Costume College - Mod Pool Party

They had a great theme for the Costume College pool party this year - Its a Mod Mod Mod Mod World.   I love mod 60s clothing, and if you do too, I have a pinterest board of groovy dresses for inspiration  check it out here

While working on a draft of an upcoming blog post on airline uniforms of the past (will be soon) I fell in love with these Braniff outfits.  They flew in style.  Dig those awesome tights!  I love the color combination and I remember all the neat clothing from 1960s sitcoms with similar bright colors. This photo became the major inspiration for my mod dress.

A few more inspiration photos for my dress are:  1.  Color blocking.  These blue and purple dresses are wonderful!  2.  Tights and color blocking on center gal in blue and white.  3.  Lost in Space, because orange and yellow! One of my favorite TV shows from the 60s.                                       

I liked the idea of a lightweight knit rather than a cotton.  Penny and Judy Robinson look so comfy, don't you think?  I went to Yardage Town about two blocks from my house to see what they had.  I came across some lightweight poly poplin, which was perfect!  They had bright colors, just what I was looking for.  Guess what else I found?  A Help Wanted sign in the window. I called my daughter and she came over the next day and was hired.   Family discount!!!!!!

Next, a pattern.  I have tons of 60s patterns, and I searched for one I could color block.  I got it down to two choices.  First I picked the one on the left with the triangle inserts.  I love this dress.  But then I really liked the one on the right.   As you can see on the black and white sample, the skirt is actually two pieces with a center seam.  It seemed more "blocky" to me, so this is what I used.

 

Back to Yardage Town with my family discount.  I picked these three rainbow sherbet colors.  I cut out the pieces and laid them on the floor to see how it would look.

I found the perfect tights to go with it!  Other accessories are true 60s vintage:  bangle bracelets, earrings, necklace, pin and hair scarf.   I wore pink ballet flats.  Here is dress under construction.  I was trying to decide if I wanted sleeves or not.  I ended up with sleeves.

Here are some photos from the pool party as Costume College. We had a blast!  Above left, April wears a dress she made out of vintage fabric.  Loved her pink fuzzy hat and loafers!  Above right, my lovely friend Vanessa is wearing her groovy pink and white vintage dress.

Joanne looks cute with her 60s beatnik outfit.  Here we are posing with our golden guns (cue Shirley Bassey singing Goldfinger) 

 

The lady on the right in yellow and blue used the other pattern I almost used.  See above.

We had a great time.  I got lots of compliments on my outfit - especially the tights!  Everyone loved them.








Dress Fabric:  about $15
Tights are called "retro metro" by Foot Traffic. $18 (more than the dress!)