Okay, so I’ve been on this HUGE vintage kick lately, and I’ve been absolutely obsessed with finding the perfect vintage white tea-length dress. You know, the kind Audrey Hepburn would totally rock? I finally decided, “Screw it, I’m gonna try to make one!”

The Hunt for Inspiration

First things first, I needed some serious inspiration. I spent hours, and I mean hours, scrolling through online vintage shops. I pinned a million pictures on image websites– everything from super simple A-line dresses to ones with lace details and cute little buttons.

Pattern Panic!

Next up: the pattern. This was the part I was dreading. I’m not gonna lie, sewing patterns can be intimidating! I looked at some actual vintage patterns, but some of them were so confusing! After a minor meltdown (totally normal, right?), I found a pretty basic tea-length dress pattern that seemed doable, even for a somewhat-beginner like me.

Fabric Frenzy

• I wanted something with a nice drape, not too stiff, but not too flimsy either.
• Linen? Maybe a cotton blend? So many choices!

I ended up going with a beautiful, creamy off-white cotton blend. It felt vintage-y without being too precious, you know?

Cutting and Cursing (Just a Little)

Laying out the pattern pieces and cutting the fabric is always a bit nerve-wracking. I swear, I held my breath the entire time! There were a couple of moments where I almost cut the wrong piece, but I caught myself just in time. Whew!

Sewing Adventures

Then came the actual sewing. I dusted off my trusty sewing machine (a hand-me-down from my grandma, actually!), and got to work. There were definitely some frustrating moments, like when my bobbin thread decided to throw a tantrum, or when I accidentally sewed a seam inside out. Rookie mistakes, I know! But hey, I learned from them.

I added some simple details that changed the look of the pattern a fair bit, which was a fun challenge.

The Big Reveal

After many evenings of sewing (and unpicking, and re-sewing), it was finally done! I tried it on, and…I loved it! It wasn’t perfect, of course. There are a few wonky seams here and there, but honestly, that just adds to the charm. It’s my handmade vintage-inspired dress, and I’m super proud of it.

It even goes well with the vintage hat I recently bought, and I can’t wait for the weather to cool down a bit so that I can wear it all the time!