The 'Last Days of Summer' Dress

I know that technically the last day of summer isn't until later in September but for some reason end of August starts to feel like a transition into Autumn.  I'm sharing my latest make which is a summer dress but with some autumnal hues.

This fabric is one of those hard cottons that is sort of stiff--but washes quite nicely and was a gift from some colleagues.  

The dress pattern itself is a hack of one of my favourite dresses.  I basically self-drafted the bodice copying one of my existing dresses:

For the skirt, I adapted the skirt pattern from Tilly's Lilou dress pattern from her first book 'Love at First Stitch':

I do quite like the v-neck bodice and pleated skirt effect.  The dress is sleeveless --so works perfectly with layering:

The dress closes with a side zip --which I just find way easier than back zippers for functionality!

Very pleased with how it came out and I'm already planning more dresses since it's such a quick make.

How cool is this location? Hard to believe it's within Edinburgh--Dr. Neil's Garden.  It has almost a beachy feel to it!

Excited to do more autumnal sewing--time to dig out my tweeds and wools again! yipppeee!  What about you--planning new seasonal outfits?

Photos: Darja Bilyk
MUAH: Vanity Thrills

McCall 3718: The 'Glamour Girl Slip'

Welcome to my love of 1940 McCall patterns, where even the slips are glamorous!

This was my first time ever making a vintage slip and what a gem McCall 3718 is as a pattern.  The slip itself is almost like a dress (in fact, it could be a dress!)  I made it out of cream coloured silk fabric.

The pattern itself features a scooped neckline with slight gathering under the bust, thin shoulder straps, a paneled, slightly flaring skirt and a side zipper.

I did a hand picked zipper insertion --which looks best (and was easiest) with the silk fabric.

I'm incredibly picky about my slips and usually only wear half slips. I think this vintage pattern solves my dislike for slips as this serves the purpose of both camisole and slip all in one and of course the fit and flare goes perfectly with my other 1940 McCall patterns.  There are three slip patterns in the 1940 catalogue and I can't wait to make the others.  I'm thinking maybe black for the next slip?

These amazing photos (the first one and the last one) were take by Veronika Marx (V's Anchor Studio)--and I just love how she captures the glamour era--makes me feel like I should be lounging in my slips all the time! :)