Recent content by vintagelaura

Pattern Rescue is another resource for missing pattern pieces. I've donated patterns to them, I recently sent in a copy of a piece that someone needed, and I just received a pattern from them that I requested. They're really nice to deal with! http://www.patternrescue.com Laura

JudithM is wonderful. I've ordered from them several times, and my orders were always processed promptly and exactly what I wanted. Laura

Thank you for checking!! I never thought they would have put out two different versions of the blouse. I wonder why they changed it without updating the illustrationg? I'll have to keep looking for the pattern *with* the hood! Laura

Double check the pattern envelope, but I'm almost certain that it does NOT include the hooded blouse. I have the same (original) pattern, and mine has the same illustration but no hood. I have no idea why they (Simplicity) would illustrate something that is not in the pattern! It was a customer...

Nikki, have you ever seen an inner bodice in an antique dress? The book, "Costume in Detail", talks about one on an edwardian dress, and I saw one several years ago for sale on the VintageTextile website. The inner bodice is sort of like a corset in shape and size, but it isn't meant to be...

Actually, now that I've looked over the JudithM site again, I don't remember if I ordered petersham or grosgrain. But either one will work. Both are a sturdy, ribbed "ribbon", but not flimsy like decorative ribbon you might buy at a craft store. Waist stays are usually about 1" wide, so go for...

No, grosgrain *is* what waist stays are made of. Not the thin, narrow stuff they sell at Joann's - real grosgrain. In the past I've bought grosgrain from JudithM Millinery. High quality modern clothing still uses waist stays, so it isn't just found in vintage clothes. That's an idea, and one I...

First thing I would do is add a waist stay inside the dress. That will help it stay put and resist the pull of the train. A waist stay is a like an inner belt sewn inside the dress at the waistline to help the dress hang correctly. They are typically made of grosgrain ribbon and are sewn to...

I think you're looking at the photo in Threads? I was confused when I first saw the article, until I realized they were using a model. The photo in Threads isn't Alexandra Reynolds. You can see a picture of her on her website, at http://www.evadress.com/ED.html. She's still young, just not as...

Pam, are those clothing labels on the train case? If so, that's a great idea! Laura

Yes, the guild is a great resource! There are a lot of things there that are helpful in dating items or learning more about them. As far as the use of the copyright symbol, I am pretty certain I have seen earlier items using the C in a circle. And I found this, and both found here...

The Vintage Fashion Guild has a bunch of Saks labels in the label resource. http://www.vintagefashionguild.org/component/option,com_alphacontent/section,6/cat,59/task,view/id,524/Itemid,100/ That label looks closest to the 1930s and 1940s labels, I think, so I would agree that it's probably a...

Several years ago I went to a wedding out-of-state for one of my husband's cousins. I wore a nice black cocktail-like dress to the wedding, which I had worn once to another wedding. We were college students at the time, and it was the nicest dress I owned, so I wore it. Well, the out-of-state...

I love Spanx power panties, reversible tights and pantyhose. I find them infinitely more comfortable than regular nylons. But I have found that many of the traditional companies have adopted the Spanx style of not having that rubber band in the waist, so other pantyhose are more comfortable than...

I was just going to mention that! The Humane Society has a nationwide program called Coats for Cubs, and I had some furs that were starting to split. It was a great way for me to dispose of the furs and know that they were still going to be used (and for a good cause!). A coordinator from the...