The Retro Files

Friday, January 7, 2011

Retro Novelty Prints

What do you think of vintage novelty prints? They were big in the forties and fifties and there is something so charming about them.

I like looking at them, but what about actually wearing them? Whenever I envision a dress made from a novelty print it envokes memories of The Magic School Bus. This was a series of books and TV shows all about Ms. Frizzle, an elementary school science teacher, and her class, who ride around on a magical school bus which takes them on field trips to impossible locations. I remember actually watching these in school in third grade. The most memorable episode to me was when they went, in their bus, inside the human body. They also went into space, the center of the earth, and back in time to the land of the dinosaurs. The teacher Ms. Frizzle was a little crazy and her dress print always matched the subject they were learning about.

Ms. Frizzle was definitely kooky but do novelty prints have to be? What do you think?

I think the novelty print is most successful in a circle skirt. Something about a circle skirt makes campiness OK.

Fabric designer Micheal Miller has the cutest retro inspired prints! Check out these.

Could a retro novelty print circle skirt be in my future?

Thursday, January 6, 2011

"The Latest Freak in Women's Fashions"

The term 'hobble skirt' came into popular use in the early 1910s when Paul Poiret introduced long skirts that were narrow at the hem, with no slits, pleats or other practical device to facilitate walking.

Sketch by Poiret of "the lampshade dress"

Hobble skirts can look so graceful. It's fascinating that women actually wore them. Perhaps it can be said the hobble skirt was the daughter of the bustle look and the mother of the pencil skirt. Check out this article from 1910 in the NY Times. "The Hobble is the Latest Freak in Women's Fashions" reads the headline. Under one illustration showing two women in hobble skirts sitting and trying to cross their legs the caption reads "These are not exaggerated at all. The skirts actually look like this." It seems even people at the time thought "what are they thinking" in regards to women who wore hobble skirts. The trend seems to have petered out for the most part by 1913.
Here are some more pictures.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves: first costume down and renderings!

Right now I am designing the play Snow White and the Seven Dwarves set in 18th century France.
I have Snow White's first costume almost done.

I just need to hem it. I used Sense and Sensibility's 1780s Ladies' Portrait Dress Pattern. It came out beautifully! I really like this pattern, especially the sleeves and how they are set in the back. The pattern is very easy and fitting isn't much of a problem because it has a drawstring at the neck and waist. My dress form is too big for the dress so I can't wait to see it on the girl I am making for.

Next to work on the witch's dress. I will be using the same pattern. I am really excited to make this because I love the fabric.

The sparkly gray fabric is for an underlay and white shimmery fabric for an overlay. The sash will be the gray and black striped fabric.
I can't wait to make it!
Here are my renderings for the whole show.