Wednesday, January 19, 2011

First round of cute maternity options!

You vintage collectors may not have planned on having a little one--and then all the sudden wow!!!! You find yourself expecting and not having a single thing planned for when you get huge.  That's the situation I found myself in.  I had no secret stash of cute maternity things stashed for that "someday if it happens" moment.  I had made most of my vintage-y things myself anyway, so I never saw the need.  Thankfully my dear friend Niki of Bombshellshocked came to the rescue with a surprise Christmas gift of a bunch of fantastic 50s maternity patterns and a ton of great vintage buttons!! Gosh I love that girl! The first pieces I chose were a fabulous 50s swing coat.  I have a bolt of this luscious rayon tencel gabardine that worked beautifully, it drapes just like the old stuff.  And you can use so many great buttons on it, a good chance to roll through some of my collection.  I also made this fab wool capelet with a convertible scarf.  It fits everybody! I can't wait to make the pencil skirt with this clever modular panel in the front to pair with the jacket. So many cute ideas, thanks Niki!

Oh and she just launched an etsy store with all vintage kid's clothing under etsy seller Accomplice Vintage. Such cute stuff! We are expecting a little girl, but I'm still in love with the sailor suit. Here's her shop! http://www.etsy.com/shop/AccompliceVintage

Now it's also time to think about the adorable kid's patterns too, my head is spinning...so much to do!

It's tough to switch your mindset from the emphasis on the teeny wasp waist and strong 40s shoulder to...well...a rounder silhouette.  I tried to keep an open mind about maternity clothing when I found out I was pregnant and took a peek out and about on the net at the modern options.  Whoa! Not cute! Not fun! Not flattering whatsoever! Just because you're pregnant doesn't mean you have thrown away your desire to look put together.  I saw this as a possible blessing in disguise--maybe I need to be making cute maternity clothes! Whether they're from a vintage pattern or not, it is all very much needed out there.  I found next to nothing in the organic, made in the USA, eco-friendly vibe either.  There is a lot of room for improvement in the marketplace, so this is a start! 








I've since learned that in the 40s the ladies would make/buy great dresses that look like a normal shirtwaist dress, with a length of fabric hidden inside a row of buttons.  You would button the dress at whatever width you happened to be at the moment.  I'm sure I've passed up countless patterns like this due to the fact that the pattern companies NEVER placed illustrations of pregnant ladies on their maternity pattern covers! I thought it was seen as the greatest desire of all womanhood to become a mother in the 30s-50s, what happened to the cover art, you have to wonder?
Oh and here's a great maternity feedsack blouse from the late 30s early 40s that my girl Sara found for a steal--how cute is this?

9 comments:

  1. yeah, the 40's maternity fashions are not cute at all!! The 50's stuff is cuter but still not always perfect. I'm almost to my 3rd trimester right now and so far, I wear almost all of my regular vintage clothes, except for pants, of course, which are modern maternity pants. I was lucky enough to find 2 vintage coats this winter that are a large enough size to wear throughout my pregnancy. *yay* Fortunately, you can find a lot of "vintage style" things out there to fit the baby bump. I found a few super cute basic shirts and skirts on ebay and in thrift stores than can be worn for quite a while. I'm nearing the end right now and some of my blouses aren't fitting as well as they once did but that's okay, I'll be to the finish line before I know it! I'm working on sewing some vintage nursing bras right now! :)

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  2. awesome, mama! great that you've found a niche here. Maternity wear never looked so darling! Once again, congrats on this exciting news!

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  3. Woo! I cannot wait to see what all you come up with! Also, that capelet is so fabulous!

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  4. I have quite a few sets of 50's maternity outfits that were deadstock that I will be listing on Etsy within the next week. Seller name PepandOllie Feel free to email me directly if you are interested. Jvonv@me.com
    Congrats!

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  5. Totally adorable Kim. Makes me wish I was pregnant again (not really) but super cute anyway. I like the baby doll nightie, so cute, you must make one for yourself. I'll be sure to point any of my preggers friends in your direction! And now, selfishly, I need to get you to make me another dress before you deliver!

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  6. Thanks for the lovely comments, Gals!

    I'd love to check out your offerings hotrodrockabillygal.

    Yes Cara, let me know! Ha ha, I intend in attempting to continue the custom work, it's just going to be a little tricky!

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  7. That wrap dress is the smartens thing ever! You can have it pre and post pregnancy!

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  8. awesome, woo! great that you've found a niche here. Maternity wear never looked so darling! Once again, congrats on this exciting news!

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  9. I like the baby doll nightie, so cute, you must make one for yourself. I'll be sure to point any of my preggers friends in your direction! And now, selfishly, I need to get you to make me another dress before you deliver. congrats on this exciting news.

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