Vogue 2960 - The Degas Birthday Dress

I mentioned in my last post that I had a brand-new coral dress just waiting to be shown off. Well, all of your crossed-fingers worked because she got to go out and play in a local park on Saturday! The day itself started as "one-of-those days" but, once I started twirling for the photos, I couldn't help but smile!

The dress' cheerfulness is rather infectious!

I LOVE this dress!  Really!  It can quite easily make me forget why I wouldn't have actually wanted to live in the 1950s.  Who wouldn't want to live in a time wear you could wear this everyday!?  I mean, clearly, one can't be mad or depressed in such a dress, right!? (Very wrong, I know but, hard to imagine.)

So, back to reality...  As I do not live in 1954, I used Vogue 2960, a reissue of an original.  Much to my surprise, it included instructions for bound buttonholes and a grosgrain ribbon waist stay and it instructed  using a "double-stitch" on many of the bodice seams, rather than finishing.  I decided to maintain the authenticity and did just as I was told.

• The bound buttonholes were interesting, not difficult at all but, I do need to practice them.  Luckily, my matching covered buttons cover a large portion of the hole.  
• The waist stay was very easy to put in, provides a girly "pop' inside the dress (I used a matching floral ribbon), and does wonders for helping the dress stay put, both when buttoning and once you're all done up.  The skirt is quite heavy compared to the bodice and the stay helps take the weight off the buttons and shoulders. It also reminds you to keep your stomach in after eating way too much at dinner ;-)  
• The double-stitch finishing was quick and easy and allows the seams to lay smoothly.  It worked well for my fabric, which is very hesitant to fray but, I wouldn't use it on a more delicate or loosely woven fabric.

Let's see, what else... Oh yes, did I mention this was my first full skirt?  I did not know what I was getting myself into when it came time to hem it!  Woo, that's a lot of fabric!  Like a good seamstress, I did exactly as the instructions told me, turning up the hem (after trimming 2" off for taste), basting near the press, gathering out the excess and steaming it flat.  That steaming took forever!  Definitely worth it though, as now the hem is smooth on the inside and out.

So much skirt!

More twirling!

I have no idea when I'll fit it in but, I actually want to make more of these!  I have a bit of tweaking to do on the fit of the bodice and shoulders and I just plain want it in more colors! If this had been RTW, I think I would have bought one in every color offered! (Ok, maybe not but, I would own more than one!)  I really love the buttons and the neckline and I think it accentuates my waist rather nicely while disguising my hips. And, I just felt so ladylike wearing it (even if I did get a few odd looks...).  Surprisingly, none of the older ladies we saw that day said anything but, a gentleman said I looked nice and compared me to the new T-mobile girl (of course, we don't have TV so, I have no idea who that is!) and the two hostesses at the restaurant said they liked the dress and that I looked really cute.  They were younger than me so, I assume that means it doesn't look dated.

All in all, I'm very pleased and I expect to wear this one regularly throughout the spring and summer.  Once I finish my petticoat, I'll have to try it out like that too!  Then, I'll really get the odd looks, hehe.

To find out why Degas is in the name of the dress, check out my Sew Weekly post (it hadn't yet been published at the time of this post but, I think the address is correct...UPDATE: the link is correct and is now published. Yay!) and, of course, if you want a more structured review of the pattern itself, you can read that here.

On to two more vintage dresses! Bring on the color!

Happy Sewing! x