1930s Evening Gown – Decades of Style #3301 in Crepe and Brocade

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This dress was made for the Art Deco weekend on the Queen Mary in 2015. The pattern is Decades of Style #3301 1930s Evening Gown. I used a blue and silver brocade for the bodice, and a blue crepe for the skirt. The skirt lining is pieced from various bits of lining fabric that I had lying around. The pattern has you line the bodice with the outer fabric, but I think this is unnecessary. It also came out a bit bulkier than I would have liked. Next time I will use lining fabric.

The dress goes together quite easily, though the bodice is a bit fiddly, especially the triangular cut-out section. Mine came out completely wonky. I fixed it with some velvet ribbon trim. The shoulder pleats are also fiddly. I just played with it until it looked right. This is the area where I noticed the extra bulk from doing a self-lining instead of using lining fabric.

There is no zip on this dress. The closure is entirely poppers, and hooks and eyes. The covered buttons on the back are decorative rather than functional. I also added a decorative rhinestone button on the front.

The skirt pieces look very oddly shaped, but they give an absolutely beautiful drape. This is very typical of patterns from the 1930s, when dresses were cut to take advantage of the way fabric drapes on the bias. The lining has horsehair braid in the hem to help it stand out and prevent it from wrapping around the legs. This was the first time I had used horsehair braid. I found it very easy and have used it several times since.

Pattern Number

Decades of Style #3301

Description

1930s Evening Gown

Difficulty

High Intermediate- You’ve made some complicated things and haven’t thrown them across the room in the process. You have done a shaped neckline or other shaped seam. You are happy taking the top of one pattern and the bottom of another, and adding the sleeves from a third pattern to make a complete garment.

Fabric and Trim

Main: Blue crepe

Contrast: Blue and silver brocade

Lining: various lining fabrics – whatever I had handy.

Trim: Velvet ribbon, self-covered buttons, rhinestone button

Instructions

I made this some time ago now, but I don’t remember having any problems with the instructions.

Alterations

None!

Conclusions

I love this dress and wish I had more opportunities to wear it. It works in a modern setting as well as vintage, and I hope to make it again.

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