Friday, July 09, 2010

In the Details: Vintage Details for Modern Blouses

In Months ago, Gertie wrote a post about button-back blouses. It made me think of the interesting and unique details that used to be so common to home sewers in their pattern choices. Of course, those details were commonly copied from the fashions of the day, where clothing seemed to be designed with more care and details in order to facilitate the garment's longevity.

Even though most modern patterns, even the independents, may not provide these types of details now many of these sharp details can easily be added to your favorite TNT pattern or any of the commercial pattern designs out there. Come on, spice a simple blouse up!



c. 1950. Easily could be just a simple almost boring shirt. However, this little pocket was just too cool to be tacked down by "the man" and it's hanging free and loose. Also a perfect opportunity to include a different print or pattern on the pocket's other side.



c. 1947. Check out the strange elongated and pointed breast pocket. While I don't personally find this one attractive if brought up the idea of designing your own unique pocket for blouses. Just because the pattern suggests one shape why not make something else?




c. late 1940s/early 1950s. This pattern used the addition of top stitched tabs to add interest to the shoulders and I like it. How about also adding a double ended tap running around the sleeve's cuff and buttoning together?

 

c. 1950's. I love the little pin tucks around the neckline. To create, just add a little slash and spread action when making up your pattern, right?


Butterick 5954

c. 1950s. So Romantic! This one is part of my new love of blouses with cut on sleeves. It means no setting in of sleeves and easing them to fit armholes, hurray! I'm also in love with the deep v-neck and how by adding a banded collar you can make the neckline modest. In addition, the little stiff winged cuffs on the sleeves are just too sweet!


Vogue 7919


c. 1953. Check it! Diagonal pockets or at least faux pockets add design flair rather than practicality. Love it, especially with the kicky little wing collar and cuffed sleeves.


Vogue 6886


Date unknown. Note that the sleeves and shoulders are cut together with portions of the front and back yokes. I love the addition of the over bust gathers which eliminate the need for darts to add shaping. This might be a great way to perform a more decorative FBA too.

Images: Vintage Fashion Library, VintagePattern.wiki, Stitches & Loops, What-I-Found

* Note how this pattern seems to have come in different colorways.

5 comments:

denise@thebluegardenia.com said...

I love 6886. My size and so pretty!

permanentmagenta said...

Oh my gosh these are all great! I can't pick a favorite, well, maybe the butterick w/ cut on sleeves and deep v neck and the vogue with the diagonal "pockets". I love the drawings.

The Slapdash Sewist said...

Love all those little details! Thank you for this post.

Tasia said...

I like the pocket that was too cool to be tacked down by the man. What a cute way of describing it!

You're so right, it's easy to add these little details to any pattern and make it extra-special!

Anonymous said...

This was such a fun post!