A Dress A Day

A dress.
Mostly every day.

September 25, 2009

See What I Mean?


Ceil Chapman

Why isn't anyone wearing THIS on the red carpet? This would be what I'd make if I had to do a red-carpet ANYTHING. This would be stunning in old-gold satin, with maybe tulle for that bit sticking out at the side between the scallops. Or a deep, deep fuchsia pink for a blonde. That petal bodice is to die for, and would show off a necklace (and other things) beautifully.

Who would you put in this dress? What shoes? I think NOT strappy sandals, but an open-toed d'orsay satin pump, with a diamante buckle.

[This pattern's from Lisa's Vintage Fashion Library and it's a repro, which means it's available in a range of sizes (bust 32-48) ... for only $19.50! And she's running a sale through the 27th, in honor of her last teenager turning twenty! Use the code THOMAS for 20% off.]

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posted by Erin @ 7:24 AM  

35 Comments:

  • At Sep 25, 2009 10:16:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    NOW you're talking! That last gown was a bit matronly. This is to die for.
    -Sandra

     

  • At Sep 25, 2009 10:20:00 AM, Anonymous Lisa Simeone said…

    Wow! Even before I scrolled down, I said immediately, "Ceil Chapman." Her designs are instantly recognizable. I'm still holding out for just one Ceil Chapman, but all the surviving ones on eBay are either too small, or if they're average size, they go for hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of dollars.

    You're right -- nothing could be more glamorous.

     

  • At Sep 25, 2009 10:26:00 AM, OpenID diopsideanddiamonds said…

    Ohh, that's nice!

    Were I a sewer, I think I'd be tempted to see make that underskirting in something contrasty - maybe the gold fabric for the scalloped outer, and fuchsia or deep purple for the under. Or a silver fabric outer with an awesome-shade-of-blue under.

    I'd probably put it on Liv Tyler. She's always struck me as the old-fashioned looking sort.

     

  • At Sep 25, 2009 10:40:00 AM, Blogger Liz said…

    Amy Adams in sea green.

     

  • At Sep 25, 2009 10:40:00 AM, Blogger Kristen said…

    winona ryder always seems to pull off vintage nicely. ever since she wore fingerwaves to the oscars....

    that pattern is perfection.

     

  • At Sep 25, 2009 10:53:00 AM, Blogger Paige said…

    Gorgeous. I wish I got to do a red carpet something-or-other to wear such a dress (and had the body for it).

    I think I'd have Kate Winslet wear it, in deep scarlet, with maybe an antique beige lace fabric on the scallop. I agree about the shoes--those were perfect.

     

  • At Sep 25, 2009 12:03:00 PM, Anonymous evalyn said…

    Gorgeous dress. Dyed to match satin pumps to be truely vintage. (These days, a neutral like black, gold or silver.) Black satin or taffeta w/ white tulle with tiny black dots (dotted swiss - is that black or white?)for the underskirt so it froths up like sea foam, and lots of diamond jewelry.

    I feel a foxtrot coming on...

     

  • At Sep 25, 2009 12:14:00 PM, Anonymous Theresa said…

    Scarlett Johansen in any color! The girl is gorgeous and even more so in vintage.

     

  • At Sep 25, 2009 12:40:00 PM, Blogger the guilty party said…

    Peep toes, dude. And an amazing Prussian blue (hell, why can't ALL my wardrobe be in Prussian blue?).

     

  • At Sep 25, 2009 12:56:00 PM, Blogger emilyjayne said…

    Wow!

    I'd love that in either a midnight blue or apple green with lots and lots of underskirts and a peep-toe platform pump/court dyed to match with some sort of sparkly adornment on the toe. Only a tiny pretty gold box-clutch would do to go with this, I;d keep the neckline open so just some earrings, no necklace.

    Why is this not in my wardrobe?

     

  • At Sep 25, 2009 12:59:00 PM, Blogger Melissa said…

    Salma Hayek, in chocolate brown.

     

  • At Sep 25, 2009 1:11:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    What a find, this is beautiful!! In any color, on any grown up woman, and those are great shoes. If only my life went with it!
    Dawn

     

  • At Sep 25, 2009 1:21:00 PM, Blogger Joni said…

    Actually, it would be very, very modern in black taffeta with hot pink for the underskirt. Although personally, I'm seeing it in emerald green.

     

  • At Sep 25, 2009 1:23:00 PM, Blogger Cookie said…

    Oh MY! The neckline reminds me of what Judy Garland wore when she sand [i]Melancholy Baby[/i] in [i]A Star is Born[/i]. That version was deep lavender moiré, I think.

    I'd like to see this in a dull silver, though white, claret and aqua are usually my favorite "dressy" colors.

    This dress is hyper feminine. And it's important that your head and shoulders have a striking frame when you're interviewed on that carpet! (PS: I am also of the "no necklace with cleavage and heavy earrings" school. There's something subliminally smooth and naked about not breaking up that creamy expanse of skin.)

     

  • At Sep 25, 2009 1:24:00 PM, Blogger Cookie said…

    OH POOP. My fancy attempt at italicizing just died a quick, pathetic death :(

     

  • At Sep 25, 2009 2:04:00 PM, Anonymous Hana said…

    I can't help thinking yellow... not that I'd wear it in yellow, but I don't have an occasion to wear a dress like that anyway. I wish I could see more details of it! I wish I could see it on a red carpet photo! Because yes, that's where it belongs.

     

  • At Sep 25, 2009 2:09:00 PM, Blogger Cookie said…

    Judy Garland variation:

    http://www.whitleyheights.com/pics/garlandstarborn1.jpg

    And I'm sorry, she "sang" Melancholy Baby in that movie, she didn't "sand" it. Her voice never became that raspy.

     

  • At Sep 25, 2009 2:19:00 PM, Blogger LadyLaurelin said…

    Liv Tyler... I can't see a color, but I do see red lips and nice earrings, but no necklace to mess up that fabulous neckline.

     

  • At Sep 25, 2009 3:01:00 PM, Blogger Sara said…

    YES! Maybe now that you are in CA, you could get a job as a red carpet stylist??!

     

  • At Sep 25, 2009 3:20:00 PM, Anonymous Lindsey in AL said…

    I think Jenna Fischer would be lovely in this! She has the sort of sweet, old-fashioned charm that would be just right. She's petite as well and I think is more of a dress for a shorter woman, rather than a tall, willowy goddess-type. I still can't decide on a color but those shoes are GORGEOUS!

    I also agree with whoever said Amy Adams in green because, YES! She is lovely as well and this would be perfect on her.

    I watched the awards the other night for about half an hour. I saw nothing even remotely original or very attractive. There's little that I even remember except that Tina Fey's shoulder seams looked really lopsided and some other young person in red looked like she had hers on backward :| It was all pretty underwhelming, as they say.

     

  • At Sep 25, 2009 4:15:00 PM, Blogger Marjie said…

    Scarlett Johansen in Red.

     

  • At Sep 25, 2009 5:08:00 PM, Blogger Jen said…

    Susan Sarandon: deep eggplant silk taffeta

     

  • At Sep 25, 2009 5:34:00 PM, Blogger Chantelle said…

    I love love love this dress... as well as the other fancy Ceil Chapman dresses. I'd love to see any of them up on the red carpet. They're elegant, timeless dresses.

    I can't think of who I'd like to see in this style or what colour because I can see it in almost any colourway.

     

  • At Sep 25, 2009 5:51:00 PM, Blogger Trude said…

    This would be gorg in ANY color!! Thanks for sharing!

     

  • At Sep 25, 2009 7:30:00 PM, Blogger Cel Petro said…

    Why indeed? More Ceil Chapman!!

     

  • At Sep 25, 2009 10:10:00 PM, Blogger Mea said…

    Sophia Loren in Red, with the Manolos custom-dyed to match.
    I want to be like her now, never mind when I'm in my 70s!

     

  • At Sep 26, 2009 12:37:00 PM, Anonymous Emily said…

    Rachel McAdams in ... Red. Or silver or gold. And I love Amy Adams in green!

     

  • At Sep 27, 2009 1:55:00 AM, Blogger Bobbi said…

    Love old patterns!

     

  • At Sep 27, 2009 3:30:00 AM, Blogger barbie2be said…

    love. Love. LOVE! i ordered the pattern. now i just need to figure out how to get it made before my cruise!

     

  • At Sep 27, 2009 3:39:00 AM, Blogger barbie2be said…

    wait... did you say you are here? in california? in the bay area? me too! i must meet you so that i may worship at your feet!

     

  • At Sep 27, 2009 3:50:00 PM, Blogger Jamie said…

    I think Natalie Portman or Keira Knightley would both look wonderful in this dress in a deep purple with lavender lace contrast. (And is anyone else besides me kind of unnerved by how alike those two look?) I also agree with Scarlett Johansen- she is so pretty and vintage-looking herself (in a good way!) that she could totally pull this off, of course in bright lipstick red.

     

  • At Sep 27, 2009 8:17:00 PM, Blogger Theresa said…

    Yes Natalie and Keira look very much alike...probably why the played Padme/Padme's maid pretending to be Padme in Star Wars. I always get them confused.

     

  • At Sep 28, 2009 5:42:00 AM, Blogger Rachel said…

    I'd go with Catherine Zeta Jones in a deep emerald or saphire

     

  • At Sep 28, 2009 8:24:00 AM, Blogger Latter-Day Flapper said…

    I'd do it in kingfisher blue and wear silver shoes, which probably means I'm tacky, but I don't care.

     

  • At Sep 28, 2009 6:14:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Christina Hendricks in emerald green taffeta, matching satin pumps. Grown up elegance. That's why I like her character on Mad Men. She wears grown up clothes that women over 30 will look good in.

     

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