Lisa Dress

1940s shirtwaister Lisa Dress in Green Doggy by The Seamstress of Bloomsbury.

This dress is my first item from Seamstress of Bloomsbury, and after reading the specific size chart for this dress, I purchased their Size 8. I probably should have sized up to a 10 as the waist and hem sit a little high on me (I am fairly tall and have a long torso) so it doesn’t quite have that classic 1940s silhouette when looking front-on. It looks a little more 1950s, sitting a smidge above the knee. The profile silhouette, however, is so dreamy, so I think the Size 10 will be perfect in future.

The dress itself is beautiful. The Scottie dog print is adorable, and the vibrant shade of green is breathtaking and does wonders for my Pasty Sick Girl complexion. The crepe de chine fabric adds an authentic, period appropriate texture and soft 1940s drape to the dress. The look is completed with bakelite style buttons and a fabric belt with bakelite style buckle. It is important to note that the dress is not lined, so I need to wear a slip underneath or face a backlighting wardrobe malfunction situation should the sun come out!

Update: The fabric is quite delicate. After a few wears, there are tears in the cloth on both sleeves and on the back around the arms. This occurred as a result of lifting my arms up over my head while wearing the dress. If you are opting for the smaller of two potential sizes, just be careful with regards to using your full range of movement – it’s not something you want to risk when being active out and about!