The Studio Commissary Exclusive- "Pour Vous"

When I was asked again this year to make an exclusive outfit for the Studio Commissary I was thrilled.  Of course I was flooded with ideas.  I finally decided to make a blue version of an outfit that I had made back in early 2012.  I hadn't made the pattern for it yet, so I decided to kill two birds with one stone.

I present to you "Pour Vous".

I didn't come up with this fancy French name myself.  Mike, the owner of the the Studio Commissary did.  I never name my outfits, though I wish I had the creativity to do it.  The original name for this ensemble was "Suit with 2 Collars".  Isn't that romantic?

Usually I am inspired by designers and films.  This time I was inspired by a vintage paper doll suit.

 I added the turban instead of trying to replicate the original paper doll hat.

 I rounded the collar to make it easier to sew.

This is the first version I made of this design back in 2012.  I love this leopard velour fabric.  It was perfect for this outfit, but sadly I used it up.

I also wasn't happy with the fit of this version.  It was on the big side for Gene.  I ended up making the jacket more fitted.

I was also inspired by this 1954 Jaques Fath design.  So I added a fur hat and collar to get this look.

 

The only thing missing is the buttons.

 I wasn't sure I would like this suit without the belt, but I really do.

 I added fur cuffs for the heck of it.

 Tornado is one of my favoirte models since I painted her lips.

 This is the 2012 version.

The next several pictures are different looks than can be made with all the accessories.

 

There are a few more combinations I thought of after I did this photo session.  Which look do you like the best?

Ten pieces!

To purchase the pattern click here.

I'm Just a Little Crazy

A few months ago, I wrote that I was done with my huge batch of red outfits that I started last year.  That might not been the complete truth.

While I was cutting out the "Dial M For Murder" red lace dresses last year, there were a lot of leftover scraps.  Since one of my sewing goals is to use up all my fabric, I decided to make a bunch of different cocktail dresses with red lace bodices.

 

I ended up with 35 bodices.

 

Some dresses got white chiffon skirts, some red ones, I also made some of the dresses with tulle skirts.  I ended up with 13 different styles by the time I was done.  I had fun finding 13 dolls and 13 pairs of red or white shoes for the group shot.

 

 

This is a different version of style H.

Some of these styles are sold out.

If you are interested in purchasing one of these dresses click here.

 

My First "Mad Men" Reproduction Dress

 

 

 

A couple of summers ago I saw this photo in "TV Guide"  I fell instantly in love with this dress.  I ripped the insert out of the magazine and went fabric shopping.  Of course I would have loved to have found this exact print in a crisp silk, scaled perfectly for Gene and her friends, but dream on!

 

After searching all the fabric stores in the Puget Sound area that I could get to, I found this print at a quilt shop.  I thought it was a pretty good match to the original dress.



 

 

 

"Blue Parasol" Gene is my favorite Betty model.

 

 

 

I loved this design so much I made it in two other fabrics.

 

 

I decided to try this dress on one of my Poppy Parker dolls, I was very pleased how well it fit her.  It also goes well with her era, since Mad Men takes place in the early 60's.  She just needs some red lips now.

 

This version of the dress is sold out.

 

 

My re-styled "Glammed Up" Ivy looks lovely in this version.  While I was sewing these dresses the print kept reminding me of food.  I couldn't figure out why.  Then I dawned on me, red jello mixed with cool-whip!

 

 

I love my "Tornado" Gene with red lips.

 

I have a few of these dresses for sale in two of the different fabrics.

 

If you are interested in buying one of these dresses click here.

 

To purchase this pattern click here.