Vintage Bikini mark II

1950's beach babes

I've been researching Vintage swimwear a bit more & trying to find some examples of what I could try in cotton fabric. It seems like the high waist is still going to be popular in the coming year & I really like the idea of  recreating those no stretch styles of the 1950's & 60's. After all there are so many girls who go to the beach or pool to be seen in something fashionable & not swim. I guess I also want them to be functional.

My search came up with some fab screen sirens in publicity shoots, as well as great bathing beauties of the time

Betty Grable

Carol Landis: So in love with this set. I think I'll try it next.

Janet Leigh

Grace Kelly

Ava Gardner

Ruching & skirts are super cute & perfect for someone who might want to distract from a touch of cellulite.

The gorgeous Norma Jean aka Marilyn Monroe

I love the frilled trim & skirt on this early Marilyn Two Piece below

The redrafted top didn't quite work as planned with the straps, so back to the drawing board I went. I tried a couple of different styles and finally came up with one I was happy with. It has great shape & sufficient support for a 10D. 

Now I just have to work out how to grade the sizing for different cup sizes.

However I have discovered this amazing website called Pattern School, a fabulous resource for drafting & making all manner of leotards, swimwear & lingerie. I just have to sit down & wade through the formulas & diagrams.

The pants were less problematic with the insertion of three lycra panels, but I'm not sure about the V in the back. I'm still having my usual issues with getting my elastic inserted just right, but these don't look too bad & they are super comfy. I guess I should do a water test to see how they react when wet.

Excuse my lily white skin.

So the learning curve continues. 

Bottoms Up

Yesterday after faffing about for most of the day with Pinterest & Etsy I was finally inspired by a gorgeous retro bathing suit on Antique Dress that was aptly made by Plain Jane. 

So at about 4pm I started perusing the swimsuit patterns I have amassed over the years & choose a design & some curtain fabric from the Frankston stash to start drafting something fabulous for EmpirerooM.

         

And this is what I came up with.

Being very careful not to snaffle any insider info from Hopeless Lingerie, who I sewed for a few years ago, I went with cotton. 

After the first baggy bottom version I did some tucking & darting & added several lycra panels, thus eliminating the need for waist elastic & the sand catcher in the backside. I'm quite pleased with draft number one.

Today I've redrafted the bra top adding a strap into the design instead of having a seam above the bust cup &making a more flattering neck line. This I did while watching Harry Potter & the Philosophers Stone with my sister.
I've also been working on a garter belt to match if this decides it wants to be lingerie rather than swimwear. At this point I think it could go either way, if there's enough bust support. Maybe a layer of padding would help. Mmmmmm?
Now to the machine to stitch it all back together & see if it works. Wish me luck.

The Biggish Day goes off

It's done.
On December 30th I got married.
And you know what?
Life just goes on…..

It's funny when you're planning your wedding & you think you have to get all the little details right.  Well, when it comes to the day it doesn't really matter that much, if you have the basics - the man you want to spend the rest of your life with, your family & closest friends who love you, something to wear, something to eat, something to drink.

The boys waiting.

Our biggish day was just how I imagine.
Did everything go exactly to plan? No.
Did it matter? Not really.

Making everything was a bit stressful with very limited assistance, especially Nigel taking on the Eiffel Tower gingerbread cake a few days before the wedding. With no experience.

My dress was 50's style & made of silk organza from Bassetti Tessuiti in Rome, silk satin for $8 pm from Brunswick Fabrics, the lace was Vintage purchased new from Franke Stuart Hawthorn, buttons came from Nigel's Grandmothers sewing box & waistband came from my great Grandmothers sewing box.



The boys wore shirts, vests, pants & ties made by me. Nigel purchased his suit & shoes in Paris & I made his vest & shirt, with a tie from Venice.
I also made Emily's dress & both our fascinators.
The fabric for Nigel's shirt, the boys pants, & Emily's dress were from the fabric district in Paris, the boys vest fabric Clegs, Nigel's vest front & boys shirt fabric  R&L Knight Lilydale  Emily's shoes Sportsgirl,

We had to send an emergency delegation home for Nigel's shoes, overnight bag & the boys pants, that held up the service 45mins. And I still forgot Emily's gloves.


Our music after the ceremony didn't play because the musicians computer was plugged into the sound system.

The staff forgot to put the birdcage for wedding cards on the present table & didn't put the favors out till 70% of our guest had left.
Our photo booth never eventuated.

But it really was quite perfect.

A pleasant 30deg day was exactly what I ordered for the outdoor ceremony & reception at Seville Hill Winery.
 Josie, John & Sandy made it so special for us.

With the help of my best friend, Nigel's & our ministers family we managed painted mdf words, family wedding photo 'albums', the table flowers, stickers on water bottles & favors, wrapped tealight candles, folded napkins, sewed 50 buttons on clothing, made sauces for the ice cream bar & Limoncella.

We all looked gorgeous, the food was stunning, everyone had a great time & were blown away by Nigel's first gingerbread construction, which I must say was spectacular.

Our ceremony was really special. We were lucky enough to have our friend Blair Cameron come down from Queensland to take the service. We wrote our own vows, had special friends & family do reading & pray for us & had one of my oldest friends Jeanette & a past student, Anna, sing 'Fields of Gold' & 'For Good'.

The wedding canopy was a last minute addition using my grandmothers hand crocheted tablecloth that Mum gave me just before Christmas. It was quite moving to stand underneath it something that has been at most special occasions through out my childhood.

These are just a few happy snaps from family, but there will be real photos from our real photographer, soon.

And now for the best bit, I get to spend the rest of my life with my best friend. And I have 3 amazing stepchildren.

Posies by Lucy loves Charlie. Ice Cream by Trampoline Gelato. Happy snaps by Stephen White