The "Costume Look" Dress

Hello again!  I have made the decision on what dress I would like to make first for my 1961 Dress Challenge.  And here it is in all it's glory:

Not a great picture.  It's actually a set with a dress and a three-quarter length sleeve jacket.  It features a fabric-covered belt and the jacket even has fabric-covered buttons.  The skirt is pleated all the way around and has black trim detail around the hem.  Oh the details!  Here is the description from the catalog:

                          The Costume Look, a brief jacket and simple dress, designed with
                          legendary Paris chic.  Handsome textured fabric of rayon enriched
                          with 5 1/2% silk.  Dress zips in back.  Hand wash separately. Shipping
                          weight 1 lb. 10oz. Misses' sizes 10, 12, 14, 16, 18.  Bamboo beige
                          with black belt and band trim...................................................$19.84

Do the math and that price comes out the about $155 today.  I just know I be able to make it for less than that :)

This is a brief post, but I just wanted to check in before I begin sourcing fabric and notions this weekend.  Thanks for reading!

Diamond Jubilee Challenge!

 I would like to make a change to the tone and direction of this blog.  I have decided to start a challenge for myself that I will be documenting on this blog.  I hope this will be very exciting and interesting!

Now onto the specifics of the project!  I have long been a collector of vintage Sears Roebuck catalogs (I own catalogs from 1945, 1957, 1959, and 1961 [pictured above]).  I usually find them on eBay or at local thrift stores and I just love looking through them!  (There is no better way, in my opinion, to study the fashion, home decor, and furniture of a year than to look through one of these catalogs. Seriously, depending on the year, a customer cracking open a Sears Roebuck catalog when it was freshly delivered could order almost anything under the sun!)

Here's a look at the Spring-Summer 1961 edition:

Men's casual shirts.

ADORABLE suits for small boys!

Shoes to die for (look at those stiletto heels)!

That modern "Big Square Look" TV!

Even pick up a pooch on credit (only 10% down).

Kenmore metal sewing machines.

I have decided to use my catalog from 1961 from this project. It's the newest (to me), the styles are suitable for warm weather, and I was simply entranced by the pages and pages of beautiful dresses, skirts, and blouses that I wish I could order for myself.  So, I've decided to challenge my sewing skills and create as many garments from this catalog as possible.  The rules are simple:  sew each garment as close as possible to the description and picture shown in the catalog.  I fully expect this to challenge my design and sewing skills, but I also hope to come out of this with a beautiful wardrobe inspired directly by 1961.

I'm excited to get going on this project!  Up next:  Planning my first garment!