Because it was only ever tacked together, it's easy to unpick where needed. The first change I want to make is simple, in fact I've already done it; replace the right-sides-together waist seams with a forties overlaid seam.
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| The new waist seam |
Next is the waist fasten. The wide, elaborate, half belt at the back is a striking feature, but not remotely right.
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| Eighties yes, forties no |
1940s dresses often had self-fabric tie belts.
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| Self fabric belts |
Or ties attached in the side seams, like Simplicity 4463.
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| Just visible on view 2 |
Because the dress has its mini-eiderdown centre front panel, this is the style I'm going to use.
The area which needs most work is the sleeves and shoulders. Yes, 1940s dresses had defined shoulders, but not this defined.
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| You could rest a teacup on those shoulders |
The only forties pattern I have with anything like such an extreme line is this one.
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| Sleeve flanges ahoy! |
1930s and 40s sleeve heads sometimes had small darts.
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| The darts are visible on the plain version |
But whether darted or not the effect was nearly always a smooth sleeve head, again like Simplicity 4463.
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| Not a gather in sight |
The sleeves themselves were narrower as well.
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| A selection of sleeves on 1940 Vogue patterns |
The new version will take some working out, but the sleeves of Butterick 3794 are so large that I should have plenty of fabric to play with.
