I know it’s November…but yesterday was 60 degrees and felt like early May – so I feel justified in quickly zooming through a last few summery projects on my list to clear the way for a couple more fall-appropriate sewing projects. My Thanksgiving dress is next up on the to-do list! But first, here’s a fun 1930s finish featuring some gorgeous repro Art Deco cotton fabric from The Timely Tailor.

It has such a fun geometric and colorful dot pattern – very typical of the 1930s. There are several colors available but this was my favorite. I paired it with a relatively new 1930s pattern in my collection, which includes some fun details.

It has a gathered front and back yoke, and super fun shaped cuffs, which I outlined with rickrack points so you can see them better. The buttons keep the cuff in place as well as add cute decoration, which is handy.

I like the asymmetrical bodice opening, and the way the buttons highlight it. These are super fun yellow vintage buttons also from The Timely Tailor, though now sadly sold out. Again, I could have chosen any of the print colors to use as the accent, and they all would have given a different look – but I rarely use yellow so I couldn’t resist going with yellow buttons this time.

I also like the single front skirt pleats, which give a bit more walking room without hanging oddly, like box pleats do sometimes. I did have my usual 1930s challenge with this pattern, which is if I make it fit me in bust and hips, the waist is too big. This time I’m just cinching it in with the belt, but if I make this pattern again I’ll tweak it a bit when I cut it out.

I got these lovely 1930s Oxford repro shoes from the Memery shoes summer sale, and they weren’t shipped until recently since my size was out of stock. But how perfect they are for fall! I wasn’t sure I’d like them since I prefer a higher heel, but the details sold me, and the heel is close enough that I like it after all – and it’s certainly comfortable, even for dashing about after my little ones! I went with a 7W since I’m a standard 7.5 and they don’t have half sizes – and it was the PERFECT fit. Definitely recommend!

I wasn’t happy with any of my hat choices, so late Saturday night I decided suddenly to re-trim one of my favorite old standby 1930s navy hats. It’s already had several iterations on this blog, and I have loved each of them. This time I tried to pull out old millinery bits that would match the dress colors, and still look pretty fallish.

I think I succeeded, as my sister told me later that “that hat looks like it was made to go with that dress!” I said thanks – it kind of was! 🙂

Favorite straw-cuffed gauntlets (probably 1950s but a good fit for this style), chunky carved red wooden beads, and a lovely vintage burgundy lizard skin clutch were my accessories for these photos.

I stalled out while making this one, so it languished for a few weeks half done, but once I got my garment sewing mojo back it didn’t take long to wrap up. Next time I will make it a few inches longer, though, as I think that would be more suitable for this mid-30s style.

I’m glad I was able to snag one more shoot with the vibrant trees before they finish fading! It has been the loveliest, lingering autumn here and I’m absolutely loving it. It’s hard to realize we are actually on the cusp of the Thanksgiving/Advent plunge!