Hello sweet friends, welcome to a fun historically inspired Fashion Friday. For the past few weeks I have been creating Little Women inspired holiday posts. Today is A Waistcoat For Laurie and Mr. March.
A Waistcoat For Laurie and Mr. March
This project began back in September. You may recall that Sweet Guy celebrated a milestone birthday. My son has a poets heart and loves gifts that are meaningful. He will soon start an internship that will require a professional wardrobe. So I decided I would make him a vest from wool Gunn tartan from fabric that his Grandma Dot (Mr. Decor’s mom) bought years ago while in Scotland.
Simultaneously, I was also deep in research planning for the upcoming holiday season. I had already selected Little Women as the theme. In the novel there are illustrations of both John Brooks and Professor Bhaer wearing waistcoats.
I also love the clothing worn by Laurie in the 2017 PBS series.
There were a few different waistcoat styles that men wore in the 1860s. I love this pinstriped gentleman shown with his best friend.
Tartan had been made quite popular in the mid-nineteenth century. This was due to the Waverly novels by Sir Walter Scott which romanticized life in the Scottish Highlands. As well as Queen Victoria and Prince Albert purchasing Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in 1852.
This silk velvet dress was worn by Victoria between 1835-37.
Simplicity 9457
For Sweet Guy’s vest I settled upon the shawl collar style.
I used Simplicity 9457 view “C” for the pattern. It went together quite well. A new sewist could begin with view “D” in a solid fabric.
If your fabric is a tartan (plaid) or striped it can be considerably more difficult if you wish to match up the design. I would only recommend such a fabric for an experienced sewist.
Matching plaid (both vertically and horizontally) is a test in extreme patience.
More than once I wanted to throw this vest in the fire.
Happy Birthday Mr. Decor
For Mr. Decor’s vest I looked toward a double breasted style.
Laurie wears this style with the high back collar in the 2017 series.
It is a very dapper design indeed!
Today is Mr. Decor’s birthday and we are CELEBRATING! He continues to gain strength each day. He grew out his beard to cover his facial scarring from the accident and I am here for it!
For this vest I used Simplicity 9457 view “A”.
The stripes were not fun to work with but look oh so dashing!
Oh my heart!
Both gentlemen wear wing collared shirts. Eric has a navy silk cravat tied with a four in hand knot. Ian’s cravat is a red silk that pulls the red out from his tartan vest.
Cravats are easy to sew. They are simply just long rectangles of fabric.
Laurie and Jo
I couldn’t resist taking a few snapshots of Sweet Guy’s gal, our own Meg.
So cute as Laurie and Jo!
The Outtakes
Of course I have a family of hambones.
Gracie and Ponyboy approve.
This Week’s Video
In this short video you can see the men’s fashions up close. Both vests feature antique buttons that are gorgeous. They also show off other accessories for men.
If you wish to watch the video in full screen mode just click on the words YouTube in the lower right hand corner.
I’ll be back tomorrow with more merriment.
Laura
They all look like they could have stepped out of the pages of Little Women, or one of the films. Great work!
You’ve outdone yourself! Matching stripes and plaid is so hard. Mr. D looks dashing in his well trimmed beard.