Making a one-hour dress but it took me a week | Refashioning a failed Regency-era gown 

I've made one or two "one hour" dresses, but I placed the waist at my natural waist. What really grabs me about that era in clothing is that there was this drive to merge the old with the new; the shape (which many people don't like) was a strong push forward in a new direction, but it was embellished and surrounded with the details and trims of previous eras (Edwardian/Victorian). You can see in a lot of the home-sewing stuff that part of the unusual shape comes from trying to find a way to streamline garment making with the idea that the "new modern woman" wants to be fashionable but also wants to devote less time to sewing. I really wish modern sewing sort of tried to look back on the 1920s and learn from the balance they were trying to go for; finding a balance between connivence and not wanting to let go of / sacrifice elegance along the way. Another era that sort of did this "hard push" I think was with the 1960s shift minidress (mod/futuristic retro). It was such a strong contrast to the previous decade and there seemed to be a similar narrative floating around of trying to go for things that were simpler to put together and took even less time. Although, the key difference between the 1920s and the 1960s, I think, is that the 1960s was not trying to hold onto or translate older ideas; the 1960s seemed to want to push ahead in a more "clean" and "bold" way with less referencing back through trims and small details.

I think it’s very fitting that you turned a Regency dress into a 1920’s dress. Both are eras that many costumers dislike as neither appeal to our modern tastes. Today we appreciate a narrow waist and round hips and behind ( as the Victorians did!) but those aspects of the figure are completely eschewed in both eras in favour of either the décolletage or the legs, respectively

Great job. One hour is a pier dream. With real life a week is more reasonable.

I thought the original dress looked fine, but the 20s remake is so darling!

Just like any fashion era, you don't have to love all the style, or the mainstream styles. There are some gems in the 20s that are just cheff's kiss! Just like the 80's, a lot of people hate/ridicule the 80s, but oh man, I have some 80's pieces that are sooooo amazing, and that I keep getting complimented on, so... yeah ... once you start digging, you can find a lot of cool stuff ^^

I like what you did with it and flatters you more. Refashioning in itself is an immensely historical practice that just about everyone used to do, regardless of social class. I often just refashion clothes as I have almost no costumes. Styles and such change every decade or so. My jeans and pants were wide legged and I altered the legs into straight leg. Once in a while, I'll take apart a dress or two and create a new dress. It saves me a lot of money. Plus the quality is very high because I sewed it. As I live in major poverty, much of my clothes came to me outdated by a wide margin, so refashioning goes on on a huge scale. I intend to wear everything for at least ten years. Some are vintage styles and others are up to date.

It came out pretty well. I like it much better than the original Regency dress. It's like watching what actually happened to original dresses on fast forward.

Very cute dress. I appreciate that you made use of something that was in the closet and not being worn. Thanks for letting us watch.

I love it! So cute! The majority of women in the 1920s weren’t totally rich, and also had to do with what they got or could afford. So “redesigning” was big! And people would definitely wear brown hats with blue dresses if that was what they got.

I think that the dark hat actually works quite well, because it ties in with the dark bit on the shoes. It turned out very pretty.

This is so cute! What a great way to repurpose an old costume! ♥️♥️

It's adorable and a great way to reclaim that material. Bravo on the hat for a quick finishing touch that you can now work on to coordinate better with the dress (or those shoes, wow). I agree it's a little dark for the dress but who cares, it goes well with your hair and gives the outfit that unmistakable 20's vibe.

I don’t care for the 1920s style, but I think you did a wonderful job transforming this dress into something very cute and very wearable today. I also think you did a nice job on the hat. I’ve never considered just unwinding some of the braid on a too-large straw hat before.

Lovely work. Well done, you. I love that you were able to do this with an early project you weren't satisfied with. Absolutely brilliant, the Grannies would be proud. Speaking of Grannies, guess who just came home with two armfuls of plaid fabric. Mostly beautiful, beautiful WOOL plaid. From the Village of Value. With a 20% off gift certificate. Enough for a shall for winter, a pencil skirt, a circle skirt, a fancy as f..k pencil skirt, an 1890's walking skirt, a 1950's fitted double breasted blazer with a flared collar, and, some sort of blazer (maybe a Chanel knock-off)... One. Hundred. Bucks I... I... Oh my... Now all I have to do is make some stuff I've already made for the first three skirts. The rest is off of patterns. Which means the dreaded dart manipulation and sizing up. Um. Ok. Sorry. Still blinking at the wonder of it all... - Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown/Pimisi

I haven't remade an old costume....yet. I have one I made about 10 years ago for a costuming class that I never really finished. It's made with polyester/plastic fabric and has been sitting in a box for this whole time. Time to do something with it.

Also, something you can do with your collar if you are so inclined, and is very period: when you take it out, affix snaps to it and to the dress, that way you can switch out the collar for a different look. I am a huuuuge fan of Phryne Fisher's Murder Mysteries, and if you pay close attention (which I am sure you do as a costumer), Dot's dresses don't actually vary much. In season 2 she has this one coral dress, which she changes up with different collars and pocket flaps, and even has a plastron that changes the looks. This is something I really want to do sometime with either a 10s/20s or 30s day dress. I really am fascinated with the Victorian idea of having a skirt with different bodices too, but I am so overwhelmed by the amount of underwear that I'll just stick why my other periods.

This looks great :-) 1920s is my favourite decade to sew.

Such a darling dress! I adore the collar and your cloche. I made a one-hour dress and the fit was horrible. I think my measurements were off. So I transformed it into a summer dress that I wore all the time.

Yes, this dress is much better than the regency! Well done. Very satisfying to watch.

That turned out SUPER CUTE!! I tried the one hour dress and it didn't turn out very well. I think I might have to do the same thing you did and remake it. You've inspired me! 😍

So cute! And such a great costume flip design

Great refashion. I thought I wouldn't like the Regency silhouette as I am a bean pole who likes to cinch in my waist to get some sort of shape but I found that i love the Regency mid style dress with the flat front that I made this year for the Jane Austen Festival. I've always steared clear of the 20s/early 30s for the same reason but as I would have been the ideal body shape for it back then I should probably give it a try. Your video has given me the nudge!! There's definitely no boob binding required here! 🤣

dixie! the dress is adorable on you, and i love the finished ensemble. really great job! :)

It’s so stinking cute!

From the research that I’ve done it seems like women still wore some type of corset like garment into the 20’s because women who were busty needed more support than what was provided by bras of the time.

I 100% agree with needing to take a bust measurement. My bust and hips are within a few inches of each other so my original attempt left me with a very snug top. Thankfully I had enough fabric to add panels under each arm to widen the chest. I used a dark, busy fabric so the seams are very unnoticeable. I enjoyed the 1920's look when I was younger and had the ideal 20's silhouette. After 3 children and hitting my mid 30's I now have a much more hourglass figure and find other decades work better for me.

I tried the 1 hour dress about 10 years ago, but I wasn't as good at understanding the era and sewing physics that well, and measured my armhole too big, which equals the sides dragging. I just used a pattern to make a 1922 evening dress, where you can see where the 1 hour concept came from, though it was slightly more complicated and did have an underbody/lining (which I was able to eschew for the version I made). The 20s don't look sexy/flattering in a modern way, but it's so much fun to make and wear, because it's so pretty (Dainty and Fresh! As all the magazines of the time seem to say!)

Fabulous dress Dixie and looks wonderful on you too…🥰🇦🇺

What a good save!

Very cute! A perfect style for you with your new haircut! I used a 1984 McCalls pattern for my 1920s dress that looks somewhat like the one hour dress. At first, I wasn't sure I was going to like it, but once I put it on with all the accessories, I thought this is pretty cute!

You did an awesome job on this!!! You looked great!!!!

Ive used the book you show to make 1 hour dresses for myself, and if you follow the instructions it *does* create a shape like the screenshot you inserted! I just dont think they include that image within the book itsself. Your take on the 20s dress was great to see, there arent enough 1920s tutorials out there!

I think the outcome is so lovely! I'm tempted to make the classic one hour dress myself - I'm very not curvy in the bust so a dress with no bust fitting totally works - but I do have a big bum and I feel like that 20s style sort of...pulls and looks awkward if you're not a complete column. So I would make the gathering at the natural waist and wear it as a regular dress rather than something aiming at 20s style. It's definitely a real change of beauty standards from then to now - but some of the stuff that's in now is pretty unappealing to me so there's always going to be things you like and things you don't. And much like the regency period, the 20s is easy. Great work recycling the costume, so much better than having it sit there and feeling disappointed with it

Really cute! I love the collar.

Hi,lovely dress, my one and only maternity dress was the style and so comfortable.💖

This is awesome! Great job!

I really don’t like 1920 styles (no offense, you look lovely). I really like structured clothing. My two favorite eras are the mid-1890s and 1590s English court dress. Those are both about as opposite of the 20s as you can possibly get.

This is so cute!!

I love 1920s fashion. Unfortunately I’m busty and hippy so it’s a no for me. I love that you’re remaking these costumes. Sewing is so expensive and it’s great to see that even if you mess up all is not lost.