Vintage Hawaiian Dress Restyled Into Pinup Sun Suit

 

Before a 1960s halter maxi dress, made in Hawaii, originally had a smocked midriff but the elastic had relaxed so i removed the top and added a keyhole to the front neckline, trimmed the top into a bikini adding boning, bra cups and a button closure at the back. I then cut out a high waist short with a drape front out of the skirt fabric. the photos have been lightened to show the pattern, it is a very bright neon orange and yellow stripe print. Now available for sale through my shop

Psychedelic Pinup on Etsy

 

Something's Got to Give-Marilyn Monroe's Black & White Sarong Wiggle Dress

 These dresses I made last year and apparently forgot to post! Styled after the dress worn by Marilyn Monroe for the unfinished film ''Something's Got to Give'' in 1962. The first one is a cotton fern print fabric that was my first test of the dress. I later found this very light silk fabric with a larger floral print that i used the second time. I used bullet bra cups  and boning in the side seams. I am out of both fabrics and am on the look out for something that is closer the the original print used for the movie. There aren't a lot of pictures available of this dress just some costume test photos and film tests. I took some screen grabs from one of the film tests below so you can see the back of the dress. I watched this short test so many times trying to figure out where all the seams are and how its put together, i think my final design is pretty close, though id love to see the original dress i'm sure there is some detail that i'm missing!