I've made several ‘complete’ outfits during my dressmaking experiences that also include a range of fashion accessories (bag, hat etc). Here’s one of them – a suit (skirt and jacket), top, garment cover, hat, bag and some textile jewellery (all individually detailed over the next few days).
This entire outfit was made for a promotional event that related to ‘Make Do & Mend’ during World War II.
The suit was 1940s military-styled, reflected the glamour of 1930s evening wear yet also stepped towards 1947 ‘New Look’. It was made using black viscose fabric that was ‘seconds’ - the main interest of it being that it shimmered under artificial light showing a small geometric motif between raised stripes. Unfortunately it had little ‘body’ and was initially unsuitable for the chosen design. However, with the addition of an interlining (as well as a lining) and stiffened lace inset panels on the jacket, the fabric was totally transformed. The skirt was cut in shaped panels and had an uneven hemline.
Here's the original jacket sketch also showing some of the cords used for buttons. As you will notice from the jacket itself, it's almost identical to the original sketch.
Matching earrings and buttons were made from recycled odd 1940s raincoat buttons.
Laces and edgings (for both jacket and top) were made entirely on the sewing machine (but used no base fabric to work from and was stitched rather like a netting process) - here shown samples right.
2 styles of inset panels were made for the jacket - one in black and white with black machine made lace covering a white satin (see left with buttons and striped lining)
- the other used small offcuts that had been randomly patchworked together to create an almost ‘pile’ type of fabric (see left showing lower sleeve edge).
The skirt was panelled with an uneven hemline - shown close-up at right with metallic thread finishing.