Some more summer staples

I've got three more projects finished up now, two blouses and a pair of shorts. The first blouse I adapted from a Butterick reprint from 1952. I used the bodice, extending it to top-length using another vintage pattern that I've used in the past. The buttons and buckle on the matching belt are vintage also, and came from Dot who gifted me with so many of her old dresses. The top has a center-back zipper.

The next blouse I made from an original 1951 pattern that I've had for a few years.

image courtesy Vintage Patterns Wiki

My pattern is actually a size 12, but I don't have a picture of the envelope. The pattern itself is a bit funky, the facings don't seem to really fit properly, resulting in some awkward pulling that I had to re-engineer, and the sleeve is supposed to be eased into the armscye, but there was just no way to make that work, so I ended up gathering the top of the sleeves, which I like so it all worked out. I used a tomato print cotton that I found several months ago for cheap. I opted to make matching, attached cuffs and collar instead of the contrasting, detachable ones. I couldn't quite get the top two buttons fastened over Tabitha's chest and I didn't want to force them, but you get the idea.

The final project I've got to share with you all today is a pair of 1940s inspired sailor shorts. I used the same 1949 pattern I used for my linen shorts, adapting the front pieces to make the drop-front. I also extended the waistline up an inch and faced it instead of making a waistband. The buttons were some that I found in our stash, and the fabric (a lightweight wool herringbone) was some that mom bought for a project and turned out not to be suitable. The shorts pattern is actually a bathing suit pattern, and I've got enough of the fabric left to potentially make the bikini top that goes with them. I can't decide whether or not I actually want to wear a wool bikini top with these shorts. I think it would be cute, but not necessarily practical.

The shoes are also new. I just bought them a few days ago. I just got rid of about seven or eight pairs and was having kind of a blah day, something that new shoes almost always cures. After wearing my favorite cork wedges all the time when I was in Panamá (and they're definitely looking a bit worse for the wear) I decided I really wanted another pair of wedges anyway, so I can rotate them a little more. The black ones and the green espadrille wedges that I bought in Barcelona four years ago could use a little respite now and then. Not only were these very tall, but they had bows on the toes and shiny red bits, all of which are things I find hard to resist.