Friday, September 12, 2014

Dresses for the Home


       

                                 Poppies, by Louis Lemaire, French, 1824-1910

                           
Sometimes I choose fabric that is similar to the 19the century floral paintings like the one featured here.  This fabric is cotton but has no brand stamped on the selvedge so I do not know where it is from or the name of the print.

                            

Although I have mentioned Laura Ashley's famous designs for wearing at home that were so well-liked, there were other designers who also made cotton dresses, equally as treasured by ladies all around the world, such as Jessica McClintock and Lanz of Salzburg. There were lesser known designers also and I will add them to these posts when I find their names in old Victoria's.


Of all the house dresses I have made this year, this understated little calico dress had been pronounced the favorite by the owners.


I noticed the roses on the print had a bit of very light pink on the petals so I used some rose buttons I had been saving. I am also thinking of adding light pink ribbon on the hem and sleeves.


Here are some patterns from vintage pattern sites.  Above and below are Lanz patterns. They were also available in ready-made and advertised often in the original Victoria magazines.

Below are two Jessica McClintock patterns which were also available as ready-made cotton dresses.



It is nice to look forward to getting up in the morning and putting on a pretty cotton dress and apron and feeling dressed up for something important. It makes every day special.



12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I LOVE the 2nd pattern :-)

magnoliasntea said...

I like the second pattern, too. Must have it. :) Thank you for posting these. I made the last pattern for our youngest daughter years ago in a red with tiny white flowers print years ago. It was adorable.
Have a great weekend.

anonymous said...

These dresses are so pretty. Makes me wish I'd gotten a few patterns when they were available. I see the Gunny Saxx dresses in yard sales or thrift stores now and then.
The fabric that was used in most of them was a fine batiste or lawn print. I remember when the polished cotton chintz prints were popular also. Hard to find that print any longer.

Thank you for posting photos of your lovely mother/daughter dresses. Sure brings back fond memories.

Mrs. J.

anonymous said...

Seeing the photo of the dress with the black background floral print and solid black collar reminds me of a woman that had several children. She had a family photo taken of all of them wearing different outfits using the same type of black background floral print/ solid black fabric.
The way she used the fabrics was quite remarkable. I don't think she has a blog any longer, but sure wish I could see that photo again. It was really cleaver how she manipulated the fabrics and came up with wonderful combinations.
Mrs. J.

Diane | An Extraordinary Day said...

Oh my! The painting of the poppies is breath-taking. In my dreams I grow poppies like that in the garden. :)

Your dresses are so very sweet. Even more...they look comfortable and easy to wear. How fun to work with patterns of the past.

May your weekend be filled with many extraordinary moments! [hugs]

Michelle said...

I love seeing the dresses you have made. I would love to see some of your aprons and also some patterns you like for making those.

Andrea R said...

So pretty!

J♥Yce Burrows said...

Sew feminine pretty. :-)

I found this version of the pink/black for girls. Often some of the older patterns had a similar style of the ladies for girls and the pattern number was very close.

https://img1.etsystatic.com/024/0/8573286/il_570xN.502093679_pgws.jpg

living from glory to glory said...

Dear Lydia, I just need to just make some time real soon and make some things for gifts and maybe myself!
My aprons have become so worn looking! I did manage to get some cut out, now I just need to sew them! I think the lovely pink flowers are so pretty! The patterns are so soft and flowing also!
I hope you have a wonderful and refreshing Lords Day!
Yours, Roxy

Lydia said...

Joyce, thank you for finding the picture of the girls version of the Lanz pattern. I just added it. Do you notice that these styles were worn by all ages?

J♥Yce Burrows said...

You are very welcome, LadyLydia! A friend and I were recently talking about some of those vintage patterns in comparison to how many adolescents "undress" today in step with the music and movie and television industry ensamples. Young ladies not that many years ago enjoyed looking like their respectable mothers and other elders. Too many of the patterns these days don't foster such right thinking for older and younger women alike. But we can still adorn God's doctrine and be different, making a difference. There are young ladies that follow, thankfully. It's wonderful to be encouraged and encouragers!

Katrinka said...

I'm glad to see some of the ladies clothing in stores starting to be more colorful and some flowered patterns are coming back. There for a time it seemed there were so many neutrals and grays and blacks being worn by young women. I've also noticed that some of the blouses are longer and looser. For awhile it seemed everyone was wearing their little sister's clothes.