Mad About Those Dresses

Have you been sick yet this year? Ugh. Ick. Four days of crud and not feeling like much of anything but laying around...which doesn't make for much more than marathon-ing episodes of Mad Men.

Speaking of which...I joined another sew-along...The Mad Men Dress Challenge hosted by Julia Bobbin.

When I was first introduced to Mad Men, I became an instant fan. The era begins at my beginnings. I was born in 1959, and through the early sixties, I do have some recollections of my Mom dressing in the style of the day, and my sister and her friends with their cat eye glasses, cropped pants and striped knit tops. I loved seeing what my mom wore to church on Sundays, when all the ladies were decked out in dresses and hats and brooches. I've watched every season at least 3 or 4 times, and I'm watching them all again to get me ready for the Season Five  premier in March.

So, I'm going to make a dress. Of course, my first thought was Joan Holloway in her wiggle dresses and bombshell sweaters and skirts. But, being realistic, I know that won't be the right look for me, since I've got the Va Va, but not the Voom (and my Voom wouldn't fill out the back end of a wiggle dress very well!).

Oh, I'll come up with something...there are hundreds of bits of inspiration throughout the four seasons. Betty, Helen, Megan, Trudy, Mona, Jane, Rachel, Midge ...so many options!

I am seriously leaning toward the Joanie in the red dolman blouse and tweed skirt. Then.....

Last night I dug out my basket of vintage patterns...many from the 50's and 60's, but none of them in my size. They are such fabulous patterns, some uncut, many have been used, but still a valuable source of inspiration and style...I really need to give them away to someone that will use them.

I think I found an option for the blouse, if If you look at the second pattern from the right, on the bottom. Imagine that as a blouse and not a dress...dolman sleeve, v neck bow tie...But, this pattern is about 4 sizes to small for me, and I'm not sure I can re-draft it THAT much. I'll have to think about it.

So, if you had to choose a style from the 60's, what would it be?