Eva's journal

I couldn't decide which of these photos was the best, so I'm posting both. The rest of our gang looked really good, but I can't show photos of them without their consent - not in their costumes; amonik and I were the only women not dressed in corsets among us.

After some more fixing I think that the dress is as good as it's going to get. Not perfect, but good enough. The stiffer fabric alone made for a different look than the original and if you add the fact that I'm not tall and willowy you end up with a slightly different look. Despite it not being exactly like the original dress it's very much a 40s dress though. The fact that I shortened the skirt to "a little below the knee" (there was a club called that founded in the US as a response to and protest against the so-called New Look) just makes it more typical of the period.




What remains is to finish the neckline, hemming of the sleeves and a little at the bottom of the dress, adding five decorative buttons on each pocket and ironing. The buttons will hopefully be bought today.

I have done some minor alterations on the dress (generally making it smaller) today and now I'm going to baste the zipper in place before trying and sewing. The sleeves are tricky, but will be easier to get right after I'm able to close the dress correctly.

The work on the striped 40s dress, which for obvious reasons shall henceforth be known as "the Candy Dress" (new tag added) is progressing nicely. The bodice is partly assembled and I've only had to do some minor adjustments to my drafted pattern (taking in the shoulders, my shoulders aren't very wide, which is a tricky combination with an F-sized bust). As you can see in the photo my fabric has a strong pink stripe instead of red.




The event I'm making the dress for is a burlesque club which takes place approximately once every two months here in Göteborg. I haven't been before, because it always collided with something else, but a lot of my friends go and I'm really looking forward to it. I have also convinced one of the gay guys at work to come along. The club is on the 22nd of May, which is good since I need to make some nice new 40s inspired undies too, especially with the two-way zipper in the dress ;)

I'm currently much more interested in my mundane wardrobe than my historical one. During the weekend I have, as previously mentioned, made two cap sleeved blouses and now I'm planning a summer dress (one of many)from a pink and white striped fabric that I have. The main inspiration is this dress, though my fabric may be too stiff. In which case it will be turned into a 50s instead of a 40s dress. But I hope that it will work.



For the yoke I can use the 40s McCall's pattern I got as a gift from ashariel and the rest seems pretty straightforward.