Sunday, September 15, 2013

Tuffin

Well hello to you! I hope you are enjoying your weekend?
Would you like to see the Tuffin dress as modelled by yours truly? Well read on!

I have been reading the Foale and Tuffin biography recently and as an insight to the name of this dress, I have named it after Sally Tuffin. Dress designer of the pair of “two cocky, feisty bolshy, arty, clever-clogs young women”

For those of you who might not be familiar with them, Marion Foale and Sally Tuffin met at the Royal College of arts in 1955 and eventually went on to design wholesale together for various retail stores including Woollands 21 shop, before opening their own store. They were featured early in their careers in Vogue in 1962 and travelled with Mary Quant and few other British designers to America for the ‘Youth quake’ tour in 1965. They made clothes worn by Cathy McGowan, Modelled by Jenny Boyd and with Mary Quant and Barbara Hulanicki, form my own version of the “holy trinity”

The pattern of this dress is the Burda Mondrian Dress. The dress pattern is very interesting – a creative version of a drop-waist dress, with a nod to 1965. The Burda version is colour-blocked with a different colour for each piece. 



As shown in the illustration, this dress is supposed to have a belt and pleated skirt. But through mainly happy accidents, my version ended up like so… 



The instructions don’t give you a pattern piece for the skirt, so I just measured out a piece as it said. Maybe I was supposed to double it or something because the skirt just ended up a plain skirt without the pleats. I decided I liked the straight skirt as a pleated skirt could become the victim of a gust of wind and show everyone that which they are not supposed to see!



I did actually make the belt, but it didn’t sit as nicely as I’d hoped and the only buckle I could find was quite heavy and just made the fabric sag down at the front so I took it off.


I think I’d rather it in this minimalist version – just the red and white without the fussy decorations.



The fabric I used was a Ponte de Roma – a stable double knit which is light enough for summer and wrinkle resistant. I added white bias to the arms and left-hand closure.



The dress is actually a wraparound dress – and closes at the left shoulder, kind of like a dentists jacket. I used a few different sized press studs to close the dress. The while buttons are purely decorative but pop against the red




And because I couldn’t help myself, this dress just calls for some abstract model poses don't you think?



If you can see my make-up, I did this with the help of Lucy’s very good tutorial for Pattie Boyd style make up

Oh and I got my braces – they’re not as fun as I thought they would be. But they have started doing their thing and are making eating a bit tricky, but it’s all for a good purpose!

Thanks for popping in dears!
Cat xo

28 comments:

  1. Hell, yes! What an awesome dress. You look incredible - a proper 1960s chick. I'm glad you went without the belt, you're right, it's far too fussy for such a sharp design. You are seriously talented.
    Braces? Ouch! I went through some horrible orthodontistry back when I was a teen & I still wince at the memory. Well worth the pain in the end though. xxx

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    1. thanks Vix! Im glad the belt didnt work out, but i like the style. i might try it again one day
      These braces are a killer, and i really want to eat bread, but i cant be arsed picking it all out. yuck!

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  2. Your dress is gorgeous Cat ! I prefer your version than the pattern one , you made good alterations on it ... i think like you that the belt is unnecessary .

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    1. thanks! yes, im pretty glad i didnt include it now!

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  3. Hooray for the red, white and YOU, dear Cat! You did a great job with this dress and I appreciated the various Sixties style poses you used to model it for us. I also enjoyed learning the back story about Foale and Tuffin, members of your "holy trinity" of designers.

    Congratulations on getting started with your braces. Hang in there. You will soon reap the benefits of your patience and sacrifice.

    Good night to you, dear friend Catherine, and have a groovy week ahead!

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    1. haha thanks Shady! I love doing silly poses to suit the things i make.
      The braces are a pain but im sure in time ill forget they're there

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  4. Fantastic! I love the red and white, and I agree no pleats and no belt looks better. Braces! Such hard work but worth it, hope you have lots of wax for rub sores! :(

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    1. thanks! yes im well stocked with wax and teething gel. still not used to eating yet

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  5. Visiting via your We Sew Retro post. I gushed over there, but wanted to pop by and say hello. Great work!

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    1. aww thanks for coming over! i hope you'll be back soon

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  6. The dress looks great and I agree that it looks better without the belt. I love the pop of white, you did a great job!

    I remember the pain of braces well, it's worth it in the end though! x

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    1. Thanks! You should give this pattern i go, i think it will suit you!

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  7. You look so hip and cool! I got braces at 49 and wish I had done it when I was young. Your sense of style is so amazing. I look forward to each of your posts!

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    1. oh thank you! I'm not too late i guess, but there is a lot of - "damn, why didn't i do this when i was 20!"

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  8. I love it!
    Like recipes, sometimes patterns are simply inspirational!!
    The colour is gorgeous, the white buttons just sing, and I'm certainly not missing the pleated skirt! The poses, too, are perfection! Just the sort of thing I like to practice in the loo!!!
    XXX

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    1. Thanks Helga! i agree sometimes its good to freestyle the patterns and chuck the instructions in the bin!
      You'll have to show off some of your poses then!

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  9. This dress is gorgeous! You did such a wonderful job with the fabric, and I like the sleekness of the design without pleats.

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    1. Aww thank you! I agree its much nicer without them :)

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  10. Oh my gosh, I just love this soooo much! I remember when that pattern originally came out and I wasn't impressed with it, I think it was the fabric they choose. I LOVE how you did everything in one color and it looks great without the pleats! Now I wanna make one! :)

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    1. oh yay! I'm so glad i helped you change your mind about the pattern! You should totally make one, its actually pretty easy despite the weird instructions

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  11. This is awesome!!! LOVE your style!
    Shelley

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  12. This version exceeds the original design by far - losing the pleats and belt make this simple mod pefection!

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  13. It's great, I love the white binding and buttons they really shine out against the bold colour. fab poses too!

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