But the Buttons!

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3eL_7yaNPHncYYaPsAwAq6xbLP-IGRj2dkwRhOhM1XCnKn5tLPeOs0-KGM_lJTxlZWJJw0To36JiqnApOD9sygIdu93_F4DXxIs4flvvmIp-1SmpW2f81FH5Am7nsYOlMGeJ9dQeq3506/s1600-h/P7240002.2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242410197092336642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3eL_7yaNPHncYYaPsAwAq6xbLP-IGRj2dkwRhOhM1XCnKn5tLPeOs0-KGM_lJTxlZWJJw0To36JiqnApOD9sygIdu93_F4DXxIs4flvvmIp-1SmpW2f81FH5Am7nsYOlMGeJ9dQeq3506/s320/P7240002.2.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a><br />What ever happened to buttons? The ones that came in colored groups, to sew down the front of each blouse and the back of each dress. Where have they gone? Oh, it's easy to pull a tee shirt on in the mornings, forget the fumbling of fingers to match up buttons.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bYLNUlecZt34C5BeqtoqU4iuCQqs21ImDTpW-JuiuAphPfbpvOMbWBfUTqmVHC_zlDaFaALubev4gov1vhPucAKvHTqna2Z4xOXqTPDpmnjosLiIenzmnTUxOVcfbl4ZIw-EdxtXeg0D/s1600-h/P7240003.2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242410059575192162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bYLNUlecZt34C5BeqtoqU4iuCQqs21ImDTpW-JuiuAphPfbpvOMbWBfUTqmVHC_zlDaFaALubev4gov1vhPucAKvHTqna2Z4xOXqTPDpmnjosLiIenzmnTUxOVcfbl4ZIw-EdxtXeg0D/s320/P7240003.2.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a><br />But can't you just see how lovely buttons make a dress? Dancing all the way down the front to the hem where they leave a flirty opening. Alright, the buttons weren't easy, they fell off, pulled at the buttonholes and even ripped at the fabric. It was easy to move on, into stretchy knits that don't need a button to open up the fabric so it fits on more easily.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIaSjx4pTdMpbC-Tc7SRnck3Fgp0jccezBOKT2RFhIgRzNET9iCtI_rPz7f_PQhTyV3hR9LZRvbAgKZGtRm52y3zQYexjcoAm9jvxPWV-FLT9OjXcY1k_3Ku9nOzU1Rl7Dnl5j0-p3tsZ/s1600-h/P7240007.2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242409937607651490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIaSjx4pTdMpbC-Tc7SRnck3Fgp0jccezBOKT2RFhIgRzNET9iCtI_rPz7f_PQhTyV3hR9LZRvbAgKZGtRm52y3zQYexjcoAm9jvxPWV-FLT9OjXcY1k_3Ku9nOzU1Rl7Dnl5j0-p3tsZ/s320/P7240007.2.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a><br />But buttons make the lady and buttons made the gentleman.<br />Pearly ones from the mid-west rivers, now long gone factories and dried up river banks where once shells were gathered and punched into fantasies of carved pearliness. Then there were the gumdrop buttons, just jucy colors in plump round shapes: starbursts, sunrays and daisy petals, the rays of carved lines and grooves, something to finger during long sermons or boring concerts.

But the Buttons!

What ever happened to buttons? The ones that came in colored groups, to sew down the front of each blouse and the back of each dress. Wher...

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Sewing in Seattle: Nancy's Sewing Basket

<a href="http://s249.photobucket.com/albums/gg217/pintucks/?action=view&current=NancysSewingBasket.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg217/pintucks/NancysSewingBasket.jpg"></a><br />Part of the fun of traveling is getting to finally see shops we have found online. Nancy's Sewing Basket came to our attention over a year ago, through the wonderful sewing and fabric store in Boise, Idaho called Caledonia Fine Fabrics (but that's another blog entry). This month we were able to con a willing driver to take us to Nancy's Sewing Basket while in Seattle on our visit to the north/west.<br /><br />The shop is worth the wait. WOW, what don't they carry? It is nicely merchandised with areas for specific types of sewing: a bridal section, woolens for tailoring, buttons and amazingly, a ribbon room with silk flowers and milinery supplies.<br /><br />We wandered around for some time, the staff there is friendly and knowegable. Imagine having a ribbon boutique room that looks like it is straight from a side street in Paris, complete with its own salesperson!<br /><br />It would help to have a project in mind when you shop here, so you can indulge in a buying spree too. We worked up a real appetite there and found a great Thai food cafe across the street. This is a great district to visit for more than just fabric.<br /><br /><a href="http://s249.photobucket.com/albums/gg217/pintucks/?action=view&current=NancysSewingBasketstorefront.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg217/pintucks/NancysSewingBasketstorefront.jpg"></a><br />Nancy's Sewing Basket<br />http://www.nancyssewingbasket.com/<br /><br />2221 Queen Anne Avenue North<br />Seattle, WA 98109 (map below)<br /><br />Email:nsbseattle@yahoo.com

Sewing in Seattle: Nancy's Sewing Basket

Part of the fun of traveling is getting to finally see shops we have found online. Nancy's Sewing Basket came to our attention over a y...

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Movie Costumes of the 1930's and early 1940's

<a href="http://s249.photobucket.com/albums/gg217/pintucks/?action=view&current=hepburnphilstory.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg217/pintucks/hepburnphilstory.jpg"></a><br />When movies added sound, the medium took off. What followed was a few decades of prolific output of all types of film. This put a huge burden on the costume and wardrobe shop, which cranked out countless styles for the next few decades. Out of this wealth, there are some memorable standouts. It tends to happen when designer, star and script are well-matched.<br /><br><br />The first photo is a Gilbert Adrian design for Katherine Hepburn in "Philadelphia Story" (1940). Adrian achieved notice through his strong creative genius. He was able to generate originality apart from the Paris scene, an achievement that was important in establishing Hollywood glamour.<br /><br><br /><a href="http://s249.photobucket.com/albums/gg217/pintucks/?action=view&current=colberthappened1nite.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg217/pintucks/colberthappened1nite.jpg"></a><br />This striped top is memorable for its amazing patternmaking technique where the stripe and seamlines create a novel approach to a very simple silhouette. I have found that every patternmaker I know can remember the first time she/he saw this costume. Then of course, there is Clark Gable's costume, or lack of, to consider.<br /><br><br /><a href="http://s249.photobucket.com/albums/gg217/pintucks/?action=view&current=bringingupbaby-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg217/pintucks/bringingupbaby-1.jpg"></a><br />"Bringing Up Baby" (Howard Greer gowns, 1938), put Katherine Hepburn into more remarkable gowns that support her airy character.<br /><br><br /><a href="http://s249.photobucket.com/albums/gg217/pintucks/?action=view&current=thewomen-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg217/pintucks/thewomen-1.jpg"></a><br />"The Women" (Gilbert Adrian, 1938), is a huge reminder of how a costume designer can affect and reflect their time. Rosalind Russell's costumes are hilarious, yet they do depict a style trend of that day. Joan Crawford, by now an Adrian devotee, wears the sliky bias cuts that helped to make her famous. But don't miss the fashion show that is part of the plot, where surrealism takes a fashion turn on stage (in a nod to Schiaparelli).<br /><br />There are many more important movies to absorb in the pre-WWII era. Not to be missed are the musicals, where Rogers and Astaire sport fabulous costumes and wonderful settings. The list below is only the tip of the iceberg. I selected easy to locate, well known movies with important gowns or costumes. I am sure that you can add to this listing, as it is short, but sweet:<br /><br><br />It Happened One Night—1934: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025316/<br />Claudette Colbert, Clark Gable<br />Costume design: Robert Kalloch<br />The big fashion item here is her striped top. Try to solve how it is cut.<br /><br />My Man Godfrey—1936: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028010/<br />Carole Lombard, William Powell<br />Bias cut….<br /><br />Gold Diggers of 1933: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024069/fullcredits#cast<br />Orry-Kelly costumes<br />Stage and fashion costumes<br /><br />Bringing Up Baby—1938: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029947/<br />Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant<br />Howard Greer costumes<br />Hepburn wears some nifty bias cut dresses<br /><br />The Thin Man—1934: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025878/<br />Myrna Loy, William Powell<br />Dolly Tree, wardrobe<br />This is the beginning of a multiple movie series. Myrna Loy’s dresses are always a treat. Her character is a foil for the drama, and the costumes are dramatic and often witty.<br /><br />Philadelphia Story—1940: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032904/<br />Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant<br />Glibert Adrian, costumes<br />The gowns reflect Greek drapery influences, with lots of bias cut crepe.<br />Don’t overlook Hepburn’s crazy hat she wears into town.<br /><br />The Women—1938: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032143/<br />Glibert Adrian, costumes<br />Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer, Rosalind Russell<br />This has so much fashion, it’s hard to take in one viewing.<br />Lots of bias cut and ‘gay nineties’ influences. Don’t miss Roz Russell’s witty bustles and hats.<br /><br />Dinner at Eight—1933: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023948/<br />Jean Harlow<br />Gilbert Adrian, gowns<br />Bias cut<br /><br />Carefree—1938: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029971/<br />Ginger Rogers, Fred Astaire<br />Howard Greer, gowns<br />Bias cut dance gowns and other fashion items for Ginger<br /><br />Shall We Dance—1937: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029546/<br />Ginger Rogers, Fred Astaire<br />Irene Gibbons, gowns<br />Ginger wears a variety of fashion outfits and dance gowns<br /><br />Flying Down to Rio—1933: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024025/<br />Dolores Del Rio, Fred Astaire<br />Irene Gibbons, gowns (uncredited)<br />This has some ‘casual’ looks, and nightclub scenes in it.<br /><br />His Girl Friday—1940: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032599/<br />Rosalind Russell, Cary Grant<br />Robert Kalloch, gowns<br />Suits, this is an early display of the suits that women will wear through the 40’s.

Movie Costumes of the 1930's and early 1940's

When movies added sound, the medium took off. What followed was a few decades of prolific output of all types of film. This put a huge bur...

Read more »