Masterful Seaming

Here is a deceptively simple 1940's playsuit by well known sportswear designer Carolyn Schnurer. This suit appears to be a straight cut bodice with a flared skirt. But take a closer look at how the designer has attached that skirt.

See those intricate zig-zag seams at the waist? If you've ever tried to sew a V neckline, you know how difficult it is to get these V pointed seams to lie perfectly flat. And yet, here are several of them all the way around the waistline! And there's more...

Additional seams extend diagonally up from the center front seam to the bustline. These seams draw the eye in to the center waist and help give the illusion of a slender middle.

None of these decorative seams is necessary to the finished garment, and they certainly added to the difficulty of manufacture and cost, but I think this playsuit is much more interesting and effective with them. Don't you?

See this playsuit and more at Couture Allure Vintage Fashion .

How Clever!

This is a simple little black dress dating to the late 1920's. The straight silhouette is a trademark of the 20's, but the longer length is a hint of things to come in the 1930's. Everything about this dress is straightforward and unadorned, save for the few pleats at the sides of the skirt. However, the seamstress has relieved the severity of the design with a clever trick. The center panel that encircles the waist reflects light differently than the upper bodice and skirt. This is because that piece of the dress was cut on the crosswise grain of the fabric rather than the lengthwise grain, as the rest of the pieces were. Such a simple idea, but it really works to give the dress some much needed visual interest!

See this dress and more at Couture Allure Vintage Fashion .