Tuesday, August 7, 2012

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.

33 comments:

  1. That is a gorgeous dress, wonky stitching and all! Beautiful colours, lovely buttons, cute pleating, and now a mended hem too!
    I have a huge pile of alterations and mending waiting to be done... xxx

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    1. Thanks! I have a huge pile of mending too. I think I'll have to make a goal to mend one thing every week, otherwise I'll never get it done.

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  2. That dress is positively stunning, the fabric, the style, everything! Love it :)

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  3. I am exactly the same with mending and also with alterations. I love this dress! I can't wait to be able to wear my vintage dresses again.

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    1. I think maybe it's because mending and alterations seem so boring. Thanks! Not long now. You'll be back in your vintage dresses before you know it.

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  4. it fits like a dream. I've got heaps to mend but am useless at sewing. I've only just set up the sewing machine I got at christmas

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    1. Thanks. Mending and alterations are a good way to get better at sewing. That's how I started.

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  5. What a lovely find this dress is, the pleats are lovely down the front. I agree with you on noticing stitching on clothes that isn't quite perfect, it always makes me feel better!

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    1. Thanks! Yes, it's a good reminder that perfection isn't everything.

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  6. What a delightful dress! I love it teamed with the blue tights. I must admit most of my mending & hemming gets passed onto my Mum! I'm sure she must groan when I come to her with another frock! Xx

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    1. Thanks. That's nice of your mum to do mending and hemming for you.

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  7. That is a cute dress! I'm the same as you, buy something that needs only minor repairs, then I never get around to making those repairs! You are not alone.

    I love the way you styled it too - your hat is so cute.

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    1. Thanks. It's good to know that other people don't like doing mending either. The hat makes me feel like Madeline.

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  8. That is a pretty dress, I love it with the blue tights and ribbon belt! I'm a fan of wonky stitching too, it shows the past owner had a busy life and was in a hurry to get the frock finished and on her back! xxx

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    1. Thanks. I have a thing for ribbon belts at the moment. Yes, I like wonky stitching because it gives clothes a bit of character.

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  9. The pleating on the top part is so sweet, I love that..such a gorgeous dress. The pleating would have made me buy it :)) You look marvelous xx

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    1. The pleating is definitely what made me buy it. Thanks!

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  10. Love the blue stockings, where did you get them, the look brilliant paired with that dress!

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    1. Thanks. My mum got the stockings for me from the Warehouse. They had some pretty good colours last time I went there.

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  11. I am the exact same way with mending, unless I do it THE DAY I purchase the garment I will never do it. I love the colours of the dress with the tights, and the little hat! I can never buy vintage hats because of my giant head, so I am very envious.

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    1. Yeah, I have so much mending but it's so hard to get motivated. Thanks! That sucks. Some of the vintage hats I find are pretty tiny and don't fit me either.

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  12. Such a pretty dress, with buttons and pleats. I am the same way with mending because it is just so boring!

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    1. Yeah, the buttons and pleats are my favourite detail. Yes, it's definitely not as fun as sewing something from scratch.

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  13. It was well worth the 5 minutes it took to mend the dress as it is absolutely beautiful. I love the way you've styled it too. The colours work so well x

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    1. It was definitely worth it, I'm just ashamed it took me so long to do it too. Thanks!

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  14. ok I'm really in love with that dress! And that cute little hat - you are too adorable. Plus I love anyone who has that many books!

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    1. Thanks! That's not even half the books in my house. We are book mad around here.

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  15. I totally hate mending stuff too. It's like all the effort involved in getting my needle and thread out just for something to take 5 minutes is too much lol. This was well worth repairing though, gorgeous!

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    1. Exactly, but then when you sit down and do it you realise it was worth it. Thanks.

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  16. OH! It's adorable!That detail down the frocnt is divoon!Homemade frocks are my fave finds!
    Ahem,my mending pile is unspeakable.....it's more of a transformation pile,really,of things I'm over,or don't fit right, as well as simple repairs!
    XXXXX

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    1. Thanks! Me too. I periodically go through my alterations pile and give it back to the op shop because otherwise it just keeps growing.

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  17. The dress print is lovely, I love the pleated top part. I like the bold choice of the blue colour tights!

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