Silk Organza Party Dress for Gene

 

I had some fun with Gene Marshall a couple of weeks ago.  This dress wasn't commissioned.  It was just something I wanted to try so it is available if anyone is interested.  It is inspired by a vintage design but I changed the skirt to a full one to showcase the organza.  The dress is created from a grape colored silk taffeta overlaid with lilac silk organza.  The full sleeves are a beautiful lace over organza.  SOLD

Vintage Dress and Bolero for Gene

 

This is another commission outfit for Gene Marshall done from a picture of a vintage sewing pattern from the 50's.  The client chose this vintage cotton voile from Frenchfashions.net.  I'll admit to having some initial misgivings about the scale of this fabric but in the end it worked out well.  Instead of doing the original jacket which covered up the bodice of the dress, a bolero was chosen instead.  The dress and jacket are both completely lined in green silk habotai.  

Tonner Lacie Churchill in Vintage

 

This is Tonner's new doll, Lacie Churchill.  She has a little bit different body than his other 16" dolls. From the waist down she's Grace or RTB-101 but her waist is between Grace and the original Tyler body.  The bust measurement is about the same.  She came in a beautiful lace skirt and bustier but my dolls don't want to dress like everyone else.  Since I love the 50's fashion, and she gives me Rita Hayworth vibes, I wanted to put her in vintage.  Although not as sexy as Rita Hayworth usually dressed, these are a couple of patterns based on vintage designs that I did a while ago and hadn't sewed up yet.  I put a full skirt on the dress because the coat is full and can handle it.  I only had to make minor adjustments to the waist to fit this doll.  In fact, there is enough give in the waist that it should also fit Grace.  

The coat is made of a drapey rayon and lined with the same cotton lawn as the dress.  The collar and belt are dark blue raw silk.  Scroll to the end for the inspiration pic.  

Vintage Tiger Lily Dress for Gene

 

This was a commission to recreate a dress from 1950 for the Gene Marshall doll.  Scroll to the end for the inspiration photo.   The client wanted a fabric with an Asian feel and chose this tiger lily print cotton lawn by Selma Cardoso on Spoonflower.  The dress has a draped overskirt, cuffed sleeves, and a mandarin collar with a front snap closure.  The red belt is faux leather.

Vintage Stripes for Gene

This was a commission to recreate a vintage dress and coat from the 50's pattern.  Scroll to the end to see the inspiration photo.  I was fortunate to find a lightweight cotton in an stripe that is just the right scale, almost the same colors.  Both the sleeveless dress and coat have full circle skirts and are completely lined in silk/cotton.  As you can see from the pics, the striped of the skirts of the dress and coat go in opposite directions.  The coat closes with a hook and thread loop, then ties at the front.  Matching all these stripes was a bit of a challenge but it turned out adorable, IMHO.  

Brocade and Silk Taffeta Evening Set for Tonner Tyler

 

This one has been on my to-do list for awhile.  I drafted the pattern ages ago.  I bought this gorgeous brocade from Frenchfashions.net quite a while ago and it took forever to find some tissue silk taffeta to match and that came from India last year.  I actually started cutting this out months ago when my wrist was broken but couldn't work with the silk lining with my left hand.  So it sat in a drawer for a few months until it was finally completed yesterday.  The dress and bolero are fully lined in blue silk habotai.  The sparkly brooch is from an assortment of shankless buttons I found on Etsy a long time ago.  It did have to be glued on (which I hate doing) but there is simply no place to stitch it.  Scroll to the end for the inspiration picture.  

Japanese Cotton Two Piece Dress for Tonner Tyler

 

I absolutely love Japanese fabrics, especially the cotton prints.  Since this one is a poplin, the weight lent itself to more of a suit-like structure.  I'm not sure what this type of sleeve is called.  It's half set in below the princess seams and half kimono at the shoulder.  Whatever, it is tricky to do but I finally nailed the fit on this style.  The skirt is not quite a full circle and the excess was pleated at the waist.  Since I don't consider an outfit complete without accessories, I did a quickie clutch and hat with some thin faux leather for a little punch of color.