Hi Sophia here,  For the 2nd HSM challenge I decided to make a crazy printed art deco beach ensemble. This was such a fun look to make an wear I got some stares and many complements.

I started with one of Erin’s vintage patterns for pajamas. I did some minor alterations to make the pants more flattering in the crotch and added cuffs to the bottoms of the pants because they were far to short. I pulled a lot inspiration photos for the styling and bathing suit design. I noticed that many of the women on the beach would wear slightly mismatch prints patterns and colors. I started with the body of the beach PJs and matched a vintage printed scarf with that and then used those colors to shop for my bathing suit and trim fabric for the PJs.

The navy blue bathing suit was really fun to pattern and make at least the 2nd time around the first go around it was so short and wide I accounted for stretch totally wrong. I loved how suits at the time had thin criss crossing straps, although I made the straps out of knit and I wish they were a woven they were stretching throughout the day. If anyone is interested I can post a pattern drafting tutorial it is only 5 pattern pieces and is relatively easy to make.  

What the item is: 1930s beach ensemble
The Challenge: #2 Blue
Fabric: Beach PJs: white and mint light weight cotton in a decoesque print and a cerulean blue medium weight cotton for trimming. Bathing suit: navy cotton/poly blend ponte knit and white cotton rib knit for binding.
Pattern: Beach PJs vintage french pattern borrowed from Erin. Bathing suit drafted by me.
Year: Early 30s
Notions: Hook and eyes for the pant closure, two vintage celluloid buttons for bathing suit.
How historically accurate is it? The beach pjs are 100% to me they have a hook and eye closure and are 100% cotton. The bathing suit is more like 50% I would say the look and pattern are 100% the sewing and fabric are not. I wanted to use wool knit but I couldn’t find the right kind at our local fabric store and didn’t want to order online without feeling it and making sure it was suitable.
Hours to complete: 2 days for the PJs one day for the bathing suit.
First worn: Yesterday to the beach although it was to cold to go into the water properly.
Total cost: Beach PJs $45 Bathing Suit $20