distract, distract

[mandie_rw]

Well! On a personal level, the brou-ha-ha in the online community last weekend over The Williamsburg Incident (if you happen to not have heard anything, God bless) was perfectly timed to make me want to work on historical costume even less.

(I'm certainly not saying the historical costuming community doesn't need to self-reflect and make improvements...I'm just, personally, tired of the extremes. It might be easier to disengage with the community entirely, apart from here. Or at least leave the Facebook groups!)

Anyway. Probably needless to say, I sewed pretty much nothing since last time I posted! I poked the c1900 shirtwaist a bit and sewed...two more seams? Meh.

BUT I am feeling creative energy more in the "everyday" clothing direction. For me, that means vintage. And, extremely weirdly, that also apparently means 1930s.

BIZZARO WORLD, YO.

I have never been into the '30s before. I've seen plenty of people make very charming pieces, but (like 1920s) I've never felt an affinity for it personally. But there's a somewhat-tentative "vintage" lawn party being planned for late July, and I think I'd like to make something new for it. And somehow that "something" needs to be 1930s. I briefly even entertained the idea of beach pyjamas, because they are chic AF and seem like SUCH FUN to swan around in...but I'd also like something I can wear to work rather than just being a costume piece, and those aren't quite it! Plus they take a fair bit of fabric yardage.

So today I, cheerfully and extravagantly, bought two '30s Wearing History patterns. I couldn't decide which I wanted for the lawn party, but I'd like to add both to my wardrobe...so I bought both. The Gina dress and the Chic Ahoy slacks set, both of which I think are adorable. (I also have a "Retro" McCalls or whatever they branded their line 1933 sundress, but it remains to be seen whether that pattern has 7" of ease and is thus Too Annoying To Work With, so I wanted to have Options.)

We'll see if I still feel inspired when those come in (and whether I have to buy fabric for them - I might have something stashed that will work but will have to check yardages), but do expect to see more '30s around here some time in the near future!

(She says, filled with optimism.)

Comments

[atherleisure]

I guess this is another time to be glad I'm really bad at social media. I just hope you continue to hang out around here like you said!

I definitely understand what you mean about the 20's and 30's. I feel that way about the 20's myself. The 30's has some stuff I want to wear in it. I'll look forward to seeing what you do with it. I've got the Wearing History Victory dress pattern all printed and assembled and lying on the bed in the guest room waiting for me to get around to cutting out a mockup.

Good luck finding something for your new dress in the stash.

[danabren]

It was splashing all over Instagram, too. Unfortunate timing? Yes. Pearl clutching white ladies making it worse? Also yes.

[mala_14]

It has been such a nice break to come to the drama-free zone that is DW.

1930s is a wonderfully chic decade. The fashions are so sophisticated. Love it!

[koshka_the_cat]

1930s feels like the beginning of modern clothes to me.

And I do enjoy Dreamwidth...

[mandie_rw]

DEFINITELY a good time to be bad at social media! I'm glad I'm only moderately involved, myself, because, woof.

Isn't it funny how some eras/decades speak to you and others don't? There's lots of love locally for the big-sleeve 1830s too, and having tried it I can safely say I haaaaaate it on me! But many of my friends have made absolutely lovely things from the era.

Ooooh, I liked that WH Victory dress pattern too, I had way too many tabs open while browsing, haha. We'll see what happens! Probably I'll get 3 dresses 3/4 done and then wander away, heh.

[mandie_rw]

So much yes to this. I just stayed off Instagram for the better part of the week, because I figured it was just not something I wanted to deal with.

[mandie_rw]

Seriously! Not that there's never been any angst in the LJ world, but it's a lot harder to get people worked up in this format, I guess. Whereas the other more popular types of social media these days...not so much!

Chic, exactly! Funny how something just flipped my mental switch from "eh, fine but not for me" to "YES WANT ALL THE 1930s"!

[mandie_rw]

Ha, yes, that's exactly how I feel! I can totally wear 1930s to school and have it fit into my "well she wears funny clothes anyway" shtick, but 1920s would tip me over the line from unique into eccentric! xD

Cheers for Dreamwidth! Just one more reason for me to stay in our nice little (very little) enclave here!

[mala_14]

I think that the long format of blogging allows for the nuance and thoughtfulness that just isn't to be found in instagram or twitter. Those ones are too much one person yelling into the void, while this is more like a lengthy discussion.

[atherleisure]

It is funny. I feel like you can always find something from any era that isn't awful, but you may have to look hard to find it. And it's still not likely to be anywhere near a contender for your list of favorite projects. I feel exactly the same way about early 1830's. I don't much like it on others, and I definitely don't like it on me. Fortunately most of the events I go to don't have a strict requirement on a super tight time frame.

I hope you're able to finish your dresses and don't stall with a stack of UFO's.