It’s always exciting to get to the stage in the costume making where I get to make a coordinating hat. And this project was no exception. I decided on a Bergere, which is French for Shepherdess, because, well, Bo Peep! I jest. But really, I do love the whole 18th century shepherdess look. I really chose this style because it was very popular in the 18th Century and it is very pretty as well as easy to wear. The style is also the base hat for two hats in the American Duchess guide to 18th Century Dressmaking which is where I got my inspiration for my 18th Century Italian Gown.

costume design, Historic Fashion, MillineryJennifer SerrMay 31, 2021millinery, millinery supplies, vintage millinery, historic millinery, 18th century bergere, making a bergere, Wire frame bergere hat, bergere hat, 18th century, 18th century costume, 18th century sewing

Creating a Mini (Early) 1930's Capsule Wardrobe - Part 2

This is the second installment of Creating a Mini (Early) 1930’s Capsule Wardrobe. What is a “Capsule” wardrobe? It’s a group of pieces that easily coordinate with each other. This dress along with the dress from my previous post use coordinating fabrics as well as accessories. Next in the series should be some interchangeable separates. I have a few other items in the queue so those pieces will have to wait a while.

Creating a Mini (Early) 1930's Capsule Wardrobe - Part 1

It all started last fall when a student asked me if I was interested in 40 boxes of donated fabric. It may sound like heaven but, think about all the space that takes up. What am I going on about? It was heaven. I sorted through everything, prepared it for sale (I love finding homes for unused fabric) and then picked a few things just for myself. Inside this treasure trove was a collection of lovely coordinating silks, wools and rayons that had just the 1930’s look, I’m gaga for.

Sewing a 1930's Cotton Summer Dress

It’s been a long hot Summer around here. Well, not that hot really, but the temperature here is starting to rise and it’s time for a new cotton sun dress. August and September are the hottest months around here. I won this blue cotton swiss dot in a raffle at the Greater Bay Area Costumer’s Guild Open House, earlier this year. It’s the perfect weight for a Summer Dress.

costume design, Historic Fashion, Sewing VintageJennifer SerrAugust 31, 2020The Sewing Room1930's dress, 1930s sportswear, 1930s style, 1930s dress, 1930s, vintage millinery, vintage hat, my vintage wish, swiss dot, vintage sewing, vintage sewing pattern, vintage sewing blog

Sewing a 1930's Capelet and Another Silly Hat

It’s super hard for me to decide which I enjoy more, this silly little 1930’s hat or the luscious capelet in a Japanese Cotton. They were both very fun makes and great additions to my wardrobe. You might have guessed by now, that Navy is my Black. I much prefer a little color to my basics and navy blue really fits the bill.

Sewing VintageJennifer SerrAugust 17, 2020The Sewing Room1930s, 1930s milinery, 1930s sportswear, 1930s fashion, 1930s capelet, capelet, cape, decades of style, decades of style pattern company, vintage vogue, vintage millinery, vintage sewing pattern, vintage pattern, vintage hat, sewing a cape

Sewing a 1940's Ensemble from head to toe - Brown & Yellow, who would have known?

Well, here we are in week six of our Shelter in Pace assignment. I’ve been very busy over the last few weeks, even though my teaching business has been minimized dramatically and I’ve taken on a whole new way of working. In the midst of this corona-crisis, my way of staying sane, is to sew. It’s really amazing how just focusing on a project, lifts my mood and makes me feel better.

costume design, Sewing VintageJennifer SerrApril 27, 2020The Sewing Room1940s pattern, 1940s, 1940sstyle, 1940s style, vintage sewing, vintage sewing pattern, vintage dress, 1940s dress, sewing, vintage sewing blog, the sewing room, the sewing room alameda, vintage style, millinery, vintage millinery

Creating an 1830's Bonnet - Hat making is hard (but fun)- Who knew?

With my 1830’s gown complete, it was time to move on to the Bonnet. Well, that’s not entirely true. I started work on the bonnet while I was still working on the dress. A bonnet promised to be such a fun project I couldn’t wait to get started.

costume design, MillineryJennifer SerrJuly 2, 2019The Sewing Roommillinery, vintage millinery, historic millinery, historic fashion, sewing, costume design, historic costuming, hat making, hats, trimming a hat, millinery wire, pellon peltex, peltex

Polka Dots Reimagined - My finished 1920's Polka Dot Sweater & Black Cloche Hat

I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to write this post! This project has been lingering for a while now. It wasn’t a particularly difficult project, but for some reason (probably all the little balls of yarn getting twisted up) I haven’t been as committed to getting it finished.

I was recently asked to be a judge for the vintage fashion contest, at the Alameda Vintage Fashion Faire this last weekend and I needed something to wear. Nothing like an event to get one motivated. With a week and a half to finish, I made it happen.

costume design, Knitting, MillineryJennifer SerrMarch 26, 2019The Sewing Roomknitting project, knitting goes with sewing, hand knitting, handknit, 1920s, 1920s fashion, 1920s millinery, millinery, vintage millinery, hat making, 1920s cloche, cloche, polka dot sweater, polka dots

Sewing a 1930's Blouse, Hat & Skirt

It’s been busy over here at The Sewing Room and finishing this ensemble took some time. I think the blouse was one of my longest running projects in quite sometime. Partially, because of other projects that got in the way and also because I did a LOT of hand finishing.

Sewing Vintage, vintage styleJennifer SerrDecember 31, 2018The Sewing Roomvintage pattern, vintage style, 1930s blouse, 1930s skirt, 1930s style, 1930s sleeves, sewing, vintage sewing, vintage styleing, vintage styling, costumes, fashion, hats, millinery, vintage millinery

Sewing a 1930's Fall Ensemble - Silk Blouse & Wool Trousers

It’s Fall here (finally) in Northern California and the trees are starting to turn. And by Fall I mean it’s gotten hot in the days (upper 70’s F) and cools off at night. Not quite jacket weather, in the daylight, but it feels good to dip into the fall colors.

Creating a Miss Fisher style hat by Upcycling a Vintage 1970's hat

This was a fun and quick upcycle to create a 1920's style cloche like the ones that Miss Fisher wears in the series, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. While not totally period correct, the style similar to some of the hats Phryne wears on the show, designed by Australian Milliner, Mandy Murphy.

costume design, Art Deco EventsJennifer SerrAugust 20, 2018The Sewing Roomhats, hat making, millinery, vintage millinery, millinery supplies, 1920's millinery, sewing blogs, Sewing, sewing vintage, sewing vintage accessories, jennifer osner, jenniferosner, alameda antique faire, alameda sewing, retro style

Side Tracked from my Sewing Goals - 1930's Green & Peach Ensemble

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