Thursday 17 June 2010

Dress Envy



Dress - Handmade
Shoes - Charity shop
Bag - Charity shop
Hat - Grandmother's

 So I have to admit to something... I suffer from serious dress envy. You know when you see a girl in the street wearing a perfect vintage dress and wish it was yours, or just miss buying something on Etsy or Ebay? Well when I saw this lovely dress on Jess of the Cat's Pajamas I suffered quite a bit of dress envy. Since it was a vintage handmade dress there was no chance of purchasing one. However I thought I could always make one. It looked like a fairly straight forward dress and I have plenty of chambray lying around (because I love chambray) plus some scraps of checked fabric from my grandmother. I used and altered a juniors dress pattern. I chose age 13 but it turned out huge, much larger than a misses pattern for some reason, so I took it in a bit and voila! It's not exactly the same, I decided on a more Peter Pan style collar and the checks are different. I hope it's not too strange a thing to do,  I suppose imitation is the greatest form of flattery?

As for the rest, the bag is the same brand as the one I had in the last outfit post. A brand called Marc Chantal. Both bags have the same style of clasp, of which I am fond.  There is something very satisfying about the way it works. The whole outfit reminds me slightly of a school uniform and the Madeline books so I thought the hat and satchel would go well. I also have a thing for bird books, I just love the colour plates. This one was published in 1929.

20 comments:

  1. Such a lovely outfit!! The collar of your dress is adorable, and I love your accessories, your hat is such a cool colour!! I love the picture of the book in the grass too!
    From Carys of La Ville Inconnue

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  2. I love the 5ht and 6th photo, it looks like you are lost in the forest!

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  3. Did you really make that dress? Wow! It's amazing! You look sooo great! And the pics are beautiful!

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  4. you did such an amazing job on the dress, I am very impressed..and such lovely photos!

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  5. that dress is so cute! You did a great job on it ^.^

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  6. you did a wonderful job on the dress, and what great inspiration from Jessica! the shots are really gorgeous too. :)

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  7. seriously, too cute. I want to be in those photos, wearing that dress and reading about birds.

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  8. I love making my own dresses when I can't purchase the ones I want...and yours looks amazing! I love that purse too. And the scenery in these photos is perfect :]

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  9. Love your photos. And your dress so pretty too.

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  10. I especially like the photo where the branches are framing you. It is definitely a unique version of a forest photo. Also that hat!

    I think it is the curse of a style blogger that they must constantly suffer from dress envy. Sigh

    B from A plus B

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  11. Can I use this for this months fab five?
    starshipnarcissus.gmail.com

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  12. Thanks for your comments everyone, and Lisa I'd love to be included, thanks!

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  13. I know dress envy oh so well. I do not, however, know how to sew very well. I love how your version turned out. I think I like the plaid on the original better, but the waist and collar on your are so much more feminine. I think you topped it. Great job.

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  14. aaww.. you're adorable in this outfit, dear!! i love the hat and purse too!!! these photos are refreshing! :D

    Animated Confessions

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  15. your bag is a dream.
    such a wonderful outfit.

    codyjune.com

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  16. Amazing job! That dress is so sweet!

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  17. I love the way you've hung your bag up. Very whimsical.

    Christy of Dress Rehearsal

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  18. WOW times ten. You are amazing!

    Here's why:

    1. You just up and made that dress. So cool!
    2. Your photos are so clever and cool! I am so inspired. I've been wanting to do more with my pics but haven't been able to think what! Like that one of you reading?--perfect.
    3. You are just lovely.

    So yes, that's it. You are my new favorite.

    Heart: purplestinkindogtoy.blogspot.com

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  19. That dress is fantastic! I am so impressed that you just whipped that up.

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