Revelations about a dress form

Last night I was looking at  all the fabulous creations submitted to the We Sew Reto blog and it led me to Polka Dot Overload, where I got all excited by a post about “large-busted sewing” (blogger’s own term) because 1) bust alterations are my biggest dress-making obstacle and this post has great info and links, and 2) it had an image of an ad for the “My Double” dress form.

I own one of these dress forms.

It was given to me by a neighbor and has proved handy for photographing vintage clothing for my Etsy shop. It is about a size 4. I knew the wire mesh was meant to be manipulated, but, duh, it never occurred to me that it could be stretched enough to fit me.

So, when I saw this ad last night, I started playing around trying to get the dress form to fit my shape. Turns out it does expand quite a bit. I will just need another person to help fine tune the shape to my body. I was planning to make a duct tape dress form, but it would be so much easier if I could make this one work for me. After making the form wider, it was now too wide to fit back on the stand, so I put it, with the front unsnapped and open, on the floor.

It now has another purpose – cat meditation pod.

I’ve taken in my friend's cat Tigro, while my friend  recovers from being injured in a motorcycle accident. I went out today and when I came home, I found Tigro sitting in the dress form.

Later, he was there again. Who knows, maybe he thinks it is a force field or a fortress. Cats are weird.

Does anyone dye anymore?

I was looking through some late 1960s and early 1970s issues of Seventeen magazine recently. Two things struck me. 1) There were lots of ads for sewing patterns, sewing machines, and fabrics, with an emphasis on how you can be unique and make your own looks. 2) The latter part of each issue was devoted to wedding articles and ads for engagement rings, hope chests, and dinnerware.

I glanced at current issues of Seventeen in the library recently and neither sewing or weddings are featured anymore. I’m not bemoaning the lack of attention on marriage for teen-agers, but the now the ads are focused on branded clothing and fitting in.

Not only sewing but dyeing was a big deal. Here are some ads for Rit and other dyes. It’s interesting that Rit paired up with other companies to co-market their products.

From Seventeen magazine, April, 1968Here Ked’s white sneakers are advertised with a sneaker painting kit. It seems that there were even sneaker painting contests according to this newspaper ad from 1968.

From Seventeen magazine, April, 1968From Seventeen magazine, February, 1970 “Rit Invents Electric Satin.” How to dye fabric for sewing clothes with Simplicity patterns (pattern numbers are given that top).

From Seventeen Magazine, June, 197Hot Stuff Rit Liquid Dye ad for hot pants and tank tops you and he dye together. The opposite page has complete instructions.

From Seventeen magazine, August, 1971Ad to “tie-dye your own original fashions.” This ad and the column on the opposite page have instructions for tie-dying a sweater, hat, windbreaker, skirt, and scarf. That’s a lot to get into one ad!

From Seventeen magazine, May 1973Two years later, after you’ve ditched the boyfriend, you can invite the whole gang over to tie-dye.

From Ingenue magazine, April , 1970“So you’re out to change the world. We can do it together” ad for Lady Esquire Instant Shoe Coloring, which came in 45 colors. This ad features an entry form for a contest for the “most original and workable idea.” Winner received a $3000 wardrobe by Pierre Cardin, New York.

Here’s a great article on shoe make-overs from the July, 1970 counterculture fashion magazine Rags. I think I need to make those star shoes.

I’m also inspired by bag and shoe dyeing projects on Vintage Vixen and Two Butterflies. I wonder what kind of paint/dye works best on non-leather shoes/bags. Anyone know?