Vintage Rose Floral Dress for Gene

Another vintage replica using a very vintage-y looking cotton lawn.  (Inspiration pic at end.)  To me, this fabric, with the roses, captured the feel of the original if not the exact color.  The bodice is shirred on one side with a bit of piping detail and three tiny bows.  The full skirt is about one yard around the bottom and has a built in tulle petticoat to keep it poofy.  This one closes with snaps in the back.  Available for $130 plus $6 boxed shipping in the US.  Email me at nwickman@chartermi.net if interested.  

 

Black Lace Vintage Repro for Gene

 

Recently someone in a Gene Facebook group I belong to posted an inspiration pic of a 1953 Sophie of Saks Fifth Ave. dress (see below) stating I need this for Gene!  I was really intrigued by the design.  I just happened to have this piece of black lace from Frenchfashions.net and some cream silk tissue taffeta so spent some time making the pattern.  The original was described as having a skirt studded with bands of sequins and rhinestones. That might have been a little over the top in miniature but I did spend several hours studding the skirt with tiny black sequins and size 15 seed beads before lining it. I do have some little sew-on rhinestones but they stick out from the fabric quite a bit so I only use them in moderation. The skirt has center and side panels as the original did. The belt is a separate piece and the bow ends are incorporated into the belt. I thought that would be the best way to reduce bulk and it worked well. The dress closes in back with snaps and the belt closes with one snap. This will be a OOAK as she no longer has this lace available. Dress is available for $180 plus $6 boxed shipping in the US. Email me at nwickman@chartermi.net if interested.

Recycled Silk for Gene

 This started out as an old silk camisole from my closet and ended up as a darling dress for Gene.  So this is truly OOAK.  It took quite some to take apart the cami.  There was a pintuck section on the top that I wanted to use but had to spend a lot of time removing the lace that was appliqued onto it.  I had to very carefully plan the placement and cut each piece out individually while matching the pattern of the fabric.  In spite of this, I still had to piece one skirt back, but you'll never find it.  I used the pintuck section for the bodice and insets in the skirt.  The original plan was to use the the lace from the bottom of the cami to edge the petticoat but, sadly, it wasn't long enough.  The tie belt is from the cami underbust drawstring.  The hat began as a buckram form that I created on a styrofoam ball and cut to shape.  After I stitched wire to the edge, it was covered with fabric and I bound the edge with a bias binding of the same fabric.  The trim is the insertion lace that held the drawstring.  The dress is fully lined in silk/cotton voile and closes with snaps in the back.  Dress and hat are available for $140 plus $6 boxed shipping in the US.  Email me at nwickman@chartermi.net if interested.  

Vintage Repro Coat and Dress for Gene

 

SOLD  So I have about eleventy billion inspiration photos of vintage fashion saved on my computer.  When I ran across this fabric while perusing Spoonflower one day, I remembered one that had this stripy floral design.  The original was in silk but all I could get from Spoonflower was cotton lawn.  The blue lining and sash are silk habotai however.  The inspiration pic doesn't show much of the detail of the coat so I guessed at it.  I made the coat slightly flared, with three-quarter sleeves and a stand up collar.  I left it open in the front to show the dress.  The dress has tiny tucks at the shoulder and is gathered under the bust into a midriff.  The coat and dress are available for $150 plus $6 boxed shipping in the US.  Email me at nwickman@chartermi.net if interested.  

Blue Wool Vintage Suit for Gene or Retro Glam

SOLD This beautiful blue is a tropical weight wool that I found at Farmhouse Fabrics.  The inspiration for this suit is from a vintage photo.  The suit is fully lined in matching blue silk/cotton batiste and closes with snaps.  The matching pillbox hat is included.  The model here is Liz from the Jamieshow Retro Glam line but the suit fits any Gene body.  The suit and hat are available for $150 plus $6 boxed shipping in the US.  Email me at nwickman@chartermi.net if interested.  

 

New Pattern Prototype in Cotton Sateen

 

SOLD  Thanks!  So I made a new pattern that is inspired by a vintage design and I wanted to try it out in a fabric that I have a lot of before I cut it out of silk as I originally intended.  The reason I have a lot of this fabric, which is a cotton sateen, is because it's a designer deadstock roll end so I had to buy the whole 2 1/3 yard piece to get it.  But the fabric worked so beautifully for this dress, I'm glad I had it.  The bodice is fully lined but I left the skirt unlined.  All the seam edges are finished with a serger and I did take the time to hand hem it.  For the silk version, I will make the skirt fuller and add to the length so I can put a petticoat under it.  The formal version doesn't have the bow and has a short jacket that goes over it.  But I love this version of it as a summer dress.  This one is available for $100 plus 6$ shipping in the US.  email me at nwickman@chartermi.net if interested.  

Lavender Silk Vintage Reproduction for Gene or Retro Glam

 

Not great pictures today.  It's gray and rainy in Michigan but I wanted to get this posted.  How often do you find three different silks in your stash that match?  This is a gown inspired by a vintage design.  The dress is lavender silk taffeta, the overskirt is silk organza and the belt is silk charmeuse.  I wanted to use a zipper in this dress so I incorporated the overskirt into the belt.  I used a bound continuous lap in the back of the overskirt so it's easy to put on over the doll's head and the opening is virtually invisible.  The belt does close with two snaps in the back.  The icing on the cake is the tiny sequins and size 15 beads that I stitched around the edge of the bodice.  Just the right amount of bling, I think, but she could still wear some sparkly jewelry with this outfit.  The gown and overskirt are available for $150 plus $6 shipping in the US.  Email me at nwickman@chartermi.net in interested.