Never, ever, for the love of all that's holy, really, THIS MEANS YOU, say "oh, I'll just browse on eBay for a few minutes while I wait for those files to copy over." Seriously. That's how you get into this kind of trouble:
and this kind:
At least they were both from the same seller, Vintage Peacock, so I saved a whopping $2.00 on shipping.
I swear, I can trawl eBay for hours looking for something specific, and turn up bupkis, but let me idly wander over for ten minutes while I should be doing something else, and things like this fall in my lap. The universe is nothing if not perverse.
So: let me be a warning to you all. A grim, terrible, foreboding warning. Or, you know, an inspiration. You choose. :-)
and this kind:
At least they were both from the same seller, Vintage Peacock, so I saved a whopping $2.00 on shipping.
I swear, I can trawl eBay for hours looking for something specific, and turn up bupkis, but let me idly wander over for ten minutes while I should be doing something else, and things like this fall in my lap. The universe is nothing if not perverse.
So: let me be a warning to you all. A grim, terrible, foreboding warning. Or, you know, an inspiration. You choose. :-)
That is EXACTLY the reason that I have stopped looking on ebay adn other such lists unless I have money in the bank to spend....I have no self control, and tend to find LOTS of things that I NEED when I am browsing and don't have any budget left!
Posted by: Kathy | 09/10/2007 at 08:56 AM
Dress No. 1 on 1990 is really great..especially for those of us with small waists, large hips. That said, the bodice looks so fitted I'd be afraid to even to eat a Golden Delicious apple wearing it. I might bust a side zipper or a seam. Then I'd have to pretend I was a haughty Model all evening long with my hand fixed to the offending spot until I got home.
Posted by: Anonymous | 09/10/2007 at 08:57 AM
I saw a Doris Day movie where she went swanning off to a cocktail party in a coat whose lining matched her dress. The vision has been with me, off and on, ever since. Last night I was trolling the vintage patttern sites and kept seeing D. Dayesque ensembles. And now this. I believe The Universe is telling me something.
Posted by: Rebecca | 09/10/2007 at 09:20 AM
Oops. I meant trawling. I try valiantly to keep the trolls away from my wardrobe.
Posted by: Rebecca | 09/10/2007 at 09:24 AM
Ooooooh. #2 of the second pattern would look swell with a multi-colored polka dotty fabric, something in browns, greens, oranges and other Neopolitan-y colors. A chocolate brown bodice? What a fun pattern.
Posted by: The Momma Chronicles | 09/10/2007 at 09:33 AM
My comment isn't specifically related to this particular post, but I have two things to say:1. Your TED talk was absolutely darling and inspiring and funny. You're a great public speaker. 2. Now that a cold snap has *finally* reached the Midwest, I am anxious to see an exploration of long-sleeved dress options. Or a discussion of some sort about long sleeves. All summer I have been pretending it would never again grow cold (or that I might magically move to another climate), and I have been sewing short-sleeved and sleeveless dresses like mad. I know, however, that reality will soon set in, and, alas, cold weather will arrive in about a month. And I'm not prepared! I have piles of wintry fabrics and am drawing a complete blank as to what to make with them. As yours is a rather respectable opinion on these types of subjects, I would be ever so happy if you would make a post one day soon about long sleeves. I have yet to see a long-sleeved pattern I adore, and I'm hoping you'll have som recommendations. I'm also wondering if I should just give up and settle for my predictable solution of throwing a cardigan over everything.
Posted by: tea | 09/10/2007 at 10:23 AM
What saves me from spending all my money on Vintage patterns is my size. I would need a 20 / 22 and those are far and few. :)
Posted by: busy91 | 09/10/2007 at 02:13 PM
aaaaahhhhhh. I just tried it and came up with:http://cgi.ebay.com/vintage-50s-ADVANCE-DRESS-PATTERNS-SZ-16-17_W0QQitemZ250161460911QQihZ015QQcategoryZ4161QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItemandhttp://cgi.ebay.com/2-vintage-40s-ADVANCE-PATTERNS-DRESS-SZ-18_W0QQitemZ250161460618QQihZ015QQcategoryZ4161QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItemandhttp://cgi.ebay.com/Lot-of-6-Vtg-Patterns-40s-Dress-Slip-Suit-Coat-16-18_W0QQitemZ160155101389QQihZ006QQcategoryZ4161QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItemluckily (or unlukily) none of them are my size, so they're all yours!
Posted by: Anonymous | 09/10/2007 at 02:31 PM
I love the first pattern; the second looks to me like a Haloween costume. I love coats with matching linings - pretty should always be our goal! NOT slutty! Men sleep with slutty; they marry pretty. Or, at least good cooks...
Posted by: Adrienne | 09/10/2007 at 05:11 PM
I find the pattern illustrations on these two patterns hilarious... what bad posture!!
Posted by: Allison | 09/10/2007 at 06:01 PM
Erin, do you wear dresses exclusively?
Posted by: Anonymous | 09/10/2007 at 06:15 PM
Love the second one! Especially with the little jacket. How stylish! I like the collar on the first one, but otherwise it doesn't excite me much.And I've been all over eBay this week, as I decided to sell about sixty wedding magazines I had bought while planning my wedding. And, um, while planning to get engaged, etc. Wow, people will pay a lot of money for those old Martha Stewarts! Got about an hour left...
Posted by: Pencils | 09/10/2007 at 06:31 PM
Totally inspired - darn you!
Posted by: TransplantedOkie | 09/10/2007 at 07:23 PM
Inspiration, definitely...compared to some of the cheesy fabric and yarn I've bought while idly browsing, you did great!
Posted by: Chicago Sarah | 09/10/2007 at 08:26 PM
Thank you for using the term "bupkes" in this post. I have been trying to convince my husband that it is legitimate... now a dictionary editor uses it. Perfect.
Posted by: Anonymous | 09/10/2007 at 08:39 PM
UGH! trying to search for a pattern with a YEAR # is torture. that said, I do love the Simplicity 1990. sucha good pattern for the little bit of patterned fabric example you posted a few weeks ago.
Posted by: msbelle | 09/10/2007 at 09:24 PM
UGH! trying to search for a pattern with a YEAR # is torture. that said, I do love the Simplicity 1990. sucha good pattern for the little bit of patterned fabric example you posted a few weeks ago.
Posted by: msbelle | 09/10/2007 at 09:24 PM
I have this same problem with Etsy.
Posted by: Carolyn J. | 09/10/2007 at 09:58 PM
The gals on pattern envelope #2 remind of the semi-scary women in Edvard Munch's paintings: "Come hither--and I'll eat you alive!"
Posted by: kim p. | 09/11/2007 at 04:07 AM
the woman in blue on patt 1523 reminds me of Nancy Lancaster
Posted by: john | 09/11/2007 at 12:58 PM
How luxurious to have a matching coat and dress. I definitely agree that it is a Doris Dayesque outfit. What fun to walk around feeling like Doris Day!
Posted by: Tamara | 09/11/2007 at 02:26 PM
Doesn't that pattern (1990) just make you eant to BE Maureen O'Hara in the original The Parent Trap?
Posted by: elizabeththewellread | 09/11/2007 at 03:07 PM
How embarrassing for me, an English teasher, to make a typo when commenting at a dictionary editor's website. Excuse me.
Posted by: elizabeththewellread | 09/11/2007 at 03:09 PM
I give up.
Posted by: elizabeththewellread | 09/11/2007 at 03:09 PM
elizabeththewellreadYou made me snort out loud. I'm so glad to see I'm not the only person to do that. I like the way you dealt with it in your last post; I'll have to remember that.
Posted by: Carol | 09/11/2007 at 04:40 PM