Rise up this mornin'

I was going to show you the dress I made that I posted a peek of in my last post but then I got a cold and the weather got cold. I'm currently in my pajamas dosed up on codral so I don't much feel like putting on a dress and taking pictures. Instead this is something I wore to work last week when I was feeling fine and the weather was still sunny.  

This vintage dress isn't my usual style but there's something about it I really like. The stripes in the fabric look almost like ribbons. I got it off trademe and someone had taken the hem down leaving a raw edge. The crease line was still there so I hand stitched it back in place while I watched an episode of Justified. Easy as!  

 Dress: Trademe
Shoes: Golden Ponies

Not a knitter

So I said in my last post that I would show you what I got when I went op shopping the other week. 

I got this knitting booklet even though I can't knit (well not properly anyway) because I really like the cardigan in the bottom left. Maybe I'll have to learn to knit just so I can make a cardigan.

I bought this booklet for the pretty 1940's pictures. I love the dress on the left.

The nightie and peasant top on the back are great too. I don't really much care for the kid's clothes. The inside of the booklet just shows you how to smock so those pictures aren't that exciting.

This 1960's smock type top (which er...needs an iron) is not really in my colours but I like the style. It's homemade and has a wee metal zip at the back neck. I might take in the darts a bit because it's a little big.

This dress isn't from an op shop (I wish I could find things dresses like it in op shops). I got it from the Vintage Cupboard, a vintage store. The owner very generously gave me a discount because it had been in the shop for a while and it fitted me well.

I love the cornflower print.

Here's a sneak peek of a dress I just finished. This is the back neckline. I made my own bias binding to use around the neckline and armholes because I couldn't find a matching colour. The print looks black when you put navy blue near it but when you put black next to it, it looks navy blue. 

Red and blue

I had four days off work last week so I was actually able to fit in some op shopping. It was a pretty successful trip but I'll show you what I found another day. Instead, I'm showing you what I wore when I went op shopping.

I bought this vintage makeup bag on Trademe recently for $3.50. I know. $3.50. I was bidding on it while on my break at work (thank the flying spaghetti monster for smartphones), and I was sure that I would be outbid but she was all mine. There's a little mirror and pocket inside. 

Vintage dress: Trademe
Vintage shoes: Hunters and collectors
Vintage makeup bag: Trademe
Cardigan: Op shopped
Belt: Op shopped
Bakelite bangles: Etsy and Ebay
Tights: Probably the supermarket

Flour Power

When I went out for dinner last week the menu said cauliflour instead of cauliflower (New Zealanders tend to pronounce flower like flour anyway). This led to a discussion about the correct spelling of cauliflower and of course everyone pulled out their phones to check. I love old clothes, but new technology is pretty great too. Speaking of old clothes, this 1950's dress is new (to me, at least).  

It was hot and windy, and I was really tired so the pictures aren't that great.  

Thanks for all your comments about my new job. I bought the dress with my first paycheck. It was there when I got home from work today so I had to try it on. 

So hot I'm not even wearing tights

Dress: Trademe

Shoes: Golden Ponies 

Some things I bought

Here are some quick photos of some of the things that I bought in England. This isn't all of it. I also bought back four hats and some other stuff that I will put in another post.  

I bought this dress and the one below from the same seller at the Saltaire Vintage Fair. The Fair was in a hall, and even though they only had about half the number of stalls they were meant to because of the snow, they had lots of great stuff. Most things was reasonably priced as well.

The person who was selling these dresses had written the bust, waist and hip measurements on the price tag which was helpful because sometimes it can be hard to tell if something is worth trying on or not.

These vintage buttons, from a shop in Haworth, were the only sewing related thing that I bought the whole trip. I avoided going into fabric shops because my stash is pretty big already and I don't need to add to it. The sunglasses were from Primark for 50p. I feel guilty about getting stuff from Primark because I usually try and avoid buying new things.

I got this bag in the same charity shop in Haworth that I bought the raincoat below.  

This is a close-up of the raincoat that I was wearing in a photo in my last post. Before I left for England I actually made a raincoat from laminated cotton (I'll do a post about it eventually). I realised once I'd made it that it would be impractical to take because it's quite heavy and would get creased in my suitcase. Luckily, I found this one not long after I got to England. I've always wanted a red 60s style raincoat so it was perfect.

Spring, spring, spring

I try not to wear pale colours because, as you can see, they tend to just blend in with my skin tone, but I love this dress. It has lots of lovely details, like shirring on the shoulders, a peter pan collar and piping at the waist. I took the hem up, because, although the original floor length was lovely, it wasn't very practical.

Vintage headpiece

Vintage dress: Trademe
Vintage headpiece: Nevermore Vintage on etsy
Vintage slip (under dress): Op shopped
Dance Shoes: Trademe
Socks: Columbine

Put a Bird on it II

I have been busy with uni lately, and haven't had time to do any sewing or op shopping but I have been wearing clothes, so I thought I'd just show you what I wore today.  

Vintage dress: Two Squirrels
Cardigan: Op shopped
Shoes: Hunters and Collectors, Wellington
Belt: Op shopped
Brooch: Trademe
Bag: Trademe
Tights: Can't remember

The bag is one of my favourites. It's actually a toilet bag but it's way too awesome to use for that. It's not just me that thinks the bag is great, every time I use it someone comes up to me and says, "I love your bag".  

Lavender Menace

I had grand plans about posting more often while I was on holidays but an unexpected family thing came up, so I've been without the internet for the past week and a bit, and haven't posted in ages.

Two weeks ago I went to 'A Life in Frocks', a vintage fashion show which had clothes from the 1950s, '60s and '70s. The ticket said "dress-up optional" (as if I needed any encouragement), so I decided to make a hat to wear.

I made a pillbox base from buckram and covered it in purple cotton fabric. I pulled apart a couple of bunches of fake flowers, and glued the leaves, and then the flowers on. The bits in the middle of the flowers are purple beads. It took me ages to do all the gluing. I know that gluing is a huge millinery no-no, but I'm not a milliner so I don't care.   

The veiling (from Hat Shadows on etsy), is gathered by hand and then stitched onto the flowers at the front, back and sides. I added elastic to hold it on my head and used some bobby pins to make it extra secure when I wore it. 

To the fashion show I wore:
Dress: Dashfield Vintage
Coat: op shopped
Shoes: Golden Ponies
Tights: Columbine
Amethyst ring (which you cant really see): Evie Kemp
Hat: Self-made

The show was really good and there were some fabulous clothes that I wouldn't have minded taking home.

A Marguerite Gown

Remember when I did that post about the New Zealand labels on some of my vintage clothing? Well, this is one of the dresses that was made/sold in the city where I live.  

I've only worn this dress once before because the hem had come down, and I needed to mend it. It took me about 5 minutes to do, but I left it sitting in my mending pile for months. For some reason it's hard for me to get motivated to do mending. I would rather sew a whole new dress than mend one. It's ridiculous because once I actually make myself do it, it usually takes no time at all.

I love the pleating detail down the front. I also love that the stitching isn't straight. As someone who sews it's nice to see non-handmade vintage clothes with wonky stitching. It makes me feel a bit better about my sewing when it isn't perfect. I know how hard it is to get topstitching straight so I sympathise with whoever made this dress.

Blue lace, her gown was blue lace

A couple of weeks ago I went to the closing down sale at the Two Squirrels shop, the Nest (don't worry, they're opening an online store). I got four dresses and two purses. I had to get four dresses. They were only $10 each!


One of the dresses I got was this lace 60s one (err..I actually already have a really similar one). It had a couple of little stains on it and there was some fading on the shoulders but I was convinced I could do something about that.

I bought some Dylon dye in a colour called Ocean Blue. I've always found using dye a bit hit or miss. Sometimes it turns out great, sometimes you end up ruining whatever you were dyeing. I decided to take the chance with this dress though.

I'm really happy with the way it turned out. The stains and fading are unoticeable now and the colour is really bright. I did manage to momentarily dye my thumb blue because I didn't realise there was a hole in one of the gloves I was using. It washed off after a day or so.


I got this crochet purse from an op shop a while ago. It was in good condition apart from some dark stains around the top. After my success with the dress I decided to try dyeing it. I used black but it turned out more of a navy blue colour. The stains are gone though.

There aren't many occasions which call for the wearing of lace cocktail dresses in my life so I'll probably just wear it for everyday wear. I mean, it's always cocktail hour somewhere in the world, right?

Two Lovely Squirrels

Today, Mum and I went to Rangiora to the Two Squirrels pop-up vintage shop, the Nest. The Nest is closing in a couple of weeks and the squirrels are going to open an online shop. They have lots of amazing stuff and the squirrels, Vanessa and Warren, are two of the nicest people you'll ever meet.



I bought this lovely shirtdress. The pattern is so pretty.



I didn't notice until I got it home that it has an unusual triangle shaped armscye. You can see it in the photo above. I've never seen ones like it. One of the things I love about vintage is the cute details like that.



I also got this lovely seersucker which I plan to make into a playsuit, maybe like this gorgeous vintage one but I will probably make a two-piece. I got some buttons too but I didn't get a picture of them (oops).

Lilac Wine

I bought this early 60s dress from Dashfield Vintage a while ago to make myself feel better about all my tests and essays. I don't own anything lilac because pastel colours don't suit me but I loved the gathered neckline.

Image from Dashfield Vintage

It's a little bit big, but nothing a belt won't fix. The print is of leaves, which is a slight departure from my usual flowers.

One more exam to go and then I'm free, for a little while anyway.

I actually made something and I bought a dress

I've been wanting to make a bow belt ever since I saw the tutorial over at Casey's Elegant Musings. I loved the original patent leather belt that the design was based off. I looked for some vinyl at the fabric store but they only had thick furniture weight in matte colours. I also kept a lookout when opshopping for a leather skirt or something which I could cut up and use. I didn't have much luck until the other day when I found the skinny patent belt in the picture below. I had bought the large patent belt ages ago but I didn't wear it much because it was too bulky. The colours were a perfect match so I figured I could use the small belt as the base and cut up the big one to make the bow.




I cut a strip along one side so it had one of the rows of stitching from the original belt on it. I planned to do another row of stitching along the other side but after sewing some practice bits with a leather needle and a teflon foot I wasn't sure that my machine (an 80s Brother) would cope with it. My Elna is in getting a service at the moment otherwise I would have used that. I have read that people use Supermatics to sew leather shoes together. I am impatient and I didn't want to wait the 10 or so days it will be before I get my machine back so I just decided not to do the other row of topstitching. Once I folded it up into the bow it wasn't actually that noticeable that only the top edge was stitched.


Peg to hold it while the glue was drying


I used some random glue we had at home that said it could be used on leather. Since I didn't actually have do any sewing, it was simply a matter of gluing all the pieces together and letting them dry. I glued a button in the middle because I tried a tab but the thickness of the material made the bow look all squashed and funny.



The flash on my camera makes it look like there are marks on the bow but it's just the light.

I expressed my love of toile a couple of posts ago so when I saw this dress at Small Earth Vintage I just had to buy it. The exchange rate is actually quite good at the moment (for once) so browsing Etsy is dangerous.

I really need to stop slouching

I forgot to take a close-up of the toile fabric but you can see it and the belt slighter better in this picture.

I'm really pleased with the way the belt turned out. I want to make a ton more in all different colours. Maybe red next time?

I'm still working on my purple wool dress at a snail's pace. I can't seem to work up the energy to sew it quickly because, with the warmer weather, I'm probably not going to be able to wear it until next Autumn anyway.

Frocktober

On Saturday Frocks on Bikes held Swing into Spring, a market with food stalls, vintage clothing and bikes and a swing dancing demonstration. I picked up two lovely dress for just $35. Because of the escalating price of vintage I don't tend to buy much any more but one stall had really reasonable prices. The woman running it actually has a vintage store called Retropolitan which sadly, I think, sustained some damage in the quake and I'm not sure what's going to happen to it.

The dress above has a bit of damage at the back but someone has repaired it really carefully and matched the cotton they used exactly to the print. It's also on the back around the armhole so it's not very noticeable when it's on.

Both dresses are a little big but I couldn't resist the gorgeous prints. They will be perfect for summer I think.

Finding vintage at the op-shop

I got this dress at an op-shop thinking it was from the 80s but on closer inspection I think it may be older, possibly even from as far back as the 40s. I'm no expert at dating vintage but it has some details that you don't usually find on more modern garments. It has a metal side zip, bound buttonholes and a little hook by the top button with a thread loop. The label also looks quite old.

I love the scalloping on the sleeves and the decorative stitching details on the bodice and skirt.

I was really excited by this dress because I hardly ever find real vintage clothing at the op-shop.

The siren song of the Vogue pattern sale

I got an email from the Vogue website about their pattern sale and before you know it I have four new Vintage Vogue reprints. They were all $5.75 each so I saved about $40 (I'm really good at justifying buying things if they were on sale/cheap). At least now I'll have some (more) patterns to use for all my stash fabric.