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Vintage Details: Pink taffeta

pink taffeta dress

I love the details that you find in vintage clothing. With some notable exceptions, it seems most of these details have disappeared from mainstream off-the-rack clothing, and are now only echoed in very expensive designer garments.

That is, unless you can sew. There are a million ways to be inspired by beautiful vintage clothing and incorporate those details into the projects you work on. True, some of those details are a structural part of the pattern, like the pleats in the gorgeous pink taffeta dress pictured here from ladyday0_5. But many others can be easily incorporated into anything you sew: hemline details, collars, applique, ruffles, insertions, piping, the list goes on and on. I hope to bring you some of these ideas, inspired by real vintage garments, in the future.

I don’t usually go in for fluffy taffeta prettiness in my own wardrobe, but this skirt is quite amazing, isn’t it? It does look like it would be trouble to iron, though.

pleats

Sarai Mitnick

Founder

Sarai started Colette back in 2009. She believes the primary role of a business should be to help people. She loves good books, sewing with wool, her charming cats, working in her garden, and eating salsa.

Comments

Erin

September 30, 2009 #

Mmm such a yummy color!

I agree about details in clothes. Whenever I go to the thrift store, I’ll usually find a skirt or a dress with very creatively placed pleats and think why aren’t clothes being made like this anymore? It’s amazing how such simple little details can give such pizazz to a piece of clothing.

Twila Jean

September 30, 2009 #

Oh my, that dress is delicious!
Dear goodness, I love vintage dresses.

Pamela

October 1, 2009 #

That is lovely! I look forward to seeing what creations this piece has inspired from you!!

Cindy

October 1, 2009 #

I love this dress–color and design! thanks for sharing.

Casey

October 5, 2009 #

Oh yeah–might be a nightmare to iron, but it’s such a unique and eye-catching detail (perhaps worth the trouble? lol).

I think this is exactly why I love collecting bits and pieces of vintage clothing and images: the details that can be found in them are so much more interesting than most modern clothes! Makes a girl feel extra special when she puts on something that has a bit extra thought in the design. ;)

Lisa @celebrate CREATIVITY

October 11, 2009 #

This is just gorgeous. Nice to find your site and look around. It’s a pleasure to browse.