I absolutely fell in love with this pattern from Out of the Ashes; I think it took me almost thirty seconds to hit 'Buy Now'. Something about that round soft shoulderline just pushes all my buttons. And the little collar!
I like the 3/4-sleeve version the best. I'm tempted by the jaunty ascot, but I don't think I could pull it off without feeling like the world's biggest tool. Some people have the scarf gene; some people do not, and I am one of the have-nots, when it comes to scarves. But who knows? People can change …
Of course, maybe my feeling of expansive goodwill and boundless possibility has just a LITTLE something to do with the events of yesterday. 🙂 Do you think?
I was also tempted by this dress, but held myself back. Got to leave something for the rest of you, don't I?
A Dress A Day 
Perhaps these vintage pattern-picture gals are looking to the future with hope and optimism … could they have known that Erin will make a fab dress in which to watch the Inaugural festivities, perhaps?
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I don’t want to wander too far off the topic of dresses, so I’ll just say, “hooray!” and I wore Bon Voyage for the occasion today. “So long, farewell,” etc. etc.
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Wow, tea — that dress! I’m speechless! It’s wonderful! The buttons alone are genius!
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Perhaps the bi-partisan color combo is giving you hope, too! =D I love this and I probably would have bought it, too. YUM.
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Erin, so glad you didn’t choose the 50’s dress with the strange neckline! Reminds me of the end of a cake decorating tool – you know, the ones you use to pipe frosting. Very strange!
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That second dress doesn’t have pockets, so I think you made the right choice.Were you in Grant Park last night? I’m not sure I could’ve resisted, if I were just a little bit closer to Chicago.
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Great dress, and I agree about the scarf thing. Kind of like some folks have the hat gene. Do you know how sad I was when I looked at the one you passed over and saw it was gone? Tea: incredible dress – is the fabric a current one?
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The woman in the background on the dress pattern you linked to looks very like a dirigible/airship hostess! What with the pockets and the updo and the white gloves. She just needs a jaunty little cap and she’s set, don’t you think? 🙂
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It is definitely part dress time!
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I love both dresses, but the first one is better. The second one looks very 1950’s futuristic in kind of a strange way. Maybe as the person above said – in a dirigible hostess way. I also have a weakness for gathered shoulders, perhaps that weakness is genetic and cancels out the scarf gene.But today I don’t care that I am not good at scarves. I am very cheerful, even though I had 4 hours a sleep. Optimism will get me through the day.
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I too love 3/4 length sleeves. They are my favorite: cool enough for summer, and still warm for winter. And hooray for change!
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beautiful dresses!
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I think you made the right pick. I don’t like the scarf with the collar. If it didn’t have a collar, I think a scarf would go great with it. Maybe you need a training scarf? You could start out with something less obtrusive and work your way up. You know, the little ‘pretend you are until you become’ trick.
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It’s a beautiful dress, and a beautiful day. It truly is.My hubby and I are considering making the trip from here in Canada to the inaguration…and I definitely need to find the perfect dress. It will definitely have that neckline, it’s stunning.
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Currently there is a Simplicity blouse pattern out with a very, very similar bodice. I love it, since the broad yoke helps balance my narrow shoulders against my hips. And yet it is a feminine style.Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. 😉
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It’s not party time in California. 😦
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Thanks, Erin! And fabricgirl: I think they’re both out of print but only recently so. Bon Voyage is by Makower. If you do a search, you might be able to find yardage of it. I got mine from 5bucksayard.com, but they’re out of this one.I can’t remember who did the map fabric, and I just did a fruitless search. Sorry!
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PS: what is the woman on the left caressing her face with? It looks like a small-ish butcher knife.
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Cookie, that’s an airmail letter from her beau (yuk).Yesterday makes even snaggy, pilled polyester look good to me, except that Calif. prop. vote–what’s up with that?buttons made me gasp
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Ohhh I love that dress and would totally wear it, too! Hmm, my hunt for Vogue 7473 begins…
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I too woke up feeling hopeful and full of possibilities
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Erin,Oh Happy Day!
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except that Calif. prop. vote–whats up with that? It’s a bummer Proposition 8 passed (most of its funding was provided by the Mormon Church…itself not historically renowned for “traditional” marriage) (ie, polygamy) HOWEVER the whole issue will move on the the U.S. Supreme Court at some point, following the path of how state bans on interracial marriage were eventually overturned. I think Gloria Allred is filing a lawsuit to help “The Cause” today. Here’s a pic of me without makeup, just in case someone in Massachusetts or Connecticut wants to marry me. Would accept a serger in lieu of a ring. PASS IT ON!
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PS: I am not missing a tooth, as that pic sort of makes it appear….
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Cookie, you are gorgeous, if I may so myself.
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Oh brother, that should obviously read, “if I may say so myself.” I’m bleary-eyed with exhaustion and elation.
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Doesn’t look like the gal on the pattern cover is pulling off the ascot either. So don’t worry.
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Why, thank you, Lisa!PROP 8 UPDATE: Gloria Allred filed lawsuit an hour ago on behalf of California same sex couple who were denied marriage license earlier today. Hmmm…http://www.my58.com/politics/17910126/detail.html
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Hi Erin – as an avid reader of your blog (and a first time commenter), I have to say that I’m mildly surprised that your post today was not more ‘election’ related? Do you not have some fabulous election inspired or election appropriate dress that you can wax lyrical about? This isn’t a complaint, just vague surprise from someone in New Zealand who had expected to log in to find one of your super-dooper creations.Perhaps it’s a plan for inauguration day in January? 🙂
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Personally, I always liked that this blog was non-political. There are plenty of places on the web to talk about the election but only one site for airship hostess dresses and fauxleros.
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Cookie, I think you look great either way….maybe some dashing pransome hince will see your pics and fidn you here…Then we can all make fabu dresses to attend you wedding!
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Include me in the ranks of those that adore 3/4 sleeves – I like my wrists, the world should see them!Without delving too far into politics, I just want to say, that as a person who feels there are never enough occasions to really pile on the finery, I support all laws that increase the number of weddings. Laws that decrease the number of weddings will never make me happy. 😉
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Cookie, I think you look great either way….maybe some dashing pransome hince will see your pics and fidn you here…Then we can all make fabu dresses to attend you wedding! Thanks, Theresa! It would be nice if he had a pair of little girls I could sew for, too! I watched over a friend’s household of 3 boys one month while she was traveling, and I must say it was very fun (and serene) getting them ready for school, loading the washer, sorting toys, shopping for dinner, doing some writing in the afternoon and then seeing them all at the dinner table. Bedtime, alas, was another story…but all in all I LIKED IT! It also gave me a new appreciation for my mom, as doing that alone on top of a full-time job would have turned the whole thing into a trip to HELL, and quadrupled the vodka expenses.
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Thanks for your comment anonymous, but where on the web can I find something that links air hostess dresses with the election?! It was just my vague wistful desire to see the two connected in some way and who better than Erin I thought!
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Ha. I have that second pattern in my stack. You never know when you need a cool pattern for a S.-F. themed party. More seriously, I don’t know if I will ever sew it, but I needed to have it for that cover picture.
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My grandmother has the scarf gene… but then she is a tall, thin retired English teacher. Who owns her own grand piano.
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that dress is made of win and i covet it… the 3/4 is my preference, but i love 3/4 sleeves regardless
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I second Catalina, who said she’s “a person who feels there are never enough occasions to really pile on the finery.”Yes!(perhaps we should bring back sumptuary laws — er, maybe Reverse Sumptuary Laws)
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I LOVE THE IDEA OF REVERSE SUMPTUARY LAWS!But of course we must calculate by value of materials and workmanship (with special points for fashion “effect”), not for what you paid for it. And it should be a monthly tally, so you can save up a few “down days” to paint the kitchen.
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I have a 16 year old daughter who woudl (a) absolutely worship you (b) is “dying” to move to California. Next year she starts her junior year and is hoping to get accepting into her high school’s cosmetology program. She woudl then graduate with her SC Cosmetology liscense (providing she pass the exam. Let me know when you want me to stick a stamp on her forehead and let you borrow her.
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