I found the pattern to one of my vintage dresses

Midge

Midge

Super Moderator
Staff member
I picked this beauty up for almost nothing in a secondhand shop in Vienna, where everything else for sale wasn't vintage.
brocade2.jpg

It is home-made, or made by a seamstress. Very nicely made, actually!

Looking through my mom's Burda magazines, I found something that looked familiar - and I'm pretty sure this is the pattern that was used! This was in a 1966 issue with loads and loads of drool-worthy evening wear in it.

burda1.jpg


In the mag it was published in size 46 (for comparison, my size in Burdas from the time is 36 or 38/40 at the most), as a "ladylike" option for fuller-figured ladies wanting to wear an empire-waist dress. However, the patterns could be bought separately in other sizes too, and that's what must have happened here, as the dress I have would maybe have been a vintage size 40, but not more.

Karin
 
Your earrings and shoes fit perfectly, too! :) And the gown is awesome, it's fantastic you found the pattern in Burda. Maybe it's a little roomy in your waist but I'm sure that with a little work you will make it perfect. Congratulations :)
 
Karin,
I just love pieces that go together. This was a wonderful find!

I'm going to Vienna on Sat. Can you recommend some shops--vintage and resale--that you liked?
Many thanks, Claire
 
Claire, I know some secondhand shops that can yield the unexpected, but no vintage only shops. I've never come home empty-handed, but you never know what you get at these. My friend and I mostly go to the Humana shops, this is a chain of charity seondhand shops:
Humana, Lerchenfelderstrasse 45-47 (on the corner of Neubaugasse), 7th district - this is the "trendy" shop, it usually has the highest vintage quotient, most of it is 70s-til now. But this is the place where I pulled a 1930s dress from a rack of 1970s polyester maxi dresses. Found 40s and 50s things here too. The thrill of the hunt is always on there! If you have time for only one shop, go this one, and then walk down Neubaugasse to Mariahilferstrasse (this is Vienna's main shopping drag). Neubaugasse has a lot of fun shops, as the 7th district this is in generally has. Little designer shops, fun decorative stuff, cheeky t-shirts etc. ... Check out: Gloom, Neubaugasse 75 (fun things made by young urban designers), Bootik 54, Neubaugasse 54 (fun t-shirts!) and two doors further, Bootik also has a vintage shop - mostly 70s til now but you might want to have a peak. And: Carnaby in Neubaugasse 78 - this is a vintage shop, that specialises on the 1960s. It's like a psychedelic explosion when you walk in there :). Lots of polyester, and of course pricier than Humana. There is also a higher-end secondhand shop who's name I have forgotten on the same side of Neubaugasse as Humana. Has a white façade and is maybe two blocks or so along. Too pricey and designer-orientated for me and my friend, and I think mostly newer stuff. It may be that they work on consignment. If you need a coffee on the way: Café Latte, Neubaugasse 39. Nice all-day and almost all-night hang-out, good coffee, and their rucola soup is a treat!
Humana, Alserstrasse 41, 8th district - this one has been a really good treasure trove too the last two years or so - found some great vintage beauties between the newer things.
Caritas: they have a big shop, called Carla, on Mittersteig 10, 5th district. They have everything - it's like a big storehouse: furniture, toys, books... and clothes! Looks a little crazy. They keep the "nicer" accessories and jewelry in glass cases. Seen some nice things there, though of course they know what price to ask...
The Ringstrassengalerie (a posh shopping galleria) has an antiques market every second and fourth Sunday a month - the next one being next Sunday the 14th! http://www.ringstrassengalerien.at/events/cms,id,76,nodeid,33,_language,de.html - mostly small antiques, lots of books, prints, nick-nacks - and a lot of costume jewelry. I was there last in December and found some really nice vintage brooches.

This is what comes to my mind right now. The flea market at Naschmarkt is forgettable, to be honest... That was good maybe 25 years ago, but not anymore since years...

If you need anymore ideas for Vienna - let me know!

Karin
 
Karin, thank you for the wonderful information. I may need an expanding suitcase for my return home. I'll let you know what I find.

We're going to opera twice; do people dress--not long dresses but dress short ones? Don't worry I wouldn't wear jeans, but I often wear dressy pants in NY.
 
Oh, how great is that! I hope you'll see something good! My mom's headed to Vienna again on May 8th I think, for the opera as well. I haven't been to the Vienna opera in ages (because my friend is not into opera), but I know my mom always dresses up - I know she's sewing something just for the 8th - it's a special performance or something like that. You certainly can dress up - but I'm sure dressy pants will be fine. Too bad I didn't read this earlier, I could have asked mom. I'm staying up late trying to see if I'll see the last e-mail from the other side of the globe before I close up that suitcase - I'm headed off on business tomorrow and still don't have the finaly intinerary for once I get there...

Karin
 
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