Yay, Air Raid Pictures!! (and men's suit alteration)

Finally I got the videos and the pictures of the suit!

First things first, the rest of the tailoring info.

As I undid the previous mending on the seat of the slacks, I paid extra close attention to matching. My main match was the seam that was from the waistline to the seat. Sure, it caused the pinstripes to me slightly mismatched, but that was from the original cut, there is nothing that can be done for that.

1940s Double Breasted Suit Alteration pt1

Catalog Sunday

Because the Air Raid is this approaching weekend, I thought a nice selection of fashionable dresses from McCall Style News, July, 1940 seemed in order.

Enjoy.

What I did at the Air Raid **NOW WITH MORE PHOTOS**

My friend Marcy and I were Air Raid Wardens. A lot of people knew who we were and complimented us and took tons of photos. It was fun. I even got to re-visit the Air Raid Warden office they have at the battery.

The Air Raid was a blast. The Fort MacArthur Museum was taken back to the 40s with many displays, civilians and soldiers. It was so much fun walking around and seeing all the people.

Because of the rain, the band played in the battery, which is the main part of the museum. There were three dance floors and they were all packed.

The storm tunnel that connected both sides of battery.

I ran into tons of vintage friends. A lot of the pictures were taken with other people's cameras, so when they filter in to me, I'll amend this post and put them up.

Then the sirens sounded and we appeared to be under attack!!

They gathered all the civilians into a save location and the soldiers got to their positions.

Whew! It was alright. False alarm.

As the night was drawing to a close, I snapped some more photos of the displays of tents and soldiers. There were even a few huddled arounf a barrel on fire for warmth. I didn't get a pic of that, too dark but cool looking.

It was a real good time and I had a blast. It was cold and spots of rain so I kept my jacket on the whole time. I didn't even change into a skirt later like I planned. But the portable restrooms were large enough, so now I know for next time.

MORE PHOTOS!

My friend Marcy took these.

Here I am with Lauren from Wearing History and her friend (I am so sorry I forgot your name!).

I've also found some great shots of the Air Raid online. There are even some videos!

Check them out!

Catalog Sunday

This Sunday in Honor of the LA Air Raid I've posted war time sale fashions from my Chicago Mail order sale catalog dating Feb. 1943.

Enjoy!

What to Wear to an Air Raid: The final days.

The Air Raid is Saturday! I'm excited!

I finished my sweater yesterday.

Added the buttons and even tried the Warden pin I have on to see how it looks. I like it, but I decided to wear a different jacket.

Something lighter. Plus I though the brown clashed with the overalls and this blue looks much better.

Also nearly finished my new garter belt.

I extended this one down in the back to cover my bum and it fits very well.

All I have to do is add the garters and I'm golden.

I also got around to doing some of the finishing touches on my Warden outfit.

I braided a chain from some of my embroidery nylon for my Warden's whistle.

I've made the armband and I think it looks cool.

I still have to decide what I'm going to do to the helmet. I really don't want to alter it so I might just leave it be.

I'm tired and stressed and out of coffee.

I know, life is so not fair.

Working on what I'm wearing to the Air Raid

It's Hank Williams tonight.

Hi all. I haven't abandoned the blog, I've been working on other things.

First off, my friend and I are finally putting some initiative in learning to dance. We've taken a few free classes and I've found more people who can helm me learn. I have to keep on them though. I'm a good nag. We also are looking for classes and might have some leads on rather inexpensive ones.

But for the last few weeks, we have been going to a local dive bar but they have swing lessons every Tuesday AND a live band! Real good live bands. It's been fun.

I haven't been getting dressed up a lot lately, but I did manage to snap some photos of my outfit from last night.

As far as my Air Raid outfits. I'm still making progress.

This past weekend I met two of my other vintage friends and we took a trek to one of the only millinery stores in the country, probably the world. We got there on time, but apparently on a Saturday, the store opens at an 'ish' time. There were about three people waiting, so we just decided to look in the sewing shop across the street.

Dozens of used industrial machines. All in different stages of repair/life. Some I wondered what they did.

We went back later and the millinery store was finally open! These were the doors.

I do so love the tidbits of vintage detailing that you stumble upon in downtown. It's wondrous!

Shelves and shelves of old hat veils, millinery fruit and trims. Beautiful stuff from buyouts of old stores from the 60s and 70s. The bad thing was the store was a crap hole. Disorganized and dusty beyond belief. But apparently all the studios come down there to get findings for costumes, so it's the place to go.

I did like it, but didn't buy anything but some buckram, which they had for a good price.

The store was also a few blocks from the fabric district so we stopped by. While I was there I went on and grabbed some fabric dye for my other sweater.

Finally go around to dyeing it.

When I was thinking of the color I wanted I was envisioning a more muted deeper brown. This one is a warmer brighter one than I was thinking, but I can live with it.

The knit of the cotton was so tight that on the dye missed some yarn. But it does not really show and it's livable and I managed to dye this one the same way as the other one with no incidents. Now I have to choose buttons.

It's also time to work on my helmet.

I got this beauty online for less that $20 a few weeks ago.

A friend of mine sent me some Air Raid decals but I don't know if I want to use them.

I think I'll scan them and do a print out. I also need to work on my armband. That I'll do later today.

One last thing...

I finally got around to doing a new draft for a garter belt.

I'm still working on my girdle, but I wanted something for the Air Raid and these take about a day to whip up. I'm lowering the back because I have shelf butt and I get sick of the belt ridding up.

The cross out in the back is where the elastic is gonna go.

It's customization all the way baby!

*whew*

That's a lot of stuff in a few days. And my legs are wobbly from dancin'. Still this Saturday should be a blast. I won't allow my brain to be hindered by the fact it might rain...

Happy Thoughts........!