Vintage Pink Lace Replica for Gene

 

This week I've created a replica of a cocktail outfit from a vintage fashion catalog.  (Inspiration pic at end.)  This piece of pink lace has been around since I made Barbie clothes for my niece.  She turned 26 two days ago so it's been a while.  I laid it over white tissue silk taffeta.   The dress and coat are both fully lined in white silk/cotton.  It's finished off with a white silk pillbox hat with a rhinestone embellishment.  If you look at the closeup pics of this outfit, you can see something different that I did.  In order to make the lace look like it was appliqued onto the white silk, I did a little decorative stitch in pink thread along the seams.  I think it was pretty effective.  Dress, coat and hat are available for $160 plus $6 shipping in the US.  Email me at nwickman@chartermi.net if interested.  

Lavender Silk Evening Coat and Dress for Gene

SOLD Thanks! Vintage-inspired and yummy fabrics in this one.  The coat is silk tissue taffeta fully lined in silk habotai.  It closes with hook and thread loops and is adorned with a bow and rhinestone buckle at the neck..  The strapless dress is silk jacquard with accents of the tissue taffeta on the bodice.  The dress closes with snaps in the back.  Coat and dress are available for $160 plus $6 shipping in the US.  Email me at nwickman@chartermi.net if interested.  

 

Ivory Silk Fath Suit for Gene

SOLD  Thanks!  Who doesn't love a Jacques Fath suit from the 1955?  This one has been on my radar for a while.  Scroll down for the inspiration pic.  This one is made from ivory raw silk and fully lined in white silk/cotton.  The jacket has ties at the hips and closes with hooks and thread loops under tiny buttons.  The pencil skirt has a back walking slit.  The black hat is finished with black taffeta trim and bow.  The suit and hat are available for $150 plus $6 shipping in the US.  Email me at nwickman@chartermi.net if interested.  

 

Vintage Repro Suit For Gene

SOLD  Thanks!  This suit if a reproduction of a vintage style from a 1950's pattern book.  The fabric is a buttery yellow rayon jacquard lined in cream silk/cotton.  The jacket closes with hooks and thread loops under gold metal buttons.  I debated for a long time about the hat and accessories.  I knew I didn't want to use the same fabric as the suit, and  I considered a darker color-opposite such as eggplant but ultimately decided to stay in the pastel family.  The silk chiffon scarf and hat bow does a bit of yellow in it--it just doesn't show much.  The hat is made from stiffened gold aida cloth and I'll post a pic later of the beginning of it.  The suit and hat are available for $150 plus $6 shipping in the US.  Shoot me an email at nwickman@chartermi.net if interested.  

The hat involves lots of Spray n Bond Fabric Stiffener, the cap from a bottle of iron tablets, a 6" styrofoam ball and lots of pins.  
 

Giovanelli Sciara Vintage Reproduction for Gene

SOLD  Thanks!  I love this dress from a Giovanelli Sciara design for Advance patterns.  (Pic at end.)  I made the pattern months ago and finally got around to trying it out.  I chose to make it from a beautiful cobalt blue rayon batiste with a blue built in tulle petticoat.  The bodice is fully lined in a lighter blue silk/cotton.  I constructed the dress to close with snaps in the back.  It needed a matching pillbox hat with a blue tulle veil.   Dress and hat are available for $125 plus $6 shipping in the US.  Please email me at nwickman@chartermi.net if interested. 

 

 

Pretty in Pink Silk for Gene

SOLD Thanks!  Lots of luxury fabrics in this ensemble.  The dress of rose pink tissue silk taffeta is a reproduction of a vintage design. (Pic at end.)  It has a built in tulle petticoat.  The coat is a beautiful silk jacquard lined in pink silk habotai.  The coat has Crystallett pearl buttons on the front and cuffs and closes with hooks and thread loops if you want it to.  The coat design came mostly from my imagination.  Coat and dress are available for $160 plus $6 shipping in the US.  Email me at nwickman@chartermi.net if interested.  

 

Gold Brocade Evening Coat and Dress

 SOLD  Thanks!   Gold silk brocade evening coat and deep rose strapless silk taffeta dress modelled by my new favorite doll, Zita.  I added some faux fur cuffs in a nod to Barbie Evening Splendor.  The bodice is the same one that I created for the previous turquoise party dress.  But the weight of both of these fabrics demanded a straighter silhouette.  But I love this bodice with a straight skirt as well. The belt on the dress is embroidered with beads, pearls and a rhinestone.  Outfit is available for $145 plus $6 shipping in the US.  Email me at nwickman@chartermi.net if interested.  

This coat isn't a replica of any specific vintage garment but after I made it and while I was travelling down one of my rabbit holes on the internet researching Ann Lowe, I discovered this picture of Ann Lowe posing with a miniature replica that she created of Lady Bird Johnson's inauguration outfit and noticed the similarities.  Though not exactly miniature as the dolls were 48", the whole collection is still fun to see.  You can look at all of them here.

Most people don't know that Ann Lowe was the designer of Jackie Kennedy's iconic wedding gown because she never got the credit (or the money) she deserved.  She was a brilliant couture designer who created stunning gowns for many of society's wealthy elites while navigating the obstacles put in her path in the era of segregation and Jim Crow.  

The dress required 35 yards of silk taffeta, 20 of which were used for all the bias strips for the swags and the large rosettes.  Yet she was only paid $500 for this dress.  To make matters worse, 10 days before the wedding, a water pipe burst in Lowe's studio ruining the dress as well as several of the bridesmaid dresses.  They all had to be recreated in an incredibly short period of time.  Ultimately Lowe lost thousands of dollars on this job.  That might have been worth it if she had been credited as the designer in the press but she wasn't.  The Ladies' Homes Journal referred to her as "a colored woman dressmaker, not the haute couture".  No one could blame her for being insulted.