12.08.2014

I never get my shoes in the shot.

oonaballoona | vintage vogue dress | sewing blog

Two things this dress gives me: Bigger Mouth, and Bigger Boobs.

oonaballoona | vintage vogue dress | sewing blog

For real, look at the size of those things. I'm like a 48D version of Steven Tyler.

oonaballoona | vintage vogue dress | sewing blog

The front neckline was originally supersized as well. It had the refs throwing flags for intentional horse collar.

oonaballoona | vintage vogue dress | sewing blog

But they gave extra yardage for the bow. To go with the linebacker proportioned boobs and yapper. 

oonaballoona | vintage vogue dress | sewing blog

Luckily, I already had the appropriately voluminous derriere.

Pattern: Vintage Vogue 1084. Um. If you feel like sticking into something satisfying, grab a Vogue reprint at the next Joann's sale. I'm on my second envelope and am wildly eyeing my stash for ways to frankenstein bits and pieces into the required yardage for the handful of reprints I snagged at the last sale-- most of these eat up at least 4 yards. And that's pre-crinoline, which of course now, I must haz. (Hey vintage ladies, any good sources for cheap but decent RTW crinoline?)

Changes: Shortened the sleeves and lowered front neckline by about two inches. Used silk organza to reinforce the top bodice corner (as you would a gusset). Made an extra larger bow shape, layered with organza, and threaded it through the original bow. There was a little sagging in the back with just that one sad bow, and the added bow created a tighter backline! Bonus! There's no lining in this, which is...aggravating. Instructions let the exposed seams slide, so I ended up binding each and every seam.

Fabric: Both fabrics were Christmas booty circa 2013, snatched up at Mood, and HOLY IMPOSSIBILITY, both fabrics are still there. This never happens with my MSN posts, which I feel pretty bratty about ("hey I loved this fabric whoopsy daisies sorry it's all gone kaybyyyeee!") so leave it to me to make a non-MSN dress where the yardage is still in existence. Here's the main dress, and here's the contrast bow.

Photos: Flagrant Foul called for Overuse of the Surface Blur Option; to give a vintage feel, and make up for Revolting Injured Camera. Apologies. No dress was harmed in the 'shopping of these photos.

Have you got a holiday dress on your table? I'm on my fifth. HOLIDAY SUPERSIZE ME, YO.

73 comments:

  1. Fabulous fabulosity Batman! That is one party ready holiday dress. It's made me realise that I'm a little lacking in the sparkly holiday dress department. I really should get my act together. Nice shoes too ;-)

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    1. how are you lacking for dressy dresses?! i imagine sheaths od sequins and leather in your closet!

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  2. Pettiskirt style for RTW crinoline. They are the best ever.

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    1. But definitely get a pettiskirt and not a petticoat. More fluff! Lots of colors! Super soft!

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    2. i am on the hunt! in fact, your mention of petti*skirt* reminded me that there's an awesome vintage/thrift/costume store in ruggy's hometown. guess who's coming home with a suitcase of pettiskirts.

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    3. If you're flying, don't wear one through the airport security line unless you want to be patted down. The scanners will flag you! Pro tip!

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  3. This brocade beauty is coming with you to every holiday party this season, right, Oona? I can't help you with the crinoline...I guess I would haunt some vintage shops for a good deal and than clear half the closest cause that baby is going to take up some room. You might even have to part with some stilettos and fabrics just so everyone gets along happily.

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    1. teehee!!! actually, since posting, i'm thinking of lowering that neckline more & hacking away at the sleeves. it's weird to see this illusion of bust!

      parting with fabric? NEVAH.

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  4. You are Queen of Everything, Oona! I love this dress! I do have a holiday dress planned. It involves fabric printed with Santas wearing Hawaiian shirts. I am so sophisticated, me!

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  5. Oh my word, this is so gawjuss on you! A very pretty dress for an even prettier lady...shame you can't wear it to your auditions, but I hope you have lots of parties over the festive season!

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    1. thank you marie! i have to physically restrain myself when i get a "dressy" audition (they mean NY/LA modern chic sophisticate, not crinolines. sigh).

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  6. I've purchased a few crinoline's from this ebay site:

    http://www.ebay.com/sch/shop4bridal/m.html?item=121142471946&hash=item1c34a76d0a&var=&pt=US_CSA_WC_Skirts&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562

    They are very inexpensive and do the job. Not as soft as some out there but the price difference can't be beat. Plus the stiffness of the crinoline adds to the volume and lift.

    Love your rendition of Vogue 1084. I have this pattern in my stash and can't wait to make it up!

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    1. thank you staci! i've combed ebay but it's good to have a link you've bought from. i'm going to try a vintage store pre christmas but this'll do the trick if i fail!

      you're gonna love this pattern. lots of tricky bits. if you don't like exposed seams, you might want to consider binding!

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  7. fabulous dress! love the big bow(s) at the back! that fabric is so pretty (and from some reason i want to have pants made in similar fabric).. and shoes look delicious, from what i can see :p

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    1. i am LAMENTING the fact that i did not make pants. holiday maxi pants.

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  8. Dress is gorgeous and the fit looks nice.

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    1. thankya lillian! the fit was pretty spot on out of the package, i think i only had to do a small short waist adjustment.

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  9. Eeeek!!!! I love this! Wear this purty dress everywhere!! All season long....I wouldn't take it off...ever.

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    1. :)) thank you margo! i should start wearing my dressing to morning coffee.

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  10. Beautiful dress and love the back detail.

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  11. 48D version of Steven Tyler - now there's a line I never expected to read! I love a vintage vogue especially for a special occasion. I have bought two of my petticoats from eBay and they were both cheap and do a great job. However, my favourite petticoats are my 2 I wore under my wedding dress from Vivienne of Holloway. They're super soft and comfy to wear and have the perfect amount of swish

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    1. ooo, that VoH is purrrrty. my wallet is hoping to find a suitable knockoff ;)

      that line was half ruggy's. i asked him who has a big mouth. first answer: YOU. second: steven tyler. boom.

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  12. I have the same problem with trying to get the shoes in my shots. Currently my 10 year old is my camera man and he does not understand framing a shot. I need to buy a new tripod, but it's so difficult to find one that isn't a ball grip that isn't a kajillion dollars. Love the dress, it's a gorgeous fabric!

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    1. right?! my tripod was 35 bucks, made by vivitar. not the greatest, but it has a screw in top. it's also part of the reason my camera fell, so....there's that.

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  13. Double bow bonus! So much metallic jewel toned awesome. I should have a holiday dress on my table (instead of baby clothes and soft toys)... I have the pattern and everything, just have to stop being so damn lazy and make a muslin!!

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    1. You've gone and inspired me - time to jump on the Deer & Doe bandwagon and make a damn muslin! My discovery of expensive fabrics collided with my anxiety levels and became greater than my lazy "cut it and see" approach!

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    2. YEAH GOGOGO DEER & DOE! why the hell are you still sewing kiddo clothes, woman?! DID WE NOT HAVE THIS DISCUSSION?!!!

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  14. Ooh, lovely! I wanted that pattern a few years ago when it had just been released but it wasn't available down here in Oz yet. I used the simplicity 2444 instead and added a tie back (same shape as this back but the tie coming across at the base of the neck instead of at the zipper). Great to see this vogue pattern made up - and so fabulously.
    As for crinolines, I made mine which was fun and actually very easy, but oh my god the number of pins you need to use when making a net crinoline is bloody ridiculous.

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    1. yes, that's why i'm running like hell from making a crinoline! zero desire.

      i bet the 2444 looks stunning-- great idea to hack it! i think the kimono sleeves on this are starting to make my eye twitch ;)

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  15. OMG! You have a conservative-in-the-front and a party-in-the-back thing going on! Love the big bow. The fabric is amazing. Love this dress

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  16. You look amazing - the fabulous dress is like the perfect accessory for your personality. I just listened to your episode of The Sewing Affair and you seem super cool. I'm so glad I found your blog!

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  17. Oh. I thought it was a reversible fabric. Not so. It's an additional bow. HUGE BOW. I think I like it better than the original on you.
    Is the front painstakingly matched, or is it just a happy accident in a busy print? Because it looks matched.
    I don't know about crinolines and cheap - definitely not cheap for me - but Kellie Falconer makes these awesome many-coloured tulle skirts I've been drooling over for probably two years now.
    https://www.etsy.com/shop/kelliefalconerdesign?section_id=15043223&ref=shopsection_leftnav_1

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    1. a very happy accident! i usually go crazyface on matching, but this print was wild enough to throw caution to the wind.

      and oh, those are gorgeous. i couldn't bear to hide that under a dress!!

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    2. Hm. True, that. Now you'll be drooling, too. ;-)

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  18. Now THAT is a party dress!! Love this on you! That bow!! That first back shot made me smile so freaking wide!

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  19. That dress screams PAR-TAY! Great fabric Oona, and from what I can see of them, those shoes are pretty awesome too!

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    1. those shoes! those shoes! 10 bucks at the now bankrupt daffy's. i pine for daffy's....

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  20. It's weird that a high necked dress makes you so boobtastic! This dress is bananasawesome. You're basically a walking Christmas present!

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    1. right? i do think i'm going to lower it again. though i love the idea of being a walking christmas prize!

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  21. You my dear are adorable. You, your creations, your writing style, your flair.. All absolutely adorable.

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  22. Malco Modes still exists, they've been making petticoats since at least the 50's. I used to buy wholesale when I did theater but they do retail now. You can also take a bridal petticoat (I get all mine through Freecycle so they're...free) and in an hour turn it into a petticoat to go under dresses such as your lovely :) I'm working on a blog post on that very thing right this minute, because ya know, sewing is SO MUCH BETTER than dealing with real life right now!!

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    1. those are great! you can practically hear the swish!

      that reminds me...i think i have my petticoat in storage....

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  23. I absolutely love a dress with gorgeous back detail. (So many vintage patterns feature backs that are as interesting as the fronts!) This is a fabulous dress made out of exquisite fabric, paired with the perfect accessories! You look wonderful!!

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    1. thank you! i do love these vintage details, it's hard to get bored sewing something like this!

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  24. The fabric...she is gorgeous....almost like a moire, but with some sass! And you know, I think Steven might like this in a blazer too. Don't worry, if it came down to a who wore it better, you'd win hands down, no question. You are a vision of loveliness.

    I bought acres of tulle to make an awesome crinoline. It swallowed me whole, and although I survived the ordeal, I've never had the courage to go back at it. I'm REALLY curious about Loran's Freecycle...what's that I ask?

    One make...just one fancy make almost started. I know the pattern, I have the fabric...I'm delaying because I just am not sure about the fabric care...it's a lovely silk sari from Value Village....hand washing perhaps? I just don't really want to take it to the dry cleaners.

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    1. HAHAHAHA i would love to see tyler in a blazer out of this! maybe a headwrap?

      freecycle is a great site where people list things they're giving away. you can find them for local areas and set up meeting times to swap or simply give. i used it a lot in LA. not sure if it's only US?

      eh, you can launder silk at home! or, you know, just don't sweat.

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  25. I have found crinolines in sale at bridal shops. And they usually have adjustable waists.
    I love the shoe print with the dress print, but would remove the necklace.

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    1. funny, i think that's the first time i've worn this necklace! i just "removed" it by holding my finger up to the screen, and i think you're right. it adds to that high neckline, and that neckline definitely doesn't need any additions. HA.

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  26. I can't get my mind off that beautiful fabric!!! How can it still be in stock?!!???! I need some, I guess :)

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    1. i mean right?! the site picture isn't great, maybe that's why?

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  27. This is gorgeous! You look amazing! I'm weeping a li'l over your four holiday dresses cause I can't scrape together the time/energy/fabric to make ONE! SADNESS!

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    1. yeah but i can't make my ass sew anything super cute like you that i can wear on a daily basis! maybe we can swap brains for a week.

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  28. Whoa - this is a dress with FLARE. I love the back neckline - very pretty. It's pretty easy to make a crinoline. I made one for the dress I made from the BurdaStyle Sewing Vintage Modern book. The book also has a pattern for a two-tiered crinoline - essentially a rectangle with a gathered waist. You use bias tape for the waist.

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    1. ah, i tried the rectangle crinoline once, but it added too much volume to my waist! though i have been eyeing that BS book.

      and thank you:). i sort of want to walk into parties backwards so people see the bow first!

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  29. OMG, this dress. I was in love and then I saw the back bow and I fell outta my seat. SO good! As far as a cheap-o crinoline goes, I got a great one from amazon for under $20. Be sure to get own with a built-in slip as the others will have you ass-scratchin which is never a good look. Says on-lookers. LOVE THIS!

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  30. Well done! I'm in love with this fabric. I can't believe they had any of that left. Now, I'm trying to justify a reason to purchase some for myself. Then again... do we really need a reason to do that?

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  31. OMG crazy fun!

    Wait, crinoline the fabric or a pre-made crinoline? Because the fabric is pretty cheap (even up here), but the finished object can be pricey because they're kind of a niche market. They aren't hard to make, especially if you have a ruffler attachment, but it's not the most glamorous sewing....

    Anway... DRESS = Gorgeous! :D

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  32. Now I want to see the shoes! Such a lovely dress!

    (I used to be Saro but just set up a blog)

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  33. Beautiful! The back of that dress is absolutely gorgeous. You make the best fabric choices.

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  34. Wow – I love the pictures! Want all this stuff, too. You’re making me jealous!
    Also the design of your whole blog is really pretty, girl! ♡
    I’m following you via gfc & look forward for your next post. You’re great – keep going! ♡
    Adoorablee.blogspot.com ♡

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  35. Love it! It is really very pretty and oh so you!

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  36. Stunning. The back silhouette is faboulous.

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i thankya truly for taking the time to comment, i love a good conversation-- and hope you know my thanks are always implied, if not always written!