on bringing my knitting to keep me from fidgeting. ;) lol.
♥ Casey
blog | elegantmusings.com
Rita's gown...I don't know but I'd love to find out. I'm guessing it's like a silk chiffon overlay of some sort affixed to the bodice. Definitely not off the rack.
ReplyDeleteAnybody else know?
Peter, your speed astounds me. Are you up all night sewing? Do you sleep? It's looking great. I think you need to run a pol on the bow color. I'm thinking a seafoam green would be lovely. Holiday Inn is the best. Hmmmm I've got a hankering for some peach preserves.
ReplyDeleteOK - I think what they've got going here is a really clever different treatment - usually, you have lace on top with something sheer to opaque underneath. What this looks like is lace underneath (and pieced in the bosom area to give it more of that shape)with the chiffon on top, with rolled edges and french seams to boot.
ReplyDeleteI agree: the chiffon is on top. There's actually a lot of (suggested) nudity on the sides, though the chiffon was probably underlined with something nude-colored. Looks like she was sewn into it.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see this when you are done. Looking great so far.
ReplyDeleteI hate that movie. I found it racist. I know it's the period that it was made, but it overt racisim was stronger than other movies of the time
ReplyDeleteA film like Holiday Inn was a product of its time. It reflected a segregated society and a time when racism was considered acceptable by a lot of white society. Musicals in particular had a lot of blackface numbers and in most films the only black characters are servants or presented as ugly stereotypes. this was true of a lot of mainstream popular culture of the time.
ReplyDeleteIn that way those films were ugly. I think that's really important to recognize. If you (or anyone) can overlook that -- and I'm not saying you should or shouldn't -- the stories themselves are often well told and the performers talented. It's a tough one for me and I hope citing this film didn't cause you any pain as that certainly would not have been my intention. It makes watching old Hollywood movies a bittersweet experience, to put it mildly.
Thanks for bringing this up.
you are just too cute!
ReplyDelete