It’s my blog-iversary! It has been two years since I started up this funny lil ol’ blog, and I’m marking the (sorta) occasion with a giveaway.
About six months ago, the lovely Gail sent me this pattern and I don’t mind admitting it has been something of my “prize”. A pattern that I have taken out to look lovingly at every now and again before tucking it back safely into my pattern box. One of those patterns with the totally lovely pen-and-watercolour illustrations on the cover of willow-y, supremely elegant, immaculately coiffured ladies of yesteryear gazing world-wearily off into the middle distance. Probably on their way to some impossibly glamorous soiree, or about to hop into the limo to meet up with Clark Gable, or some such. One can but aspire, right? But procrastination does not elegance bring…
so ta da!
Finally… I made a LBD. Hehe, obviously not the Little Black Dress kind of a LBD… let me explain…. there is a very very silly show on TV here called Beauty and the Geek, which of course I never watch being of a far more serious bent 😉 Anyway one week a geek had to answer a pop-quiz on fashion. And one of the questions was “what is a LBD?” And the geek answered “Long Black Dress” And they marked him wrong, whereas for me his answer was like a stroke of idiot savant genius and he should have been given a big “yeees!” for fashion insight, because Long Black Dress is as pretty darn good answer I reckon, and it is a rare lady who goes through her life without the need for the simple elegance of a long black dress at some point. And I have now filled that (hypothetical) need. With vintage-ly panache too, hehe.
And now I am passing on the love, and offering this pattern to another seamstress/seamster. It is Vogue 2858, an Original 1944 Design (or Dessin Original de 1944, if you want to get really chic about it :))
It has some rather unusual-for-an-evening-gown seaming techniques that I am assuming were normal for 1944…. I made a few “modern” changes to mine, although in a pathetically small nod to authenticity the raw edges of the seam allowances have been pinked :).
For a start, well the superior invisible zip has been invented, people! I made use of one.
I also left off the shoulder pads. I did start out making them, but left them off the final version. I’m afraid shoulder pads are just Too Dreadful on me…
If you would like this pattern for your very own piece of 1944 elegance, just leave a comment on this post. Of course, if you would still like to say something nice about my new dress but don’t want to be entered into the draw, then please feel free to do so… 🙂 I do love nice comments too!
This offer is open to anyone and for two weeks, so on 26 October I will put everyone’s names into a hat, those who say they want to enter, and draw one out.
No, I agree that is a very questionably low-tech method and doesn’t have quite the panache of that random number generator thingy, but frankly my dear I just don’t give a damn. *
Details:
Dress; Vogue 2858, black crepe
Sandals; Micam by Joanne Mercer, from Hobbs shoes
* the obligatory Rhett-ism… couldn’t resist, hehe
Long Black Dress. lol. I don't have a Little OR a Long black dress. 😉
Yours is very elegant.
Happy blog-iversary. What a great two years it has been. Hope you keep going to infinity. I've really enjoyed seeing your creations, beautiful settings and your great writing style. Love the tidbits of your life that you share.
Çute story. You look very elegant indeed. Please do not enter me in the draw for I already own this little beauty. I made the short version. I'll call it the LPD for little pink dress.
This pattern is perfect for you! I fantasised about how wonderful I'd look in my red silk gown, but it just didn't suit me. I'm glad you love it.
I think your LBD is elegant and even mythical. I would love to be in the draw to win it. I have 5 g/daughters that it would be used for. Thank you for your lovely blog and the time and effort you put into it for us plebs.
Congratulations on a great blog. I enjoy your writings, photos and scenery nearly as much as the sewing. Very inspirational. I hope you keep it up.I like the LBD too but then you seem to look good in everything. Mum
Congratulations on your first 2 years. May it be the first of many many more! I love this dress and you have created it beautifully. I know how it is to stroke vintage patterns and then lay them lovingly back in their box. I haven't made one to date, well not of this calibre so thank you for giving me the nudge. I am totally inspired by your dress and I feel a little bit closer to trying one and of course I would love the opportunity to be entered into your draw! 🙂
Love your LBD! and the chance to enter!
and that 1944 elegance! Tehe
I am so glad you share your creations and style with all of us! Congratulations on two years. You've made a beautiful long black dress and the fit looks marvelous. Please don't enter me in the drawing, but I think it's wonderful you are giving the pattern away for others to enjoy!
I don't need to be in the drawing, but I just wanted to say 'good job' on the classic LBD! And you pinked, yay! 😉
I love your blog! I think you look nearly as willowy, and certainly as elegant as the stylised models on the pattern envelop! It's a gorgeous dress on you.
Perfect! Long Black Dress – love the idea. hehehe! It looks fabulous on you! Just my style and I love the 40's please enter me.
Your LBD is fabulous, it has all these iconic 40s details and still it looks very modern thanks to the simple black fabric! I'd like to have that beautiful pattern so please enter me in the giveaway
Your long black dress is very lovely on you. It cuts a stunning silhouette. That said, you can leave me out of the giveaway. I don't really do 'vintage'.
I love that dress. I love long dresses. I'm in for the draw if it's international.
you look so svelte in your LBD – Beauty and the Geek – so cringe worthy but I admit I can`t help watching when my youngest DD has it turned on ! ( please do not enter me in this comp I just wanted to comment )
i just want to comment too !
your dress is very very chic! and the top is beautifull. I'm not used to see this cuting on the belly, i don't know the name in english, maybe "triangle shaped cuting?"
Anyway you did a great job and i hope you will have a lot of pleasure wearing it.
And…happy blog-anniversary !!
What an amazing and appropriate dress to show us on your two year anniversary! It is so elegant, beautiful and fabulous looking. It has inspired a serious case of long black dress envy in me. And I love your blog xxx
He he, I don't watch Beauty and the Geek either but I did see that one (or was it an ad??) can't dream I loose an hour watching that, however your LBD looks very nice on. Really elongates your torso (not that you need it)
Please don't put me in the draw .. this is one of those styles that I do so love – all the features but alas do not suit my body shape.
As for the costumes on my blog… it may be a while as Alexander is only 7 and that is an adult pattern but I can get ideas from it and for my break from uni I have orders already from him for a lab coat (I made one for his friend's birthday last year) and a gothy type capey thing!
Good luck others!
Lovely Long Black Dress! I saw that episode, can't believe I watched it either ;-), and laughed, poor boys. Very elegant your LBD, must add one of those to my sewing list…of course, winning your giveaway would help with moving it up my list…GRIN! Thanks for the chance.
Well, happy blogiversary! I'd love to be entered if you'll ship over to my neck of the woods. I love the faux bolero look of this dress.
Happy Blogó'versary!
This style suits you! Thanks for inspiring me to make LWD (Long White Dress), i always wanted to make one but was put off by short length of Little White Dress, now i can have my own version and wear it too!
Please do drop and in vote for your favorite out of 9 new Navarathri Dresses i made this year for Adithi!
Happy blogiversary and thanks for making our days more beautiful! Good luck to all, awesome pattern, I have no idea what those sizes are but I'd love to win it!
Happy Bloggy-versary :O).
It turned out lovely. You look like a wood fairy :O),in the photos… I have an embroidery machine design of a woods fairy, she has long auburn hair and a lovely dress on, these photos make me think of that embroidery design :O). Please enter me in the drawing. Thanks
Your blog is fantastic and I am always amazed at how productive you are, both with sewing and blogging. Lovely pattern, I think for me it would have to be a LBD short version. Looks like a 40"s movie outfit to me, very stylish.
Oh Carolyn, this is beautiful!! are you sure you want to part with it? The floral version is really lovely too. But if you do want to part with it I would love it. I guess you traced it so you aren't parting with it, eh? Happy blogoversary!!
Happy blogiversary to you, Carolyn! I love the LBD, and the definition, too! I do not own either a little or a long BD, and your version is lovely.
happy blog-iversary! ^^ (i always forget mine..) i like the dress and the pattern!!
Please toss my name into the hat. I don't need/want a LBD (yet) but this would be divine in crimson, carmine, carnelian. In other words, RED!!
Woweee! I love that pattern. You did a marvelous job. I would like to see you in a red velveteen for the holidays! Wonderful job. I want that pattern. I would do it in another color cause I am one of a very few people that look terrible in black. Gray, yes. Black, no!
I loved the Rhettism as much as the dress! and oh your LBD is nice. I don't want to be in the drawing – I already have tons of patterns I need to use and would feel guilty taking it 😛 Happy Bloggerversery ummm yeah…….Congrats, and good for all of us because your stuff is awesome!
From a time when men were masculine and women were so feminine, love your new dress, it looks fantastic on you
p.s. Hope you'll enjoy visiting Denmark some day
Happy blogoversary!!
Wow! Your dress is looking great! I am impressed how good you look in this colour. I am a follower of your Blog since some months and I really enjoy reading it.
Happy Blogiversary! Please go on!
Angie
Where was this pattern 19 years ago when I needed it?
Oh, right. It was in my head, or at least something very similar.
My wedding dress is startlingly similar to this dress – sleeveless, much lower in the back, and with a wider, double-layered skirt – but my initial startled impression was "That's my wedding dress!" Which is really weird when you consider that my wedding dress was completely self-drafted – the first, and indeed only, dress I've ever designed and made from complete scratch.
Mum you gorgeous in this dress! its emphasises your slim figure 🙂 i hope i look half as good as you when i grow up 😀
The dress looks very fabulous and elegant on you. Don't enter me in the draw as I don't think I could possibly carry off such a dress!
Thank you for your comments by the way on my news. I haven't been able to reply to comments for a week but am catching up now.
*lol* I saw the title and the pic and thought: "wow, not so little!" before I read what you wrote. Very chique!
I think I'll opt out of the giveaway, though. I always feel like I look silly in long dresses, and I'm almost sure I won't give this pattern the reverence it deserves.
Happy blogiversary, Carolyn! 🙂
Happy 2 year blogoversary! I love reading your posts.
This dress looks amazing on you.
(I do have the pattern too)
What a lovely elegant lbd you've inspired me to get my machine back out. Please enter me in your
drawer this is just what I've been looking for for my wedding dress
lovely! looks stunning on you! wish I could make one of my own for xmas in red maybe! tres chique!
Ooh, I'd love that! It's perfect for a LBD for my choir! Love it! Please include me in the hat!
Ooh this dress is amazing. I would love a dress half this special. Please count me in for the draw.
Happy Blogoversary!
just happended to land here…..I will "fav" it so I find you again. Just Love your LBD, put me in the hat !