SSS '11 Day 7, Don't Leave Me Hanging on the Telephone

Lunch with a Girlfriend today meant that I could comfortably get away with wearing my gorgeous, juvenile girl dress for SSS '11 Day 7.  I love the fabric of the skirt of this dress and held onto it for a few years before I made this early 1970's dress.  I also made the little yellow wrist purse I am holding.  There is no being subtle in this bright number.

I'm going to the races this Saturday, so I simply must make a new frock!!!

SSS'11 Day 6

Here is SSS '11 Day 6.  I have a busy day ahead of me, with all that usual mummy stuff plus some DIY renovations.  I am putting some lovely stripes on Alby's bedroom walls today, hopefully I can share some pics soon.  The 2 paneled skirt, I made quickly an eon ago from a baby cot sheet, trimmed with bias binding.  And the t-shirt I screen printed an even longer eon ago.  It's a picture of Stella as a Clown.  Ginger is also wearing a SSS ensemble today.  Mummy made shorts with little kitty cats on them and every little rocker needs a Led Zeppelin tee, this was also printed by me.

SSS'11 Day 4 & 5, Melow Yellow and Blue Moon

Hey peps, 2 Self Stitched September days in one, as yesterdays Father's Days celebration got a wee bit boozy.

A total Colette look here, with a beignet skirt and a sorbetto top.  Very Sunshiney.   I had to sit down, so little Ginger could fit me in the frame.  SSS '11 day 4.

Today, being Monday, I wanted to be super comfy, which this frock is.  If only it wasn't so painful to iron worn with some dashing pink accessories.  Again, I had to be smaller so Ginger could fit me in frame.  And there you have SSS '11 day 5.

SSS '11 Day 3, Lemony Snicket

Today is a relaxing day at home with the whipper snappers.  A very creative photo today by Alby age 5.  Day 3 of SSS'11.
I am wearing a tiny gingham check full skirt that ended up being too big for my waist, but lovely low and comfy on my hips.  It was made from a 1950's pattern that originally had buttons up the front, but that reminded me of a skirt my mum had in the 80's, so I opted to insert a zip at the back.

A perfect day for climbing the tree with some cousins, or just hanging out with your furry chest out.

SSS '11 Day 2, Fly me to the moon.....

This dress makes me feel like traveling....... So Ginger and I tracked down the Brisbane Bus Lines depot, because their graphics are in keeping with the 60's mode of transport feel and this dress is Pan Am 60's, to have a little photo shoot.  Can you believe my three year old took these shots, clever little chook.

This dress is made from McCall's 6139 from 1961.  I love the kimono sleeves and the the bound pocket openings.  The position of the pockets is great too, it feels like a coat when I put my hands in them.  I used a cotton spandex fabric for this dress, I chose this fabric solely on colour, this apple green is yummy.  I think the stretch factor is good for the bodice and bad for the the pockets, which gape a little.  Also, the fabric is not so drapey, which I didn't think would mater so much for this 4 gore dress, however the photos tell me differently as the skirt kinda juts out rather than hugs my shape, you know what I mean?

McCall's 6139

I did get a stack of compliments today, which is noice.  I think I would like to make this dress again in a straight cotton, no stretch factor.
This is day two of the SSS challenge.

SSS' 11, Day 1, Love is in the air

I love spring.  It's the best time of year for me.  It is not unbearably hot as a Brisbane summer is and not too cool that I have to cover up all my fab frocks.  My toes are warm and so is my heart.  The only down fall is those pesky swooping mummy magpies protecting their babies.  Terrifies me so.  So much in fact that I duck for cover at the sound of a willy wag tails little beating wings. Phew!
I have at the last minute decided to take part in Self Stitched September, as a way for me to think more about what I wear. 
This is day one.
I have spent the morning volunteering at Alby's Prep classroom, helping kids with their alphabet and sounds, playing games basically.  I like to think that if I were a teacher I would be very preppy.  Here is casual preppy.  Self made top and skirt from a remnant linen given to me, both from the 70's I believe.  I had a lovely compliment on my outfit today and it was very satisfying to say that "I made this".

Thanks Zoe, I am looking forward to my self stitched month. Ya who!

Dreaming Of Chanel

Chanel suit, 1960's

There is an exhibition on in Brisbane at the moment at QUT Garden's Point, to coincide with Mercedes Fashion week called Dreaming of Chanel.  It is a only a snippet of  The Darnell Collection, a 195 year history of women's fashion.
An American woman, Doris Darnell collected costumes of yesteryear and wore them flamboyantly in her day to day life and got quite a reputation for it, as a result people gave her fabulous clothing from their attics and their stories.  Her entire collection was given to her.  Doris, all those years ago had the foresight to document the stories of these garments and the women who wore them.
While Doris was well into her senior years she bequeathed her collection onto her god daughter here in Australia.  She sent several boxes, 1200 kilograms and over 3000 frocks and accessories.  She had tried to donate the collection to a museum somewhere in America, but they only wanted the Gucci's, Prada's, Dior's, all the clothes of designers whose stories are already told.  Doris wanted the collection to stay together, as they tell a story about unknown seamstresses and dressmakers.  It was a full bodied account of what women wore.  The collection tells the stories of women who have lived, laughed, loved and lost.  It is AMAZING.
Her God daughter is Charlotte Smith (what a lucky woman), who is keeping her collection alive.  Since she has been the beneficiary of the collection it has grown in size to over 6000 items and countless more stories.  Charlotte Smith has written a 2 books about the collection. The latest is "Dreaming of Chanel".  It is a collection of the stories of the women who once wore these frocks.  Rather than photos of frocks the book is fabulously illustrated by Grant Cowan.   I think my love of patterns stems from the illustrations on the packets.
I love that Charlotte Smith and the Darnell Collection has given these Garments another life.  I have mega wardrobe envy.  I love to get a frock with a story.  I love being the custodian of Rita's Dresses I will always think of Rita and the stories she has told me when I wear her dresses.  With the Darnell Collection, dressmakers like Ivy Spooner from Towoomba, Queensland  and Kate Ludwig from Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, who perhaps would only be remembered by their families, will now be known by people for generations to come.
I was lucky enough to coincide my visit to this exhibition with a visit by Charlotte Smith, who was talking about the collection.  I seriously want to be best friends with this woman.
If anyone is in Bris Vegas, you have to see this exhibition.  It is on until October 16th.  Otherwise look for this book, "dreaming of Chanel" is amazing!! 

Barbra Coty, 1951.

In Australia in the late 40's,  Barbra Coty joined a weekly sewing circle at the church hall and proved to be so gifted that she won a scholarship to East Sydney Tech College.  This is her Graduation dress. This dress literally being inspired by Dior's La Corolle silhouette, inspired by the petals of a flower as each skirt panel is the shape of a petal.  Fabulous.  Barbra couldn't find spotted silk, so she screen printed her own.

Fabulous Illustration

1960's Pucci.

1960's Dior suit.

1940's Ceil Chapman dress, made of lace silk and horsehair.

1950's "falling in love" dress

1956 swimsuit

Opera coat dating 1903, stunning.

Love the shape is this late 40's taffeta no.

Ivy Spooner and 1920's silk organdie dress

1920's silk, chiffon and glass beads

Mary Quaint and a paper polyester dress, 1960's

My favourite. 1970's Jean Muir.

1937, custom made Coco Chanel Wedding gown

Lace was made especially for this dress

Fabulous buckle detail