I don't often dress like a girl. I'm not talking pink and that. I'm talking dresses and sparkly things and high heels and lipstick. I think I've forgotten how to do it, what with lack of opportunity to Dress Up. But it is the most dear of my Dearest Friend's weddings at the end of December and I will be making a speech. And I must Look Nice. (She would be Impossible to Upstage, even if I were wearing a Honeymonster outfit, leading a pig on a string and smoking a pipe. So it is permissible to go Overboard, I think.) But what to do? I only like olden days things when it comes to frocks. But ladies in the olden days were Smaller, and I am not Small! I am tall, and Not Thin! I cannot purchase a Vintage Frock, as it will not fit. But I have a shape, and a Dear Friend who is a talented dressmaker. A plan hatches. "Got any pictures? Yes? Can you draw what you want? OK, go and find some fabric samples. Yeah, I can make it by the end of December. Did I tell you I'm pregnant again?" (THAT good.)
I wander lonely as a monkey into John Lewis and stare uncomprehendingly at the rolls of material. Suiting, silk dupion, shot taffeta (last worn in 1983), velvet (would be worn all the time if I could, but Awfully Hot). Get a Rash from nylon; too cold for linen and cotton; that wool thing is too hot. But there is a Lady with a John Lewis badge on! She is doing something with a Multicoloured Swap Shop of polyester lining material.
"Hello. Sorry to interrupt." (I am holding three bolts of material, and am Confused.)
"Can I help?"
"My friend is making a dress for me. Sort of 50s. I need something blue, preferably that sort of grey-blue, you know. RAF blue. But I am worried about looking like a Christmas Tree. What do you think?"
She looks at me and at the material. She tells me to put the material down, and looks me up and down.
"My daughter is bigger than you, and your height. I made a dress for her from a pattern and she won a prize."
I dare not ask what the prize was for, but am greatly encouraged.
She tells me to hang on, and appears three minutes later with the pattern you see above. It is perfect. Not the green one at the front; the black one at the back, but with the low neck of the green one, and in an Astonishing Blue. Fewer panels in the skirt, probably, and a bit longer.
She is called Hyacinth! This is astonishingly pleasing. She has gone from frosty to laughing. She is poking my waist, and telling me that this dress is good for my shape, and will not make me look like a Christmas Tree. I proclaim that I am fat; she sucks her teeth, shakes her head and tells me not to be ridiculous. She disappears again and reappears with a shot taffeta of such a beautiful blue I am Confused. She holds it up to my face and tells me it Brings Out My Eyes. This is terrible. I can't wear a taffeta dress! I'm 37! This is a wedding, not a ball!
This winter, I will mostly be wearing blue taffeta. Seven metres of it. In a dress. Unless someone has a Very Good Argument for me not wearing blue taffeta made up into a 1957 original Vogue pattern.
It'll be high heels and lipstick next. Holy shit.
30 comments:
I love vintage. I wear it to holiday functions and my silly society luncheons that I despise. I support blue taffeta. I do not support pink or lavendar taffeta.
Did anybody see the football last night?
It looks brilliant - go for it.
Mist, Pants - thank you for your support.
Jonny - have you ever worn a dress? I think you'd look nice.
Oh my God! Sewing! Of COURSE!
The pattern is utterly and completely beautiful. The blue taffeta sounds like the dream of my eight-year-old self, in a good way. Your friend sounds like a perfect person (not unlike that wonderful saleslady!)
Oooh, I'm already having fun thinking about lipstick and nail poish colours. Yes, the shoes...
:lapsing into reverie:
Oooh it will be gorgeous! My mother had a beautiful dress in same style, blue taffetaish pattern in the 1960s. She looked exquisite in it. I love the fact that Mrs. Bucket helped you :-)
oh and the answers are pearls-18 in. strand/graduated and complementary color heels.
Of course, we will have to see pictures....
Pearls are, indeed, essential
Are you sure you don't want tangerine satin?
excuse me - yvsafuq? is an exclamation mark allowed here?!
Sometimes, I love shop assistants. They are so helpful, knowledgeable and encouraging. Particularly in Local Shops and John Lewis, but you can strike gold anywhere.
You will look wonderful and feel absolutely confident.
I'm not much of a one for frocks myself, but of late have had a hankering to wear more Lady Clothes - a dress like that would be something to behold for sure!
I love frocks. And I love that pattern. And the blue sounds divine. I would dearly love to wear such a thing. But sadly I have no waist. Or... hehem... chest... And look like a boy. Therefore I cannot completely do the frock.
You will look fantastic. And we NEEEEED a picture!
x
While you're at John Lewis can you get me 2 metresworth length of turqoise zip please? We don't have that kind of wondrous thing in sunny Brighton, which to me is upsetting and stops Mrs Timbo's coat from being fixed.
HELP
That dress is stunning, and you shall be stunning in it, and don't be silly about being 37 or I shall be cross with you, for I am almost 39.
The dress will be divine. And if you don't have pearls, diamonds will do nicely.
Anyone got a handbook for a 1961 Morris Minor Traveller (you know the one with the wooden bits at the back)? The thought of dresses such as this, even my own daughter's, makes me want to get on down and oily (...steady.....!)
Pappa! It is early to be at the drinking!
Ahhhhh, John Lewis
My nearest is 50 miles away :(
The dress looks great - but will we see a glimpse of the finished product?
Gorgeous dress!! Clever you to find such a pattern and fabric.
We definately need photos of the finished product please!
PS Almost thought I had been sleep-commenting when i saw another "m" but it wasn't me, well, unless I started spelling "colour" as "color"....
xxx
oh good lord, I have a photograph to send you....
Even when you thought you were fat, which you weren't, you had a waist, so you will look wonderful in that dress, and especially in that colour. Will be proud monkeymummy. If your monkeyfriends insist on pearls, you may borrow monkeygranny's.
Of course a diamond necklace would be lovely but you don't want to call attention away from the bride. The dress sounds like a stunner. Yes, photos please! Will you be wearing your fez?
It sure looks like a pretty dress, but do be careful that it doesn't cause your neck to lengthen to giraffe-size, as it did to that poor woman in the picture.
Goodness. A speech at a wedding. Excuse me whilst I have a nightmarish flashback.
My Word, that is a lovely dress! Wear it with pride. And post pictures. I remember thinking 37 was old when I first heard The Ballad of Lucy Jordan (yet another Lucy) back in *googles* 1975. Now I know that 37 is Very Young. You go, girl!
Trinny and Susannah would be proud of you.
Er, is one allowed to say that?
With that neckline, you may need a strapless soutien gorge, a corset or a way of keeping the straps of your strappy s.g. out of site - poppers and a little ribbon inside each shoulder hem to work on the same principle as a curtain tie-back.
shoulder hem should read shoulder seam.
that will look proper lush. perhaps your friend will make up a blue taffeta loin cloth for the classical statue with the off cuts?
Bonjour tout le monde! Merci MM for your kind Words of Support and offer of Pearls. I think they will be perfect; are Gina's too small do you think?
Tomorrow to see the Magical Maker of Dresses! Am unspeakably excited but shall NOT be posting pictures of self in dress. May post picture of dress, mind you, on the cat. That would be good.
Indigo - top tip re. s-g but rather think we may be looking at Bones Set In To Dress, which will create the most sensational embonpoint. (As they say in France: "Il y a du monde au balcon!")
I really cannot over state how very encouraging these words are! me! In a Dress! At a party! Something not seen since 1987.
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