1950's Vintage Dress Styles: Sew Summer Dresses Now!

Liz Taylor



Janet Leigh



Debbie Reynolds

In the 1950's pre-airconditioned lifestyle, summer cotton dresses were a girl's best friend when it came to being fashionable and comfortable. The three starlets shown here, Liz Taylor, Janet Leigh and Debbie Reynolds are wearing dresses you might find today at a vintage seller, or better yet, sew one up for yourself.

With so many cute cotton print fabrics now online and in fabric stores, you should be able to cut and sew one up this weekend.

Butterick 5350: This is a great vintage style bodice, just change up to a gathered skirt that is 4X your waist measurement for great fullness.

McCall's 5800: a cute sleeveless bodice with gathered skirt

McCall's 2718: The basic fit pattern for those who need to alter their patterns--just add a gathered skirt with a circumference that measures 4X your waist measurement.

FABRIC

Bon Bon Atelier: I love their Liberty prints and other limited edition cottons.

Pintuck Sew: We have some great, splashy tropical and bright prints.

I know you won't find the photos shown here on Pintucks anywhere else, so if you want to use them, please ask, thanks!