A Dress A Day

A dress.
Mostly every day.

May 14, 2009

Now All I Need is A Ball To Attend


Vogue 890

Thanks to Lulu Yen, I know now of the existence of Vogue 890. Sadly, the one above on eBay isn't my size, but I'll get you, my pretty. I will.

So the plan is:

-- get pattern in my size, or a close approximation thereof
-- make pattern in fantastic fabric (maybe my brown roses fabric, which is still looking for a home?)
-- await invitation to ball, which at this point is going to be one I attend as the duenna of my granddaughter, but that's okay. (For point of reference: my son is nine.)
-- attend ball, carrying numerous useful items (sewing kit, handkerchief, cough drops, band-aids, bowling ball) in my capacious POCKETS!

I think it's a very good plan. What say you?

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posted by Erin @ 8:11 AM  

31 Comments:

  • At May 14, 2009 8:36:00 AM, Blogger Libby Fife said…

    Will it be the Ball of Super Tall Women? I am afraid you will have to grow by several feet in order to attend. Good luck.

     

  • At May 14, 2009 8:55:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    another plan is to get said pattern. Convince Vogue that the Dress a Day people will flock to get the Vintage Vogue modern copy. Let Vogue resize it for you. Put the Dress a Day logo on the front of it. Be a hero to thousands of fans.

    Then we can all gather in Chicago in our new dresses for a stimulating celebration of the dress.

     

  • At May 14, 2009 9:01:00 AM, Blogger Lydia said…

    Erin,

    Seems to me you could fudge something very similar using a basic square-neck princess seamed pattern and your method for inserting pockets into a six-gored skirt. Just make cuff the pockets!

    Why go hunting around for a pricey vintage pattern when you can cobble something quite similar with what's on hand?

     

  • At May 14, 2009 9:12:00 AM, Blogger Krista said…

    I say that you make the short version up as a fabulously swingy sundress and flaunt it now. Just saying.

    Oh, and pocketz!

     

  • At May 14, 2009 9:18:00 AM, Anonymous dulcet said…

    Of course, I had to image-google Sybil Connolly. Wow. You must take at look at this dress. Piping, lovely color, tiny pleats all the way down!
    http://www.antiquedress.com/item4352.htm
    (Wish I knew how to make that link.)

     

  • At May 14, 2009 9:54:00 AM, Blogger Trudy Callan said…

    I second Krista on making the shorter version and Lydia on making it up in your size. It would be so lovely.

    www.sewingwithtrudy.blogspot.com

     

  • At May 14, 2009 10:23:00 AM, Blogger Tart Deco said…

    Or- you can get the dress and resize it yourself- http://tartdeco.blogspot.com/search/label/resizing%20vintage%20patterns

     

  • At May 14, 2009 11:16:00 AM, Blogger Beth Dunn said…

    I love that gown. So pretty! xoxo

     

  • At May 14, 2009 11:35:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Love it as a sundress. As a formal? Meh.
    -Sandra

     

  • At May 14, 2009 11:55:00 AM, Blogger Chantelle said…

    OMG I love it! A ballgown that's gorgeous AND practical! I think I'd like to have the pockets over carrying a clutch or purse, because a purse has to be put somewhere. And I like to have everything in easy reach.

    I think the pattern could work in the shorter length as a summer party dress as well.

    I guess it would be possible, not to mention less expensive, to reconstruct the dress from another pattern in one's size (note that this process is much easier if you can see the back of the pattern so you know exactly what the pieces look like). My SO often tells me that I should just reconstruct the dresses instead of buying all of these patterns.

    But... there's something about being able to see the illustration and work with the original pattern and instructions that I like. I guess that it's part of the magic of working with vintage patterns.

    Chantelle

     

  • At May 14, 2009 12:19:00 PM, Blogger Sam said…

    What's the name of the designer on that pocket: XXXXX of Ireland ??? seems funny..

     

  • At May 14, 2009 12:44:00 PM, Blogger val said…

    If there is no occasion, the best thing to do is MAKE ONE.

    I have told friends that all attendees of movie night must be smartly attired in a dress or skirt.

     

  • At May 14, 2009 1:11:00 PM, Blogger verobirdie said…

    OK it is practical, but I cant get to the idea of a ball dress with pockets :-)

     

  • At May 14, 2009 1:16:00 PM, Blogger Krista said…

    Oh, you must check out Dulcet's link. I clicked on it and was all SQUEEE infinity! What a masterpiece and an incredibly artful zipper installation!

     

  • At May 14, 2009 1:29:00 PM, Blogger Miss Rayne said…

    Lots of dresses from this period had HUGE pockets, no need for an actual reason for them, just the fashion.
    Personally I find it hard to be without pockets.

     

  • At May 14, 2009 2:44:00 PM, Anonymous --ginger. said…

    I think it's a totally excellent plan. Especially the part about the bowling ball.

     

  • At May 14, 2009 3:46:00 PM, Blogger smalltownmom said…

    I love the POCKETS!

     

  • At May 14, 2009 4:04:00 PM, Blogger Miss Amelina said…

    FYI...I just passed along a sisterhood blogging award...You are a busy bean, so no need to respond. I just wanted you to know that your words have been a delightful source of inspiration over the last couple years. And I know that I am not alone in wanting to thank you for your sense of humor, honesty and talent! Sew on!!
    I hope you find your ball!!

     

  • At May 14, 2009 5:03:00 PM, Blogger Marjie said…

    It would also be an awesome mother of the groom dress. Of course, you have to wait a while for that, too.

     

  • At May 14, 2009 7:14:00 PM, Blogger Maggie said…

    Erin, I never cease to be amazed at the pockets you (with help from your friends) find all over the place. How cool on a ball gown/dress. You have identified yourself so much with pockets that I never see a pocket embelishing something without thinking of you. You sprung to mind just yesterday while I was perusing a book with great shots of Jackie Kennedy's coat for the inauguration. Gorgeous pockets designed by Oleg Cassini.
    Marguerite

     

  • At May 14, 2009 7:43:00 PM, Blogger Cookie said…

    If you wear this to a ball once your 9-year-old is grown, the pockets might be put to good use if filled with spare change/gold dubloons. I am watching The Tudors right now, and the queens are always handing out coins to the poor when they're in public. If our economy crashes further and further, there could well be swarms of hungry savages surrounding that ballroom in 15 years, BUT if you carry enough coins with you in those pockets and distribute them as you go, you JUST might make it safely inside! GOOD LUCK!

     

  • At May 14, 2009 8:57:00 PM, Blogger *Sandra* said…

    Cookie, the Queen still doles out Maundy money, but these days it's to worthy souls rather than to poor souls.

     

  • At May 14, 2009 9:15:00 PM, Blogger Heidi said…

    If you wore that to a ball, I can guarantee you'd be incredibly popular: "Oh dear, I've pricked myself with a rose!" "Not to worry! I have a Band-Aid in my pocket!"

     

  • At May 14, 2009 10:21:00 PM, Blogger Alaina said…

    Oh my goodness, I just made a dress out of that brown roses fabric! Not for myself, unfortunately. And not a ballgown. But you're right, it's amazing.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/8383227@N07/3532827342/

     

  • At May 15, 2009 2:28:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Or you could make the cocktail dress and hold the entire cocktail cabinet in your pockets. Or keep one for an ice bucket.

     

  • At May 15, 2009 7:08:00 AM, Blogger Little Hunting Creek said…

    A ballgown with POCKETS! Genius!More proof, as if we needed it, that vintage patterns and designers are WONDERFUL.

     

  • At May 15, 2009 9:06:00 AM, Blogger Pinup Dresses said…

    My pretty is right! In either form, a shorter more casual or a ballgown :) Sometimes a gal has to overdress.

     

  • At May 15, 2009 9:36:00 AM, OpenID brocadegoddess said…

    Oh, but this would be so so easy to grade! Go ahead and get it, I also noticed that it's so far pretty cheap. I'd be going for it myself if the seller shipped to Canada, but they apparently don't, Boo-urns!

     

  • At May 15, 2009 11:53:00 AM, Blogger Cookie said…

    << Cookie, the Queen still doles out Maundy money, but these days it's to worthy souls rather than to poor souls. >>

    Great...so now you have to prove your WORTHY of some beggarly coins, with which to buy food? Rickets isn't enough anymore?

     

  • At May 15, 2009 2:04:00 PM, Anonymous La BellaDonna said…

    If I'm not mistaken, Vogue has recently re-run an amazingly similar Vintage Design, V2267 - it's the short version, and it has a little short-sleeved cropped jacket. It's in the "Out of Print" section, but still available there. I actually picked up my copy from Lanetz Living, I believe. It doesn't have the long version, or the pockets, but surely you might be able to cobble it up? Or to combine it WITH the original pattern here? If not, Vogue 8577 (current) might be usable - it certainly has its own very large pockets!

    I had forgotten how utterly beautiful that brown roses fabric is. You MUST make it up and wear it! Please?

     

  • At Jun 1, 2009 12:58:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Erin, you are definetly "Ms. Pockets". Just like Susan Graver on QVC, you both love pockets. This is a nice dress.

     

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