DC Vintage Fashion Week Goodwill Auction

Last Friday, DC Goodwill held a "Traveling Trunk Show" and vintage auction at Gossip on 23rd in Arlington, VA. This event was to tie up Vintage Fashion Week in DC, and was an excuse for me to start sending out feelers in the DC fashion community. I love people, but I'm not the most social of persons, so I didn't exactly come away with a bunch of new friends. It's a start though. Maybe next time, I'll actually talk to someone. 

So, I went to the auction, and they had some seriously cute dresses up for bid. DC's fashion bloggers Spicy Candy DC did the photo shoots, so I thought I'd show off their good work and better pictures of the pieces. I would say that I liked almost all of them, but here are some of my immediate favorites: 

Polka dots!

Simple cut, with a fun print

I really love the details on this 1930's dress. I was so sad that it didn't fit me well.

I love the fabric for this 1940s dress. The cut is really cute too, but wouldn't have fit me well.

This one ended up being my favorite.

An excellent example of a 1930s party dress. 

Lace insets on the flutter sleeves.

This dress's design is a little hard to see because of the color and fabric, but it reminded me of this pattern, only with flutter sleeves:

Courtesy Vintage Pattern Lending Library

This was my other favorite: A 1940's dress

"waterfall cascade detail"

The main dilemma that I found myself having at this event was that the dresses just didn't fit me. Most of the clothes didn't. I know that vintage fitting is not the same as it is now, what with the different shaping undergarments worn in different decades. But in order for me to spend the money on a quality vintage piece, as they often run in the $40s-50s in forums like etsy (or at auctions meant to raise money), I want the fit to be as close to right as possible. 

I can accept that I may have to settle for Jr sizes or a snug waist, but in order for me to do most of the auction pieces any justice, I really needed some curves. And maybe some heighth-these were some loooong skirts for a short girl.  I eventually found myself looking at the busts' cut on the dresses before I would decide if I could try it on or bid. Though some details are lovely, say like the cut of the flowery 1930s dress, if you can't fill in the top, it really just looks frumpy. Trust me on this.

One of the things I love about thrifting is the find of a dress just your size or a piece of clothing you can rip up and make into something that is just your size. The quality of the pieces on auction and their age really made me hesitant to bid, because I just can't see myself altering them. Do you alter vintage clothing older than the 70s or 80s?

I've never seen this ribbon trip before, and I'm not quite sure I understand it, but I'm interested in figuring it out.

There were other vintage clothes for sale as well, though again, the fit on some were just not quite right. So, I just took pictures of the details that I liked about them. Daydreaming of executing them in future sewing projects.

An Anne Sui romper. I liked the print and cut.

I'm not sure of it's age, but I love this top's collar

So, at the end of the evening, I ended up buying a super cute brown cloche hat that looks very much like this: 

Source: Hat Show

It fits, and I can wear it more often than an evening dress. The only part that bums me out is that the hat wasn't Goodwill fare, but rather from the boutique. I've been wearing it a bunch since Friday though.

So, tell me. When do you alter vintage and by how much before it feels like butchery?

Completely Random Observation

Just as an aside, I was thrifting a bit over the weekend, and came across this pattern.

Doesn't the girl in the green remind you of Mena?

I mean, seriously!

My Leona Caldwell

Here are vintage pieces that I own that were done by the Arizona designer Leona Caldwell.

I found this dress in a small thrift shop in Prescott, Arizona years ago. I think it was $15, and it fit almost perfectly, which is a rarity for someone as small chested and wide ribbed as I. I have loved on this dress for years, and only recently had to "put it down" (i.e., in a box) because its age is starting to tell.

Roadrunners

How amazing are her prints? The simplicity and style, as well as the placement are just so gratifying to me. I also really love this color combo.

Above are the injuries I have inflicted upon this beauty. The seams around the armscye just are too delicate to risk wearing anymore. I've fantasized about mending the rips, but the cotton is so thin, I dare not risk such heavy duty stitching on it.

The other part that has stopped me from even attempting mending is the sweet construction of the dress itself. Super simple: no lining, minimal stitches for the seam finishing, but a facing that was sewn together as one piece and connects to both the armscyes and neckline. There was no way I was going to try to take that facing off and then try to put it back on. I would mangle it!

I have not been able to locate any Leona Caldwell dresses of similar cut as my first dress. And finding anything the right size has been even more difficult. But, I just don't want to own one piece of hers!  I was able to find this very differently styled, I assume later made, yellow dress by Leona on eBay recently. It is a little too big, but it becomes less of an issue with a nice belt or tie around the waist. The roadrunners on this one are a little more detailed too, so I like to think of how these two dresses show a trajectory in style and artistic development for Leona.  What do you think?

(And how about those sweet socks?)

Thrifting Finds: Goodwill, Good Luck

I had a few run-ins with the Goodwill near my parents this year. I really do find that I am a sucker for a deal, and I do like the chance to reuse things that are worth revisiting.

I won't go into too much detail, but thought I'd show off some of my finds over this summer. A thrifty retrospective, if you will. The best part is that some of these I got at half price, so they were only 30-some cents. I'll have to get back to you about whether they are actually complete patterns, I suppose.

I don't know how helpful this will be, but I am fascinated.

Here are some of the neat diagrams contained therein.

Hopes for shorts and flowy maxi dresses that were sadly not realized. This year.

Totally reminds me of Oona's spy post

I've found myself fascinated by blouses these days.

Thrifting finds: Antique Malls and Leaky Tires

So, even though I've been postponing sewing for unreasonable reasons, I have not stopped thinking about it. I think I'm just better at getting caught up with the idea of sewing than I am at following through. At least, when I'm needlessly nervous (thanks for the kick in the pants, Magpie Mimi & Amy!).

(I hope to post soon on the sewing. I still have work to do, though.)

Over the summer, I have just started to enjoy the extra hours afforded by part-time work. Like visiting an antique mall and buying various goodies for reasonable prices. I really don't like spending more than five dollars on a pattern unless I know I *have* to make that pattern for some reason. So, getting $2 goodies always feels good and justifiable.

Here's a  visual summary of some of the goodies I procured:

I was particularly intrigued by this attachable bib, even though I cannot decide if I'll ever wear such a thing: 

A closer view: 

I also was able to find a McCall's Step-By-Step Sewing Book, which I thought would be fun as another basic resource. I'm pretty sure I can't have enough of those. I need reinforcement on the basics all the time. But more importantly, check out that wacky, hot print on that dress!

The pictures and content are pretty sweet from what I've looked through, too:

I feel like I need to have matching nail polish for all of my projects now. Or at least a red dress to sew. So feisty!

Apologies for the wobbles on this one; I am still learning proper photography concepts, so had suffered from some shaky hand meets overly long exposure. Either way, I'm excited to read the book. I'm sure I'll get some good info out of it.

I think I got all of these things, plus two or three pieces of fabric for under $11. Not bad! The only portion of the trip that was almost a disaster was that I got a nail in my tire and had to find a tire place open on a Sunday. I was fortunate, in that I found a tire place and then had my family meet me for dinner in the meantime. A productive day all around!

Any good thrifting finds on your end?

Thrift Finds from This Week, Part 2: Notions

Now on to the notions portion of my sweet haul from the flea market. Again, some of these notions are actually destined for another's stash, but I won't tell you which. She needs to be somewhat surprised at least. 

Ribbons, embroidered and otherwise

Lacy goodness!

Close up of the trims

This one reminds me of Sarai's challenge pieces

More fabric covered buttons, and lapel pins!

Thrift Finds from this Week, Part 1: Fabric

Went to a local church's flea market this weekend, and spent about $14 on sewing stuff. Fabric and notions. Thing is, I got so much, I have to make two posts to make it digestible! 

1.5 yards, cotton

2 yards, cotton

1.5 yards, nubbly cotton 

less than 1 yard, nubbly fabric (cotton/synthetic mix?)

2.5 yards cotton lawn? voile?

.5 yard of black, lined lace. I didn't adjust the levels on this, so the red tints pops out more than it does in real-life.

2.3 yards of silky synthetic brocade, from a wrap. To go with the lace.

I also bought about 3 yards of what seems to be white cotton batiste (?), which is awesome considering how I couldn't find it in JoAnn Fabrics for my swing dress. If it's not batiste, it will do quite nicely, as it's light and pleasant to the touch. It even has a bit of shimmer to it. *dreamy expression* There's another bit of similar batiste-y cotton, but the measurements are hard to determine; it's very long but cut up in places. I would say it adds up to about 1.5 yards on a more standard bolt.

So, that's about 15 or so yards for less than $1/yard, since I haven't even included the notions I bought.

So, now that I have all of this fabric, anyone have any suggestions on what to make?

Thrift Finds from Last Week

There's even more you can't see.

I'm pretty behind on this blog, I realize this. Well, okay. Behind compared to how often I'd like to be posting. A post every few days has been fun, but just not practical for me of late.

Which is why I'm only now posting about some awesome thrift finds I had last week. I stayed home with a sick Buddy two Fridays ago, which gave me time to finish my wedding crepe. Only thing was that I didn't have any bias tape, and the tutorials I reviewed about making my own recommended the use of a bias tape maker. Boo.

But! I had time to make a Value Village run while Buddy was sleeping off some crazy allergic reaction. I've gone there before and saw bags and bags of bias tape, so I thought I may get lucky. I didn't really get lucky in terms of bias tape, but ooh la la! Fabric and buttons!

One bag of vintage buttons, which also contained some belt buckles and bias tape (but I didn't see it until I had already bought some for the crepe). $2.50

And more.

One and a half yard or so of black duck cotton. $1

Almost three yards of thick brown cotton. $2.50

I also got a pattern for Butterick 6602, which I think was $2?

So, grand total of under $10. Yippee!!

This is actually black.

 I bought both the pattern and the duck cotton in the hopes of making some shorts. As I watch others get ready to participate in Me-Made-June, I realize I just don't have any home-sewn bottoms. Just some dresses. 

I had thought I'd make some shorts with the fabric and pattern together, but I think I may try to use them separate. The simplicity of the pattern seems like it may be a waste of some fun fabric. 

The brown fabric is also darker than this.

I am really excited about the brown fabric, as it is just long and heavy enough for me to feel like it'd work well for a jumpsuit. My cousin has requested a jumpsuit, and I plan on using the "ugly" pattern I posted on The Sew Weekly a bit ago. This will be my first time making a fitted pattern for someone else since I resumed sewing. I never realized how much pressure I'd feel just knowing that someone else will wear this.

I have some kawaii cotton fabric from the tsunami raffle I won a bit ago that I think I'll use as some contrast fabric. Not doing the pockets and straps like that though. No way. 

All I need now is a long zipper, and I can tackle this project.

As for the buttons, these are my favorites. The dark buttons are hopefully to be used on some sailor pants I'd like to make. I love those things. The green and red have such cool designs on them! The mother of pearl buttons are just so pretty and sooooo vintage. The belt buckles are fun because I can now think in terms of matching belts for projects. And finally, the fabric covered buttons should offer some fun options for future projects.

I know these pics are  a little small. I'll post bigger versions on Flickr.

After participating in the Traveling Lace exchange through The Sew Weekly Circle, I realized how small of a notions stash I had. Seeing all of the lovely gifts others were sending around the world, I became even more self conscious about the meager set of options I had at home. I still think that my recipient through traveling lace hasn't received her package (though one person just recently got theirs, so maybe hers will show up soon too). Feeling really quite bad about that, I have decided that I will use some of the finds I've made recently to send her a new and improved notions package. She has know idea of what bounty awaits!