Mix & Match Wardrobe 1949 #4

This week, we're looking at some Advance Patterns from 1949, and ideas for how to combine the separates into a multitude of outfit options. Today's final installment in this series includes looks for evening.

Advance Pattern 5128 from 1949 includes patterns for a cap sleeve blouse, a high waisted skirt in short and long versions, and a bolero jacket. Here the pieces are made in a solid silk and shimmering brocade.
Wear the brocade blouse with the silk skirt and jacket for a glamorous cocktail suit. Take the jacket off to expose more decolletage and arms.


Here the brocade blouse and long skirt are combined for an evening gown look. The silk jacket is worn as a cover-up.

Other options? How about:
- The silk blouse and short skirt worn as a cocktail dress.
- The silk blouse and long skirt worn as an evening gown.
- Add the jacket to either look and wear it all evening or take it off.

And on....and on. How would you combine these pieces?

Mix & Match Wardrobe 1949 #3

This week, we're looking at some Advance Patterns from 1949, and ideas for how to combine the separates into a multitude of outfit options.

Advance Pattern 5127 from 1949 contains patterns for a long sleeved jacket, a flared skirt, a V neck blouse, a shawl, a bra top, and shorts. I love the choices here, as they can be combined in so many different ways. Here, most of the pieces are made in plaid, but if you make them in a solid color too, the variety of outfits is almost endless!

Make the bra top and shorts in plaid and you've got a super cute swim or play suit. I like the way the shorts are gathered at the sides. Bring along the matching skirt to pop on for lunch or a walk in town.
Here is the same skirt dressed up with the V neck blouse in solid white, a wide sash belt, and the shawl in plaid.

Other choices are endless. Let's make all the pieces in a co-ordinating solid too.

- Wear the solid jacket with the solid skirt and the plaid V neck blouse and you've got a suit.
- Wear the plaid V neck blouse with the plaid skirt and you've got the look of a dress.
- Wear the solid jacket with the solid V neck blouse and the plaid skirt for another suit look.
- Wear the solid bra top and shorts as a second swim suit choice. Add the plaid skirt.

You get the idea. How would you mix and match these pieces?

Mix & Match Wardrobe 1949 #2

This week, we're looking at some Advance Patterns from 1949, and ideas for how to combine the separates into a multitude of outfit options.

Advance Pattern 5129 includes patterns for a blouse with either long or short sleeves, a vest, a skirt, and an apron to wear over the skirt. This pattern has a decided "country" or "ethnic" flavor to its pieces. By the way, this apron is not made for cooking in. It is used to add an accent and is based on the classic dirndl look from Eastern Europe.

Here we see the vest and skirt sewn in a blue print. When worn together, the two pieces can give look of a dress.

Here, the long sleeved blouse and apron are added in solid blue. I'm not crazy about this look. I think I would have made the apron in a contrasting print fabric, maybe a yellow and white stripe. The solid blue looks too "heavy" to me. It probably would work better in a solid lighter blue too.

Other options? How about:
- Short sleeved solid blouse with the print skirt and solid apron. Add a wide sash in the blue print fabric of the skirt.
- Long sleeved blouse in the blue print with the print skirt.
- Solid blue vest with the print skirt.

And on....and on. How would you combine these pieces? Would you choose a different fabric like I would?

Mix & Match Wardrobe 1949 #1

In today's economy, when we're all thinking about how to save a few dollars, doesn't a mix and match wardrobe make a lot of sense? And if you can sew, making separates from fabrics that co-ordinate is a smart choice. This week, let's look at some Advance Patterns from 1949, and ideas for how to combine the separates into a multitude of options.

Advance Pattern 5119 includes patterns for a cap sleeved blouse, button front high waisted skirt, a bolero jacket with sleeve cuffs, a bra top, and shorts. There are lots of possibilities here. And your options increase if you make the pieces in both fabrics.

Here, the blouse is sewn in a yellow and black polka dot print and combined with the shorts in solid black. A wide red belt adds a pop of color at the waist.

Make the skirt in the polka dot print, the bolero jacket in solid black with polka dot cuffs, and you've got a summer suit option.

Other choices are endless:
- Polka dot bra top and shorts make a cute play suit.
- Ditto with both pieces in black.
- Pair the polka dot bra top with black shorts for a third play suit, and the black bra top with polka dot shorts for a fourth.
- Solid black skirt with solid black blouse.
- Solid black skirt with polka dot blouse and black jacket.
- Polka dot skirt with polka dot blouse and black jacket.

You get the idea. How would you mix and match these pieces?