1.15.2008

shirt dress



I love the shirt dresses that little girls wore in the 60s and 70s. Here's a little one I made yesterday from a scrap of mens suiting wool that I've had for some time. The buttons are genuine shell from the 40s; each carries its own shape and character. I love these buttons and almost didn't want to use them because they are so pretty. Does anyone know where to find beautiful buttons made from natural materials? I could use a new stash to use for some multi-buttoned-victorian-like shirt dresses I've been designing.

13 comments:

Unknown said...

melissa - that is an astonishingly adorable shirt!! I love those buttons and how many of them you sewed on it. So, so sweet!

Marcia said...

How fun to have a little one to sew for. She looks adorable in her new little top. Nice work.

coffeechris said...

This is so cute, she looks darling. I too love those from the past, I believe they were born out of as the child grows the skirt length is too short and pants were becoming fashionable...great refashionation...back in the day Did you use a pattern for the shirt/dress?

Sabina said...

wow - i love that!! great job!!

Bethany said...

This is sooo adorable!!! I was just thinking when I first saw it that it reminded me of the little smock dresses my mother would make for me and then as I grew, they would become tops over pants! So I totally know what you're talking about. You are such an amazing sewer...I'm really impressed!

Laura said...

I just bought a ton of new buttons from ebay...search until pearl, mother of pearl, mop, etc...

Anonymous said...

your work is just really lovely -- such beautiful attention to detail!

Liz R. said...

i love the detail of the buttons. what patience you have in sewing them all on! (and buttoning them all up!)

melissa said...

I made up the pattern for this, though you can alter it quite simply from a basic dress pattern.

LobotoME said...

that is adorable! :)

Sarah said...

Oh, that dress is the cutest thing! It makes me wish I had a little girl (instead of all boys) just so I could dress her up in it.

Anonymous said...

adorable...I bought a vintage pattern of 70's girls dresses, need to pull that out...

alexandra said...

i would wear that entire outfit myself. hey, you two need to start selling these clothes by the time my daughter is born! i'm completely serious.