Nautical dress: part 2

Hia,
       Well, it has been a full on week here.

I have returned to the trenches (otherwise known as high school) to teach the troops (otherwise know as students).  As per usual the start of the academic year in Victoria has coincided with more hot weather.  

This is a pic my husband posted on Facebook.
I was amused :-)

I am not going to start complaining about hot weather now, because, it could always be worse and I am praising God that so far during this fire season our beloved hills have been safe. 

A view of Cardinia Lake from ours.

One of the local parks.

My heart goes out to those in areas that have been effected by bushfire this year and to those and the families of those who put their lives on the line to keep others safe. 

Thank you!

Nautical Fashion 

I have been looking into the history of nautical fashion.  Wondering when and why women started to borrow the styles of the navy and fishermen?  

This is what I have found:

According to The Vintage Fashionistas: 

http://www.backinstyle.com/blog/2013/04/nautical-not-new-the-history-of-nautical-style-in-fashion/ 

In 1846, Queen Victoria dressed her four-year-old son, the Prince of Wales, Albert Edward, in a sailor suit to wear aboard the Royal Yacht.

  Sailor inspired swim suits came next...

Followed by the use of Breston stripes in men’s fashion of the 1930’s. 

Sailor collars were already being worn by women early in the 20th century but...

According to Vintage Fashionistas it was the wonderful Coco Chanel who caused the nautical look to truly take sail in women’s fashion. 

Coco Chanel

Whoever it was who let go of the champagne bottle and launched the nautical fashion trend, I salute them!  For it is a fine look, come rain or shine, come high or low tide. 

My own maritime inspired creation is coming along.  I have not yet completed it, but it is taking shape.  

This dress is the first I have made that is fully lined.  

Marking the darts with tailors tacks

I am a bit nervous and quite excited about that. 

Both the bodice and the bodice lining sew,
now to attach them to each other

 It has been quite a challenge doing under-stich around the arm holes, but almost there. 

Fabric finds a home

A couple of weeks ago I spent the day with an awesome lady, who is also a fan of fabric.  Off to town we went on a quest for good fabric at good prices and by the end of the day we had made a number of exciting discoveries.  Now don't get me wrong, I regularly shop at the big haberdashery chains but there is nothing quite so exciting as finding those little independent treasure troves and amazing fabric strewn grottos that provide a myriad of different textile types and unique bolts.
  

I was in fabric heaven, feeling all the beautiful textures and reading all the extremely pleasing price labels!

My problem came when I got home with a sack full of fabric, to add to my already bulging collection of textiles.  

The solution?  Ikea of course! 

Hey diddley Billyo, hey presto!...a new home for all my fabric, where it will stay dust free and can be seen and prompt inspiration.  Love, love, love!

The cupboard is part of the Billy range .
And look there is room for more!

So that is it for this week.  I hope you are all keeping yourself cool and safe. 

xo 

History Heroine