All posts tagged: 1930s

Going on a Gorilla Hunt

I love Art Deco Weekend in Napier, but I love it for the chance to dress up, and because I know so many fabulous people who go. I’m not actually that keen on most of the official events of the weekend: generally they involve crowds, being really hot, and announcers who say things like “When this building was new it was the Roaring ’20s and all of Napier was dancing to the Charleston” while I mutter things like “Oh, for Pete’s sake! When this building was new it was 1932, because there was this little earthquake thing in 1931 that levelled Napier, causing it to be rebuilt in Art Deco Style which is y’know, the whole reason we have this weekend – supposedly. And ’32 is Great Depression, because the fall of ’29 put paid to the Roaring ’20s pretty effectively, all over the world. Seriously, you’ve only been announcing this for what, 11 years? Learn something!” Yes, under my cap of dark gold waves and cheery smile hides the soul of a curmudgeon. One …

A 1930s ‘dazzling’ wrap halter

Published by The Dreamstress

I’m writing posts in the wrong order, because I’ve already blogged my tutorial for a 1930s handkerchief halter, and really, the handkerchief halter came second, and this top was conceived, cut, and finished first – and helped inspire the later handkerchief halter. The idea was to make 1930s beach pyjamas, with non-matching trousers (which done, and are my new favourite garment) and a halter top: For fabric I had this amazing cotton muslin I bought at Global-That-Was (when it actually was Global Fabrics) thinking I would make something for Art Deco Weekend 2013. It didn’t happen then, or for 2014, so it was well overdue by this year: Isn’t it fabulous? I particularly love the eye-bending ‘dazzle’ design (read my article in Issue 7 of Glory Days for more info on Dazzle)) For the pattern I used Wearing History’s Chic Ahoy halter as a base, altering it to remove the collar, and to add long wrap ties to fasten around the waist: I have two regrets about the top. There is a seam running down …

Tutorial: How to make a 1930s style handkerchief halter top

Published by The Dreamstress

There was a fad in the 1930s for turning scarves of all sorts, but particularly souvenir scarves, into simple resort-wear halter tops Inspired by this fashion, I made myself a quick and easy scarf halter to wear at Napier’s Art Deco Weekend. Photographs of 1930s scarf tops show a whole range of scarf shirt styles, but I made mine with a gathered top and a fair amount of back overlap, for maximum skin coverage, and so it can be worn over a bra. It was super easy, and very satisfying. Here’s how to make one for yourself. You will need: – A scarf where the length of a side is at least as long as your waist measurement (or, in a pinch, a square of hemmed fabric with this measurement, with edges finished). – Thread – A meter of ribbon or cord for your neck tie. Start with your scarf: Fold it in half diagonally, right sides together: Draw a line across the corner, 20cm/8″ down each edge from the corner. Pin: And sew: Turn …