A 1920s Murder Mystery Party

Last Saturday I was invited to a splendid event. 

It was my first, and it was a blast. The theme of these dinner parties is that you come as a character, there is a plot weaved through the evening and clues, murders and surprises are revealed. The party was the opening of a new speakeasy by a notorious madam. She was married to the new crime boss and the backdrop for it all was 20s prohibition. 

I was a rival crime boss' wife and my job was to not let guests figure out what my husband did, and find out who killed our two best hit men.

I don't do 20s often because I find the look very high maintenance. So when I decided to go that Friday night, I thought, could I make a dress for it? Could I?

Some images from my housewarming.

Birthday Dance!

I had so much fun the other evening! That was one of the first times I've ever thrown myself a get together and I was so warmed by how many people came out to help me celebate by birthday. I had so many drinks in the waits for me! It was fantastic!

Mixed Bag Post

Its all Alabama 3 tonight.
Got a lot of stuff, tiny things to gab about in this post.

4) I get a lot of questions as to what 'size' something in my store is. This question is such a hard one to explain, because the person could be inquiring about a 50s pattern or a 20s pattern. I rarely list sizes in my descriptions. I go by bust measurement. Why? Because that never changes.

Around the mid 50s, depending on who you are buying your pattern from, sizing numbers began to change. Vanity sizing just went through the roof. It started with ready made clothes, and patterns soon followed. For 30+ years, a size 20 was a 38" bust, then in the 50s some makes made a size 20 a 40" bust. What? From then on it all went downhill. And dont even get me started on all the crazy modern sizing charts that are around today.

So for people need a sound description of sizing that is fairly standard, I present this chart. Enjoy.


3) I was sorting through some of the patterns I recently acquired, and I was just wowed by this one. I love patterns that have entire outfits in them. This early 40s (Id say 1940-43) is just delightful. 23 pieces, WITH lining for the jacket.

Oh! is that skirt not the most delightful! The pants are 'regulation', and that tabbed collar is just the bees knees. Alas, this adorable pattern is not my size. Its a 34 bust, and Ive listed it in my etsy store.


2) Alas, I missed this event which was earlier in the day. The Great Air Raid. I have head that this is one of the best vintage events of the year. I just couldnt make it. I MUST go next year, though. It looks so fun. Here is a buddy of mine in full vintage gear, with his classic camera.

Above photo by John


1) Went to Church again today. Here is the homage to Mr. Sinatra. It was a fun day. I had a gifted bartender make me one of the best Old Fashions Id ever had. I realized its not the quantity of the spirits, but the quality. After a few sips of that cocktail, I was soooo happy!

This last photo by Jen.

After a few hours of cocktails on an empty stomach, someone said, "Lets go to the Tiki-Ti!" So, about 12 of us hopped in cars and drove for cocktails again! I had a zombie!


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Hooch, Hems, and Hoot! a Cocktail Party

I love a good cocktail, hell, LOVE a good cocktail, but I rarely drink on my own. Aside from a glass of win e now and then, I have to say Im a true neophyte in the art of spirits. Cocktails are an American tradition, they really are. From the founding fathers there has always been some sort of mixture of the spirits into a delicious an d complex beverage that is simply delicious.

I have found that expressed no better than in the city of San Francisco. Sure, there are bars on ever corner where you can drink to get drunk, but there are places I have been where the art of the cocktail is alive and well in a new generation of young bartenders.

Moving from that atmosphere to where I am now (Los Angeles), I find people seem so afraid to drink. Weather its because people have to drive everywhere here, or they just dont know a watered down cocktail at a high falootin' bar from a really good cocktail remains to be seen to me. But imagine how happy I was to find sole other SF transplants and their mission to bring sophisticated drinking to the LA area.

Last Saturday I went to church, the Church of Frank Sinatra. No its not a cult. Its a group of cocktail enthusiasts who gather once a month and dawning appropriate vintage cocktail attire, we enjoy each others company over a nice mixed drink. A very welcoming crowd. Ive been to a few and I always have way more fun than I should.


Being curious about apple spirits, I decided to invest in a bottle of Laird's Apple Jack. I asked the host if this was an okay spirit to bring, he just said he already had two bottles, one from their 1976 batch and a new batch, so just bring myself. Well okay, I can do that!

But this time, I didn't know what I was going to wear. I dont have many after five dresses, and I didn't feel like making anything new. So I revisited a war time dress that I made and I liked, but I never wore.



There was nothing wrong with this dress, sans the hem. I felt the design was a bit out of my comfort zone. I dont know why, but I just didnt think it worked on me. Maybe it was my initial pictures, or, the hem. Im convinced. a bad hem can ruin your take on a dress. So I got out my hem-o-matic and did a chalk marking of the hem again. Hand tacked it, gave the brick wool crape (squeeeee!) a good steam pressing, and I was good to go!


Below is a picture of my lovely friend Jen and me at the cocktail party.
So I guess the lesson learned here is when you drink cocktails make sure your hem is good so you can enjoy them in the presence of good company.


The End.
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