For as long as I could operate a sewing machine, I've been obsessed with sewing clothes, crafts and costumes! I learned from my grandmother, sister, and then in high school, a bunch of talented ladies, mostly from a tall, elegant and beautiful woman named Ms. Wakely. She pushed me to perfection, and taught me that even the inner finishings that no one else will see are worth my attention to create a garment with pride. I carried this spirit into my first company, Coquette Faux Furriers, making sure all seams were finished perfectly inside and out, and again in my burlesque costumes.
When I was recently approached by Simplicity Patterns, a company that made many of the patterns, both new and vintage that I have used my whole life, to help them with their bombshell pin-up line, it was a dream come true! I felt like a kid in a candy store walking through their offices on Madison Avenue. Their pattern test area looked like a big fun sewing class, and just hearing that their pattern archive was onsite gave me goosebumps!
Our first collaboration is this photoshoot and article that I wrote for their costume ideas magazine, with my top 10 tips for creating pin-up style. You can get your copy of the magazine now, available exclusively in Jo-Ann stores across America. The magazine also has coupons and discounts for purchase of patterns, so definitely worth it if you are starting to plan your fall wardrobe now! Keep your eyes peeled for this magazine, and if you send me a picture of you with it or tag me in your pic with the magazine on social media I'll repost my faves! (@bettina_may)
I'm heading back to their office this week to start planning our next collaboration, so keep your eyes peeled to this page for more info! If there's anything you'd like to see in the way of vintage style from Simplicity, let me know so I can try to make it happen!
Happy sewing, and enjoy this last month of summer!
xoxo
Bettina