Recycled Silk for Gene

 This started out as an old silk camisole from my closet and ended up as a darling dress for Gene.  So this is truly OOAK.  It took quite some to take apart the cami.  There was a pintuck section on the top that I wanted to use but had to spend a lot of time removing the lace that was appliqued onto it.  I had to very carefully plan the placement and cut each piece out individually while matching the pattern of the fabric.  In spite of this, I still had to piece one skirt back, but you'll never find it.  I used the pintuck section for the bodice and insets in the skirt.  The original plan was to use the the lace from the bottom of the cami to edge the petticoat but, sadly, it wasn't long enough.  The tie belt is from the cami underbust drawstring.  The hat began as a buckram form that I created on a styrofoam ball and cut to shape.  After I stitched wire to the edge, it was covered with fabric and I bound the edge with a bias binding of the same fabric.  The trim is the insertion lace that held the drawstring.  The dress is fully lined in silk/cotton voile and closes with snaps in the back.  Dress and hat are available for $140 plus $6 boxed shipping in the US.  Email me at nwickman@chartermi.net if interested.  

Vintage Repro Coat and Dress for Gene

 

SOLD  So I have about eleventy billion inspiration photos of vintage fashion saved on my computer.  When I ran across this fabric while perusing Spoonflower one day, I remembered one that had this stripy floral design.  The original was in silk but all I could get from Spoonflower was cotton lawn.  The blue lining and sash are silk habotai however.  The inspiration pic doesn't show much of the detail of the coat so I guessed at it.  I made the coat slightly flared, with three-quarter sleeves and a stand up collar.  I left it open in the front to show the dress.  The dress has tiny tucks at the shoulder and is gathered under the bust into a midriff.  The coat and dress are available for $150 plus $6 boxed shipping in the US.  Email me at nwickman@chartermi.net if interested.  

Blue Wool Vintage Suit for Gene or Retro Glam

SOLD This beautiful blue is a tropical weight wool that I found at Farmhouse Fabrics.  The inspiration for this suit is from a vintage photo.  The suit is fully lined in matching blue silk/cotton batiste and closes with snaps.  The matching pillbox hat is included.  The model here is Liz from the Jamieshow Retro Glam line but the suit fits any Gene body.  The suit and hat are available for $150 plus $6 boxed shipping in the US.  Email me at nwickman@chartermi.net if interested.  

 

New Pattern Prototype in Cotton Sateen

 

SOLD  Thanks!  So I made a new pattern that is inspired by a vintage design and I wanted to try it out in a fabric that I have a lot of before I cut it out of silk as I originally intended.  The reason I have a lot of this fabric, which is a cotton sateen, is because it's a designer deadstock roll end so I had to buy the whole 2 1/3 yard piece to get it.  But the fabric worked so beautifully for this dress, I'm glad I had it.  The bodice is fully lined but I left the skirt unlined.  All the seam edges are finished with a serger and I did take the time to hand hem it.  For the silk version, I will make the skirt fuller and add to the length so I can put a petticoat under it.  The formal version doesn't have the bow and has a short jacket that goes over it.  But I love this version of it as a summer dress.  This one is available for $100 plus 6$ shipping in the US.  email me at nwickman@chartermi.net if interested.  

Lavender Silk Vintage Reproduction for Gene or Retro Glam

 

Not great pictures today.  It's gray and rainy in Michigan but I wanted to get this posted.  How often do you find three different silks in your stash that match?  This is a gown inspired by a vintage design.  The dress is lavender silk taffeta, the overskirt is silk organza and the belt is silk charmeuse.  I wanted to use a zipper in this dress so I incorporated the overskirt into the belt.  I used a bound continuous lap in the back of the overskirt so it's easy to put on over the doll's head and the opening is virtually invisible.  The belt does close with two snaps in the back.  The icing on the cake is the tiny sequins and size 15 beads that I stitched around the edge of the bodice.  Just the right amount of bling, I think, but she could still wear some sparkly jewelry with this outfit.  The gown and overskirt are available for $150 plus $6 shipping in the US.  Email me at nwickman@chartermi.net in interested.  

Poppy Floral Strapless Repro Dress

SOLD  Thanks.  This pretty little dress was inspired by an illustration of designs by Philip Hulitar, who was a chief designer for Bergdorf Goodman in the 40's and 50's.  (Pic at end)  The draped bodice and skirt are cotton lawn in a poppy print while the midriff, bow and piping are silk.  The bodice is fully lined in white silk/cotton voile and closes with snaps in the back.  The dress includes a separate petticoat of white silk/cotton voile and tulle.  Accessories not included.  I just thought pearls would be a feminine touch for this gown.  The dress and petticoat are available for $130.00 plus $6 shipping in the US.  Email me at nwickman@chartermi.net if interested.  

 

Repro Gown in Light Blue Silk Taffeta

I had a request to recreate this dress in a pale blue tissue silk taffeta and it's beautiful in this color with the cream contrast.  I don't usually like doing the same thing twice but it did give me a chance to make some minor refinements to this bodice pattern--and I do really like this bodice despite the tricky curves.  Just as a reminder, I'll post the inspiration pic of the bodice at the end.