Finished Project- WWII Factory Coveralls

>Yesterday was one of my favorite events of the entire year, the Los Angeles Air Raid at Fort MacArthur.
It was a very wet and windy day for Southern California, and we made a not-too-bad trip up in my husband’s 1939 Plymouth, but once there it started coming down and was quite chilly.  I am SO glad I made these for tromping around outside in the wet!

The pattern I used for this was a vintage 1940’s pattern.  It was quite difficult to make, but I finished it in time for the event. Yay! It had a LOT of buttons.  There were three on each side of the pants, four hidden at the back under the belt (for a drop seat), three up the front, three at the button fly, and one at the inside of each pant leg so you don’t get caught in machinery.  Instead of full length sleeves I opted to make them have short sleeves.

I got the fabric for my head scarf custom printed at Spoonflower, but need to do it again as it came out more of an orange red than the red I had wanted (note to self: next time order a swatch).

These coveralls were actually quite fun to wear.  I could wander all over in pants and shoes and not worry too much about the cold and wet and mud.  It was perfect for outside wandering.  Unfortunately it was too chilly and wet to actually wear them as in these photos and the rest of the evening found me bundled up with a Pendleton coat underneath my 1930’s Blanket Coat Pattern- which, let me tell you, I was SO glad to have.  That hood is darn handy!

For the evening I changed into a vintage angora bolero over a knit top and a cute bias cut 40s wool skirt I made *cough*the night before*cough*  but I neglected to take any pictures of that outfit OR any of most of the lovely friends we saw yesterday.  I do have pretty much all of my pictures up now on Flickr, but I’m really hoping to post a few here after recouping from yesterday’s fun.  A lot of the outfits yesterday were positively inspired!  I am so sad I didn’t take more photos!

*Edit-  This pattern is coming soon from Wearing History!  Keep an eye on this blog, and visit my website so you can get a copy when it becomes available.

20 Comments on Finished Project- WWII Factory Coveralls

  1. Brook
    February 21, 2011 at 4:09 am (13 years ago)

    >Love the coveralls! Looks great on you. I want to see what you printed on your head scarf.

  2. Lauren
    February 21, 2011 at 4:13 am (13 years ago)

    >Thanks! I was so bad at taking photos yesterday! But it was a Womans Ordinance Worker type logo. I'll try to get a shot of it later :)

  3. honey hi
    February 21, 2011 at 4:20 am (13 years ago)

    >those are amazing!!im not a pants girl but they look so good on! and yours came out looking better than the drawing on the package. so cute! good thinking with the short sleeves too, came out great !:)janinehoneyhivintage.blogspot.com

  4. Isis
    February 21, 2011 at 5:38 am (13 years ago)

    >The overall looks great, and you in it as well!

  5. Debi
    February 21, 2011 at 6:36 am (13 years ago)

    >The coveralls are fantastic! I love them!! Wow..that is a lot of buttons! :-)

  6. Miss Margarita
    February 21, 2011 at 7:15 am (13 years ago)

    >Wow! Those look so nice and comfy! Very cool! :)

  7. LandGirl1980
    February 21, 2011 at 8:41 am (13 years ago)

    >Glorious!!!

  8. Carys
    February 21, 2011 at 11:34 am (13 years ago)

    >Those overalls are amazing, you look so nice!! I love the sunglasses and headscarf too!From Carys of La Ville Inconnue

  9. Andrea
    February 21, 2011 at 11:52 am (13 years ago)

    >WOW! Those are amazing! You look so cute, I love the whole outfit!

  10. FoofandFaff
    February 21, 2011 at 12:32 pm (13 years ago)

    >Aw I missed the giveaway! You look great in this outfit, never thought overalls could look good haha! :)

  11. Miss Tess
    February 21, 2011 at 12:46 pm (13 years ago)

    >You look awesome – and your photos on Flickr are great too!T.xxx

  12. Stephanie Lynn
    February 21, 2011 at 2:01 pm (13 years ago)

    >Looks so cute on you! Not sure it's something I'd wear on a day to day basis, but it's definitely perfect for WWII military events.

  13. Lauren Hairston
    February 21, 2011 at 4:12 pm (13 years ago)

    >Cute coveralls! I love your sunglasses, too. Looks like you had a great time!

  14. Lauren
    February 21, 2011 at 5:18 pm (13 years ago)

    >Thanks so much, gals! They are certainly not something I'd wear every day either, but they were fun for the event! I might wear them camping or something like that, too :)

  15. Lauren
    February 21, 2011 at 5:20 pm (13 years ago)

    >Very cute! They look super comfortable too :D

  16. casey
    February 21, 2011 at 6:50 pm (13 years ago)

    >Oh my–I LOVE how this turned out, Lauren! You look so chic and like you just stepped out of "Millions Like Us". ;) (Which I just rewatched a couple weeks ago because Netflix had it on instant play–hurrah!) You never cease to inspire me with your projects and comprehensive looks you put together for these events. :)♥ Casey

  17. garofit
    February 21, 2011 at 7:03 pm (13 years ago)

    >I love it, and such a gorgeous color too!

  18. Time Traveling in Costume
    February 22, 2011 at 12:35 am (13 years ago)

    >This came out so cute! I'm glad you stuck with it and got them made. Val

  19. BaronessVonVintage
    February 22, 2011 at 11:47 pm (13 years ago)

    >brilliant! the scarf is a perfect touch, too!

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