The pattern is Simplicity 7807. It was printed in 1976 and describes itself as a dress with “skirt attached to bodice above normal waistline”, which seems like an awfully convoluted way of saying empire or raised waist or midriff, but whatever.
There’s also a little jacket. Wouldn’t View 2, the one with the fur, make a great wedding dress? I love her with her single rose. No bouquet for this girl.
My copy of this pattern is missing it’s instruction page, but it’s a super simple pattern so no big deal. The bodice has two pairs of bust darts that point upward from the raised waistline, the back has a zipper, there are some straps, that’s it.
This is where I started:
Pattern, sari fabric left over from a theater project, long black pleated skirt.
I picked up the skirt like a dozen years ago at a vintage place in Silver Lake. It’s polyester, it’s got an International Ladies Garment Workers Union label, the metal zipper had missing teeth but somehow magically it still zipped up. I really like these old 70’s permanently pleated polyester skirts, they are so sculptural. And they wash well. Kinda indestructible.
Until someone goes at ’em with scissors:
Next step attach to bodice, new plastic zipper, done. No hemming because the skirt was already hemmed. Hooray for reuse.
The back isn’t pieced, that vertical area is part of the border that was woven into the fabric. I thought it would be cool to place it along the zipper.
Sew It or Throw It:
Sew It forever. The really great thing about this pattern, other than it being easy and flattering, is that the top edge of the bodice is on the straight grain in front and back, which makes it perfect for showing off stripes, plaids, border prints, anything arranged horizontally.
Oh snap, speaking of horizontal, I just noticed the horizontal gold line is uneven from side to side at the back. Wow. That’s embarrassing. Nobody look ok?
Awesome refashion! That skirt was waiting for its cosmic destiny of becoming a part of this dress ;-)
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I think you’re right.
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gorgeous – perfect (beyond perfect really as I can no longer ‘see’ the skirt) great combo. Simplicity patterns are really the best – especially 60s and 70s – they just seem to deliver in a zero fuss no nonsense way (kinda like a home ec teacher). and had to go back to view the horizontal…… did not notice it until you had to point it out!
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Agreed, I really like Simplicity patterns of this era. And you’re right, I probably didn’t need to tell on myself with that stripe matching thing, it was just such a sudden surprise seeing it when I was writing up the post. Usually pattern matching is my favorite part of cutting a pattern, but this time, who knows, got distracted or something. Oh well, moving on, continuing to love the dress. Glad you like it too!
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Outstanding! And those shoes….
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Aren’t they great? The brand name is Montaldos. I just looked up Montaldos, according to the internet they were a high end clothing store that opened in the 1920’s in places like North Carolina, Colorado, Oaklahoma, with the goal of bringing 5th Avenue ready-to-wear and sewing patterns to the rest of the country.
They closed in 1995, I bought these at a thrift store in Winston-Salem NC (location of the second store in their chain) in 1999.
I think they’re from the 50s. I love them but don’t wear them much further than the front porch for photos.
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Gorgeous- I may have used that pattern back in 1980 when I got married the first time- I know I made a very very similar little jacket for my sister to wear over her bridesmaid dress. And as for misaligned stripes…I wouldn’t have ever noticed if you hadn’t mentioned it. Life’s too short!
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Haha yeah you’re right.
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So elegant, the perfect re-use of the skirt.
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Thanks, it’s such a good skirt, glad to get it back into the rotation.
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This is so incredibly beautiful! The skirt’s length with the shoes, and the way you placed the bust darts in the print, it’s just stunning.
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Thank you!
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