Vintage Op-Shoppery

I've been thinking that its been too long long since my last (waaay back here) op-shopping "haul" post. It's not like I haven't been cruising charity stores for sewing/crafting/clothing items - god knows that is my one little regular "splurge" - rather its the time involved in taking/uploading pics of the resulting finds. 

I know I know "excuses, excuses"!

So without further ado this is the result of my most recent expedition (of the thrift stores along Scarborough Beach Road):

Harking back to the early 1980s this dress was probably the height of fashion in its time. It now reminds me of the uniform I had to wear for my first ever job in a delicatessen (imagine it all in white with a name badge). The styling seems to be a little confused; all "Laura Ashley"/ladylike with the floppy hat and strappy heels, but the dress shape itself is very sporty/tuckshop lady/early 1980s checkout operator. 

Here we have a outfit I could jave imagined my mum in during the 1970's/80s and a background setting not unlike my very earliest childhood recollections. God bless carpet tiles and modular furniture ;)

 

Enid Gilchrist sewing books are a bit different from regular paper patterns as what you actually get is detailed instructions for drawing up your own pattern from the diagram given. I am guessing this was a more economical way of selling so many patterns (than printing out the actual pattern pieces themselves). I think this book is 1970s era (after 1966 anyway as it's price is in cents). Not sure what to make of the little girls outfit.... 

An example of one of the diagrams. This one is for changing a given shirt pattern into a blouse by altering some of the pattern pieces.

Six pale blue vintage buttons. Looking at the scrap of blue fabric on the back of one button I wonder whether they originally were much brighter in colour. Labelled as ceramic but in fact 100% plastic.
 

A roll of red bias cut stiffened fabric. Unfolded bias binding or stabilising tape? Sure it will come in handy and so cheap to boot! 

A very cute collection of smocked/pleated cushion covers, circa early 1960s. Unfortunately part of the front cover is missing but otherwise it seems complete. Happy to find this one as I haven't got anything else like it in my collection :)

So that's the beginning, I still have a huge backlog of op-shopping finds to get through!

Til next time...

Happy sewing/op-shopping ;)

Kate x

Vintage pattern meets romance novel?

That's the conclusion I came after spying this pattern cover:

To me it looks pretty much like a 1960's trashy romance novel cover- how often do you see THAT much storyline built into something related to home-dressmaking? 
Of course I had to buy it - if only for the sheer cheese factor.
I can just imagine the background story the cover illustrators dreamt up while creating this:
....Now she's sewn the wardrobe of her dream and jetted off to Paris (cue airline bagtag and the half cut off "Rue" sign) will she get the mysterious man of her dreams......????
 Jeez that's a lot of expectation to pack into one pattern! 

It wasn't until after I got home that I noticed the "A Pounds Thinner Pattern". Makes me kinda glad NOT to a female back then- if society wasn't already telling you that losing weight was the key to solving all your problems and finding true love, then finding this gem in your local fabric shop/department's pattern drawer was gonna make sure you were filled in!

This is yet another pattern from the garage sale I went to recently. Another 50 cent buy, circa 1971.
View A (blonde girl on right, pants and long jacket combo) promises to make you look "taller and thinner", while View B (the brunette possibly with a knife to her back and about to be mugged and/or abducted by Mr Cravat) offers to make your hips "seem smaller". Never knew an elastic waisted skirt could do that-  would have thought a few darts would make it more "figure flattering" myself ;P

 So the pattern pieces are all cut out and neatly tucked away in the envelope...
I wonder did the seamstress who made this up find that it delivered on all its garishly illustrated promises? Did she find true love? Go to Paris? 
Or at least look "pounds slimmer"? 
Did she even care (after slaving away at making this little ensemble up) or perhaps she decided it was all a load of bullocks in the end?
 We'll never know but that's one of the fun things about buying preloved items, imagining the story behind them.
(Ok albeit in this case while also wondering "what the heck?" about the original marketing...)

 In the meantime...

Happy sewing!

Kate :)

Bargain! Op-shopping in Northcote

Seeming as my camera computer cable is still M.I.A (no doubt shoved in a box somewhere in the spare room) I thought I would share with you my latest find on the vintage pattern front. Luckily my printer/scanner is intact and in working order so I can show you the covers in all their retro goodness :)

First up some very groovy blouses in a variety of styles- dig the hairdo's! On the right a lovely 4 colour print displays the stylings of Weigel's quilted nightgown and nightdress ensemble. Obviously kitten heels are a must for any self respecting housewife in the 1960's :)

Next another nightie set in a choice of 2 sleeve and hem lengths. Note the "racy" pose of the figure at the bottom showing the matching bloomers- Miaow!

A sporty style button front dress and another dress with an slightly 1940's (50's?) look to it. Except for the hairstyling which looks pure 80's.

An office ensemble which wouldn't look out of place in a James Bond film- on Miss Moneypenny of course :)  On the right is a dress with an interesting tie-front / seam line combination.

Finally my favourite two of the lot : a very interesting selection of blouses (amazing the amount of variety when compared with today's patterns) and a lovely dress with unusual front darts and  a wrap around skirt.

If I ever get better at grading patterns up a size I'll definately be giving the 4920 dress a go.

 I am guessing that these are mail order patterns published in the 1960's and 1970's. Most appeared to have been printed in U.S.A - except for the Weigels - which gives a Moorabbin Victoria  factory address. How interesting to think that once we might have had a local pattern publisher.

All up this bundle of patterns cost about $2 total.

Not a bad haul for what was an unexpected - and unplanned- shopping trip :)