You know, I got this idea stuck in my head recently about 1970s fashion, specifically the dresses. It wasn’t like some big fashion revelation, just a thought that popped up, maybe from seeing an old movie or a photo somewhere. I remembered those styles, some good, some maybe a bit questionable now, but definitely distinct. So, I decided I wanted to actually try and recreate that feel, not just look at pictures.
Getting Started – Remembering the Look
First thing I did was just try to remember clearly. What did those dresses actually look like? I dug through some old family photo albums, the ones with the sticky pages. Yep, there they were. Aunt Carol in a bright floral maxi dress at a barbecue. Mom in a simpler A-line number. Lots of polyester, that’s for sure. I also spent a bit of time just browsing online, looking at general images, trying to get a feel for the common shapes.
Key things that stood out to me were:
- Maxi dresses: They were everywhere, long and flowing.
- Wrap dresses: Diane von Fürstenberg made them famous, right? Looked comfortable.
- Shirt dresses: Often with big collars and belts.
- Bold prints: Paisley, floral, geometric. Lots of color.
- Fabrics: Definitely lots of polyester knits, but also cottons, rayons for the flowy stuff.
The Plan: Making One Myself
Okay, so seeing them was one thing, but I wanted to get hands-on. Buying vintage can be hit or miss with sizing and condition. So, I figured, why not try sewing one? Seemed like a good project. I wasn’t aiming for haute couture, just something wearable that captured that 70s vibe.
I decided a simple wrap dress or maybe an A-line shift with some interesting sleeves would be achievable. I started looking for patterns. You can find vintage patterns sometimes, but I ended up finding a modern pattern that had a retro style. It looked simple enough, didn’t have too many complicated bits. Close enough to the 70s look I was going for.
Fabric Hunting and Prep
Next up, fabric. This was fun. I went down to the local fabric store. I specifically looked for fabrics that felt like they could be from that era. I avoided anything too modern looking. I found this great poly-cotton blend with a kind of muted, earthy floral print. It wasn’t too loud, but it definitely had that 70s feel to it. It had a nice drape too, which I thought would work well for the dress style I picked.
Got the fabric home, washed it, dried it, ironed it. You know the drill. Gotta prep the fabric properly otherwise things can go wonky later. Then I laid out the pattern pieces. Took up most of my kitchen table. Carefully pinned everything down and started cutting. Always measure twice, cut once, right? Or at least try to.
Sewing It Together
Then came the actual sewing part. I set up my machine. Started with the main body pieces. Stitching the shoulder seams, the side seams. It came together fairly quickly at first. The pattern I chose was pretty straightforward, thankfully. No super complex darts or tailoring needed.
The sleeves were okay, just needed a bit of careful easing to get them set in smoothly. The neckline finishing took a bit more concentration, using bias tape to get a clean edge. I decided against a zipper and went with the pattern’s simple tie-wrap style, which felt very 70s anyway.
Hemming was the last big step. Trying to get that even all the way around on a slightly flared skirt takes patience. Pin, check, adjust, pin again. Finally stitched it up.
The Result and Final Thoughts
So, after a couple of afternoons of work, I had it. A 1970s-inspired dress. I tried it on. You know what? It wasn’t half bad. The fit was decent, maybe needed a tiny adjustment here or there, but overall, wearable. The fabric choice really helped sell the look.
It felt good to actually make something that captured that specific style I was thinking about. It’s comfortable, easy to wear, and definitely has that retro vibe without looking like a costume. It was a satisfying little project, going from just an idea based on old memories to actually having the finished dress hanging there. A nice reminder of that era’s particular style.
