I picked up 3 yards of this Cotton + Steel cotton print on a clearance sale from Hancock's last spring. When it arrived, I liked it a lot better in person, but I didn't want to make it into a maternity dress, so I shelved it for the time being. I knew it would make a perfect 1940s dress – a rare larger, scattered print!

This spring I pulled it out and paired it with one of my more recent pattern additions, taking advantage of a center front seam to change it to open down the front with an invisible zipper.

It went together very quickly – the only detail is the bodice darts and shoulder gathers.

Then I decided this would be a good dress to try a new skill, so I inserted lace on the sleeves. That was simple enough but time consuming. I probably spent as much time doing 2 short 1/2 inch rows on each sleeve as putting the entire bodice together. I can't imagine how they did the Edwardian petticoats back in the day by hand, and with rows and rows of much tinier insertion lace!

The neck came down way too low, so I added some fabric. Another time I will cut it up higher and taper the collar off shorter.

But I was very happy with the fit (for once), and how comfortable it is. The cotton does wrinkle a bit of course, but it is smooth and sturdy. I've heard good things about Cotton + Steel but this is the first time I've used any of their fabric, and I like it. 

The color is a great addition to my wardrobe, and I love the shade of ivory of the print. All my ivory vintage accessories happened to be the exact same shade also, so everything coordinated perfectly. 

The day I was wearing this, it was terribly and incessantly windy – which made it really challenging to take pictures. Close ups were ok, but the wind blew my skirt so badly that finally I had to hide behind the house to get a decent full length picture! 🙂

The dress looks very springlike, but is also a dark enough shade that I don't have to wear layers underneath, so it is much cooler for hot weather. I think this is my favorite new warm-weather dress this year so far!

It may not be a specific reproduction print, but I think it really works!