Colette's Clothing Confections

Sarai has just released a sneak peek of her first collection of sewing patterns called Colette Patterns. They were definitely worth the wait.

A few months ago, I missed out on getting to test one of these patterns for her and have been curious as to what she would choose for her first foray into sewing patterns. Well, these are truly delicious. They are full of retro details that invoke a time gone by AND they are named after sweet dessert items.

So go to the Colette Patterns site to see the preview of items with names like Chantilly (my favorite of the dresses), Beignet, Macaron, Parfait, etc.

Best of all, the patterns are sized from 0 to 18 with a range that includes women with measurements from 33-25-35 to 46-38-48.

Sarai, if you end up designing another full skirted, wasp-waisted design anytime soon, may I suggest the name Ambrosia?

Mad Men: The Good Girl aka Betty Draper

Oops, were any of you missing Betty? I just realized I never posted this part of my Mad Men fashion series!

Betty Draper, part Barbie, Skipper, and Sandra Dee, all rolled up in one.* In the first two episodes of Mad Men that Betty showed up in we saw a very insecure, nervous, "pretty" girl who looked up to her (flawed) husband for approval and permission. She was an ideal "trophy wife" before the phrase was even invented and put into use.

Vogue 5548, I thought it was interesting how Betty's pose in three pictures on this page match this pattern sketch.

As you can see the shirtwaist dress was a popular item in Betty's wardrobe during Season 1. Despite the constricting underpinnings that Betty wears, the dress "looked" comfortable and easy. Most of Betty's dresses worked on this similar design of using a tight waist complemented with a belt or a change of fabric at the waist that then released into a full skirt. The skirt's size was always emphasized with a crinoline or petticoat. This was the Good Girl's version of the hourglass silhouette.

 Dinner in New York with Don

Working the corporate wife look

And here's a treat for you: While searching for new pictures for this belated post I discovered Mad Men Fashion Mondays on A Rambling Fancy's blog. I'm sure you'll love her posts like I did.

Find your inner Betty by searching vintage pattern sites with search term JackieO, wiggledress, rockabilly:

From left to right: McCall's 3698, Vogue 1631, Vogue 5548,

Simplicity 3580, Simplicity 4003, Simplicity 3434

* The Grace Kelly influence doesn't show up until after episode three, The Marriage of Figaro.

Sister, Can You Spare a Domino?*

Update: Yes, I was an idiot. I linked the Domino magazine covers below from their website and meant to go back and save them proper. Of course, the website just went down. I am currently searching Google images and Flickr for the covers but it's so hard to read the date on the scans so the images don't match with the months listed below.

I just read this post of Holly's and realized that Domino had only published 36 issues in it's short life. How can that be possible? And really, how can it be possible that I don't have more of them? Here are the ones I wish I had at least borrowed and read when I had the chance. If you happen to have issues that you don't want (yeah, ha, ha, ha!) I would love to be the recipient of your de-cluttering. Ok?

2005

Missing September, October, November

2006

Missing January/February, April, June, September, October, November

2009
For some reason, did not buy February 2009 but now want it

*Title adapted from the 1931 Great Depression song, Brother, Can you Spare a Dime.

Being Alive?

I have been feeling this song lately:



As sung by Raúl Esparza in the 2006 revival of Stephen Sondheim's Company. This is the long version, but it gives you the song's context within the show. (And if you happen to click and watch the whole show, hurrah, I helped Broadway a bit!)

Being Alive
(Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim)

Someone to hold you too close,
Someone to hurt you too deep,
Someone to sit in your chair,
To ruin your sleep.

Someone to need you too much,
Someone to know you too well,
Someone to pull you up short
And put you through hell.

Someone you have to let in,
Someone whose feelings you spare,
Someone who, like it or not,
Will want you to share
A little, a lot.

Someone to crowd you with love,
Someone to force you to care,
Someone to make you come through,
Who'll always be there,
As frightened as you
Of being alive,
Being alive,
Being alive,
Being alive.

Somebody, hold me too close,
Somebody, hurt me too deep,
Somebody, sit in my chair
And ruin my sleep
And make me aware
Of being alive,
Being alive.

Somebody, need me too much,
Somebody, know me too well,
Somebody, pull me up short
And put me through hell
And give me support
For being alive,
Make me alive.

Make me confused,
Mock me with praise,
Let me be used,
Vary my days.
But alone is alone, not alive.

Somebody, crowd me with love,
Somebody, force me to care,
Somebody, make me come through,
I'll always be there,
As frightened as you,
To help us survive
Being alive,
Being alive,
Being alive!

Misc.

Updates:

• Finally finished stuffing two Wee Wonderful dolls. Their faces have to be sewn on tomorrow night as at least one will be delivered on Saturday at a baby shower.
• At said baby shower, I will be wearing my New York & Co. dress for the first time with my cordovan Clarks. Of course, I will try to get a picture for the blog.
• Spent some of last night hand sewing the hem on that "quick & easy" gray skirt. I shortened it four inches after I couldn't stand feeling frumpy in it. I wanted to wear it today so a quick sewing machine hem was done but as time goes by I will hand sew the hem bit by bit. The Philip Lim-inspired sash was finished a few days ago.
• My belly dance class is going great!
• Doctor's appointment #1 went well and I have a mammogram scheduled for Monday.
• Will try to get to the Anda dress. It is ridiculous that a simple dress like that is still not done. I just haven't had time to check the fit on me.
  
  
• If I opened an Etsy shop, selling different sewn accessory items and a few key clothing pieces, what do you think I should call it?