Wednesday, February 1, 2012

My 1930's Birthday Dress Suit


YAY! I am so excited!  I finally finished my 1937 McCall dress suit.  I originally started it back at the beginning of January thinking I would finish it for my birthday.  Well, that's been and gone but I almost made it (just one day late) for my birthday month.


I used McCall 9156, a beautiful pattern from 1937.  The dress is in one piece with a high neck (I left off the bow) and a faux button placket down the front.  The dress closes with a side zipper.  It also has a matching collarless jacket.


One of the things that initially made me pass up this pattern many times in my sewing queue was the sleeves.  Now I think that is my favourite element of the dress! There are darts at both the top and bottom of the sleeve giving it that unique shape.  Another one of my favourite things about the pattern is how it lends itself to mixing and matching colours.  I used a pumpkin shade of silk dupioni for the bodice and a delicious brown wool (a present from my Dad) for the skirt and contrast cuffs/neckband/button placket. 


One of the most time consuming elements of the dress was sewing the faux button placket down the front.  It's only the buttons that are tacking the placket in place on the bodice.  I picked lovely small ball buttons in a matching pumpkin shade and they were surprisingly difficult to sew on--they kept moving around and are small and hard to keep a grip on (though my cat was quite entertained watching me and praying for the chance that one of them might escape so she could play with it)!


I was just lucky enough to catch the last of the daylight for the photos. I hiked up to Calton Hill--a great vantage point in Edinburgh and caught a delightful sunset!


I really love this dress and am happy with my first creation of 2012!

Dress and Jacket: Made by Me
Shoes: Wildfell Hall Vintage (I won in a giveaway hosted by Quincy from Q's Daydream Vintage)
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84 comments

  1. Wow. Just wow. Another beautiful make. I love the combination of fabrics. I can imagine how difficult those buttons were to sew on. And that hat is amazing! Well done on sticking with it.

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    1. Thanks Karen! Once I finally came back to it I got my sewing mojo back :)

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  2. What a perfect (belated)birthday dress! I love the color & fabric combination (silk dupioni & wool? YUM!) and the shape is so lovely on you. I didn't like the way the dress looked on the envelope artwork but the finished piece really is amazing!

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    1. Yeah..I was slightly put off by the dress on the envelope as well (especially the sleeves which I wasn't sure about) but I just love it all made up!

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  3. Wow. What a great job. The fit on this is perfect. I agree, the pattern really lends itself well to colour mixing. Congrats on a very flattering dress.

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  4. So lovely! The fit and color are perfect, and the button placket looks so beautiful!

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  5. Debi I can't say how much I adore this outfit on you it's just perfect in every way. You cannot go wrong for the glow that Dupioni silk puts out like no other fabric and this orange shade is stunning on you with the perfect match of those buttons and brown. Wow another big make me jealous winner for you!!

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  6. Now, that is one awesome birthday present! Happy birthday to you :)

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  7. Wow! It looks fantastic! I just love the fabric/color combination you chose. That hat is great too.

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  8. I've been following your blog for a while now and I have to say I think this is your best yet. I love it. Everything from the colors to the fit is so right on.

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    1. What a lovely comment! Thank you so much!!

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  9. I think this is my favorite dress of yours yet! Gorgeous!

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  10. Wow Debi, this is breathtaking!

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  11. Just as everyone else says! Gorgeous colour and great shape. I'm just starting out in my sewing experiences and so wish I knew someone like you close by you could teach me so much! and not only that I'm also jealous that you live in Edinburgh such a wonderful city.

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  12. Debi, that first photo is amazing. It looks like it came straight out of a magazine from the 1930's. This is a really great outfit.

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  13. Oh, it's just gorgeous, Debi!!! I love those rich shades on you and am practically salivating over the pumpkin silk! Lovely! Well done!!

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  14. WOW! Your suit is absolutely beautiful, nice work!

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  15. Beautiful! I never would have picked that it was a dress instead of a blouse and skirt if you hadn't pointed it out. And I've never seen anything like that button placket, how it's just held on with the buttons rather than being stitched down - is it unusual, or just not something that I've seen?

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    1. I've never seen anything like it either--but I haven't really sewn a lot of patterns from this particular year....

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  16. Love it! And those last two photos are amazing!

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  17. This is really stunning - it's been great to watch it develop from start to finish. I agree with the others, the fit is just great - and both the colour and fabric combinations are striking, and really make this a stand-out piece.
    I really like the way the hat, buttons and silk all tie-in together with different textures.

    Sorry I couldn't join you for the beautiful sunset but the photos are great! As the usual photographer, I truly wish I could take credit for that first iconic image (it really is stunning) but no, not this time: It's all Debi (and our trusty photo assistant, Camè Ratripód).

    This is up there with my top favourite outfits of all time. Great job, sweetiepie!

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    1. Thanks sweetie! I just love that name: Camè Ratripód....hehehehehe

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  18. beautiful, absolutely beautiful. Your color combination is so nice and it has a very "retro" feel to it. I think this would also be very nice in a wool jersey. If you could find one that wasn't itchyi.

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  19. I'm in lust with that outfit...brown and orange are so lovely together they make me warm just looking at them. The texture of the silk looks great next to the wool, beautifully done. And the hat is great!

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  20. Its really lovely! The Orange and brown look so good together x

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  21. Fantastic! I don't know any other words to say except fantastic!

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  22. You are a living doll, your dress is just beautiful, what I call Debi style. I have always admired your ability to put colors together. You have a wonderful eye for sewing. Live long and enjoy sewing always!

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  23. You birthday dress suit is fabulous. I love the burnt orange with the brown and the buttons are perfect. Beautiful setting for a photoshoot too.

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  24. that dress + jacket is fantastically smart! Love the hat too.

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  25. Wow! I love the high waist/contrast bodice-- and those sleeves.. Fabulous design & great work :)

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    1. Totally agree with that,it's a great job, well done, it looks splendid! I only wish there was more light so I can see better the detail - the last photo is stunning - and would love to see a close up of the hat too!

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    2. I know what you mean! I barely captured the daylight for the photos!! The major downside to winter living so far north!

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  26. I love that first shot! It looks so classic! Great job!

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  27. Your dress is soooo beautiful! The fit is great, I love the fabrics and buttons you chose and the pattern really has great details! You look amazing in it :)

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  28. I love the dress and especially the sleeves! Happy belated birthday btw :)

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  29. Gorgeous gorgeous GORGEOUS! love the fabrics, the colour, the design. Well done!

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  30. Just beautiful Debi and I LOVE the combination of silk duponi and wool, so elegant. x

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  31. That's so beautiful, Debi! Love it :)

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  32. Simply gorgeous! You look divine!

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  33. The fit, the color, the photos: all perfect!

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  34. Jusy gorgeous! Well done Debi :)

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  35. my god it goes fantastically with that hat! so mach talent you have! you ahve got me thinking that i need to try some 30s fashions.

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    1. You should! Loved your post today on the 30's fashions!!

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  36. Debi this is a work of art. Beautiful !!

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  37. Another stunning outfit. Well done and well photographed. I never would have thought of doing the blouse portion in duponi...and its so pretty.

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  38. I think this is one of my favorite of yours! The fit is perfect, and the color is great for you. This shade of orange has long been a favorite, but I could never pull it off this well. Bravo, birthday girl!!!

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  39. Ohhhh this is soooooooooo beautiful. . . .I applaud your skills:)

    Jess x

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  40. I'm so original, I always say ; Gorgeous! But your projects always are!

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  41. You look fantastic in your new creation. I love the staging, I feel like Vincent Price(the actor) is going to come out from behind the rocks at any moment!!!!!!!!

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  42. another great piece, debi! it must have felt like heaven to complete it on your own time after a year of sewing weekly--but i admit, i miss your posts on TSW :-)

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    1. awwww...thank you! And yes, it felt like a luxury taking my time....though I admit to a bit more faffing off than normal without the weekly deadline :)

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  43. Oh, Debi, this is so stunning! Happy happy happy birthday, and well done, I'm in awe, I will be thinking about this stunner all day.
    strugglesewsastraightseam.wordpress.com

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  44. Everything about the dress is GORGEOUS! Wow!

    Happy Bday!

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  45. Oh perfection! Love those buttons--they were worth the trouble!

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    1. Thanks Mikhaela! The buttons were definitely worth it...but they sure were fiddly!

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  46. You have some excellent skills! The buttons are a nice touch!

    xo
    Rachael
    THE PARADERS

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  47. Its just perfect, Debi! Love the silk duponi and wool together - and those colors! My signature color has never looked so lovely :) You are just the picture of loveliness, and I adore your style 100% - well done, my fabulous friend!

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    1. I thought about you and your love of orange when I was making this! :)

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  48. What an adorable design! And as usual, wonderfully executed! The colours look awesome on you, and I love those buttons - and the idea that you don't have to keep tucking in a blouse!

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  49. Wow Debi, this is fabulous. I love the colours. It fits you so well. I'm so scared to even buy silk, let alone cut it. Now I know who to harras for tips on how to sew with silk.

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    1. Silk Dupioni wasn't bad to work with at all! This was my first time and it was very stable and easy to cut and sew--no slippiness involved!

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  50. This is gorgeous Debi! Yet another one of your stunning creations. :-) I love those colours on you, too.

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  51. What a beautiful suit! The colours and the fabrics are gorgeous. Happy birthday to you!

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  52. So gorgeous! I love the autumn-y colours. And the whole dress suit idea is just plain cool.

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  53. I love the 30's styles and you always make them in such delicious fabric/ colour combinations. As ever this one looks amazing on you, I think it's my favourite thing you've made yet!

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  54. It's just stunning! I wish I could pull off the 30s looks the way you do. Happy birthday!

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  55. Gorgeous, lady!!! :) I just love the combination of fabrics you incorporated into this. Really stunning. :) (Happy belated birthday, btw--I think I may have missed saying that to you at the appropriate time! Yikes!)

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  56. /jaw drops. I love this.

    Granted I'm a little obsessed with the color orange, but this is sooo gorgeous. You're making me want to make a new corset so I can wear those types of amazing dresses.

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  57. What a beautiful creation! you look gorgeous x

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  58. This is really gorgeous. I'm loving orange and brown at the moment. And how fun that it is a dress (that looks like two pieces).

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  59. Hi Debi,

    It's my first time here, yet I fell in love easily with your vintage inspired dresses. Keep up the good work and I hope you can share with us some tutorials soon.

    Thanks!

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  60. Happy belated birthday Debbie! The ensemble and photos are so breathtaking. That skirt must be cut on the bias because the fit is so great? The sleeves also remind me a bit of something Edwardian in feeling..wow! I remember that spot in Edinburgh. I was there many years ago. Thanks for linking up.

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  61. Debi I think you look great in all the decades - and the sewing is fab encouraging me to think of getting out some vintage patterns- 1930s no apostrophe needed when describing the decade as a whole - hope you don't mind me pointing this out - cheers Sally 

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  62. Debi_myhappysewingplaceMay 15, 2012 10:33 PM

    Good catch, Sally! Thanks so much!!!

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I read each and every comment--thank you so much!

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