Vintage Butterick 3738 dress

This lovely Butterick 3738 pattern is undated, but it must be around 1966 because that is when the currency in Australia changed from pounds & shillings to dollars and cents, and if you notice on the pattern the cost is 6'/- or 60c. There was even a jingle at the time to help people remember and understand the change, my mum remembers every word and can still sing it even though she would have only been about 10 at the time!

Anyway back to the dress - it's a simple shift with a gathered front panel with a long centre dart that extends from the bust to the hem. I made this from a lovely navy blue wool, lined with a polyester type fabric in navy blue with white polka dots, both purchased for bargain sums from op shops.

As per the pattern measurments, my bust fit perfectly but my hips should have been 4 inches too big, so I added a bit extra to each seam allowance to provide more room. Big mistake - I should have remembered how much ease these vintage patterns have because the dress turned out to fit perfectly across the shoulders and bust but is a little roomy everywhere else! But cinched in with a belt at the waist, it's wearable until I am bothered to take in all the seams:

Despite this being a little too big, I actually like the extra volume so I may leave it like it is. This dress reminds me of the clothes in those Japanese sewing books, clean simple lines that look a little austere but definately not boring. Whilst in plain navy blue it is very simple, I made this dress to wear with this very cool navy and cream cropped print jacket purchased from Veronika Maine last year, which it goes perfectly with:

Also, navy blue is such a versatile colour, as well as pairing it with red shoes and belt, I have a brown leather and linen belt and shoes that work equally well:

Also a yellow belt and yellow shoes, although to tell the truth I've never actually worn this belt because it's too wide to be comfortable, so lucky I bought it from Target for the princely sum of $5!:

All in all I'm very pleased with this dress, it's so comfortable and I got quite a few compliments at work yesterday so it's definately entered rotation in my wardrobe!