Is this not the coolest vintage 50′s bolero pattern you’ve ever seen? And the timing couldn’t be more perfect. I write a post about boleros last week and finding the perfect topper for my growing vintage dress collection and look what popped up in my etsy shop feeds!?
This!
Instant love! It took me all of fifteen seconds to hit the ‘Add to Cart’ button.
Best description ever, too! Kathleen from Midvale Cottage (who always has great vintage patterns in her shop) writes:
“This ever-so-chic bolero from the early 50s and Vogue can be glamorous in satin or velvet, or crisply smart in linen or cotton. Awesome style!
The bolero is beautifully dart-fitted, with plunging V-neckline, stand-up wing collar, elbow-length French sleeves (almost dolman) that are pleated and buttoned at outseam hems, has a single buttoned tab closing, and is fully lined.
Droool.”
My thoughts exactly! Drool is right. And it’s mine all mine! What do you think about navy, for the Twin Spruce Dress? White cotton or linen for the summertime? Velvet for the holidays? Ooh… how about a nubby brown tweed? So many possibilities!
Can’t wait to get it in the mail!
excellent find, cannot wait to see them made up and modelled :)
love the sound of a nubby brown tweed…
Now that is a nice bolero. And I am not normally a fan of boleros!
That bolero will be so great with a full gathered skirt! My favorite thing about this pattern is that it’s elegant, but the collar has the versatility to give it a sporty feel too, depending on your fabric choice. Velvet or linen? Super elegant. A great novelty cotton, or seersucker instead, and you have the ladylike equivalent of our tried and true jean jackets..
I’m super excited that you nabbed it! And you have the benefit of all of Gertie’s awesome tailoring tutorials if you want to use them too..
Pretty – I love boleros, they go so well with full skirts. I like the idea of velvet!
What a gorgeous pattern!
Re: the button closure… if you were to cut off the “flap/tab” containing the button hole you could make a detachable tab – then sew 2 buttons to each side of the bottom of the bolero. You could even make the detachable tab in 2 different sizes (similar to my thoughts on yesterday’s flexible waist-stay loops – one tab smaller, one tab bigger for more or less wearing ease :)).
Picture of how the bolero might look with a detachable tab
You could even make a few tabs in different colours to change things around a bit. Or, sew the buttons to the tabs over the centre of some “faux” button holes, then attach a couple of snaps to the back of the tabs & to the bolero for easy on/off-ability, then it’s easy to change both the button & tab colours that way :)
Like woolcat I’m not a huge fan of boleros either (not on me anyway) but this one is really cute. Love the sleeves!
are those shoulder darts I see? I LOVE vintage envelope art, but I’m such a SHOW ME THE TECHNICAL drawing type! It would be so pretty in a dark silk. I am completley impractical when it comes to fabric selection!
Midvale Cottage is my fave Etsy store for vintage patterns! She gets some really amazing patterns and is so lovely to do business with.
This pattern is so lovely. I’m liking the idea of a velvet for the holidays (and I don’t even care much for velvet).
That looks like a great bolero with endless options through fabric choice.
I’m with Patty’s suggestion of Silk – it would look fabulous in Shantung Silk – all the slubs ‘n’ bumps and the way it plays with the light would look lovely for an evening version in jewel colours :)
So gorgeous! Navy lined with red would be gorgeous for your Twin Spruce dress! And a velvet one would be incredible too.
Oh!!! That bolero is just perfect!!! I really want to see it finished!!
Oh you did find a winner! It will look great made up so many ways!
Woo hoo! I second Heather’s Navy outside with delicious red inside on that bolero. That’s going to be AMAZING with your Twin Spruce Dress.
SO fun!
Love the bolero! Especially the sleeves. Nice and roomy if your dress has short sleeves. I also love the tab and button closure.
And you have to style it with pearls and white gloves.
Yes, it is gorgeous.
Wow, it looks gorgeous! I love the button closure!