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MAD MEN CHALLENGE: PSYCHEDELIC BATHROBE

19 April 2013 by

What’s a weekend without new lounge wear?

Mad Men vintage psychedelic bathrobe, made by Julianne

Mad Men Challenge #2

Although I’ve never participated in a challenge before, I was immediately jazzed about Julia Bobbin’s Mad Men Challenge. And although I’ve always been in love with the show’s costumes (especially after reading the ultimate Bitchy Kittens Tom and Lorenzo), the period clothing is mostly not my style. However. I had a amazing pattern from my Grandma, and gorgeous vintage cotton from Hawaii (a gift from my step-sister-in-law Ilaan), and damn if I’m not a sucker for over the top lounge wear.

You better believe I’m designing pajamas to coordinate. Who’s coming over for brunch? This robe is begging for champagne cocktails.

Mad Men vintage psychedelic bathrobe, made by Julianne

I don’t actually smoke, but I love all the scenes with Betty hanging around her house, chain smoking and drinking wine all day. Hilarity. All the ladies have such amazing wardrobes, including their bathrobes. In fact, I think every main female character has appeared on screen in a robe at this point!

Mad Men vintage psychedelic bathrobe, made by Julianne

My design combines two luscious bathrobes from the finale of season 5, called The Phantom. Appearing first is drunk Megan’s psychedelic robe, which has the same large flowers and neon colors as my fabric.

Mad Men s05e13Mad Men s05e13

Trudy’s robe has the frilliness of my pattern. I’d been planning on adding an organza ruffle with contrasting rolled hem, but while my sample looked amazing it was not very soft against my skin. So I have 7 yards of neon pink 5″ wide bias strips waiting for another project…

Mad Men s05e13

Mad Men s05e13

Butterick 3770, made by Julianne

I used Butterick 3770; although I couldn’t find an exact date I know it’s from the 60s. I received this pattern after my grandma died, almost a year ago. Knowing that she cut the pattern and made it for herself was a great connection, and reminded me of the wonderfully frilly dresses she would make for my birthdays. The night that I finished the construction, I dreamed that she was holding my hand throughout all my sleepy-time adventures, and it was a pretty great feeling that lasted all of the next day.

I didn’t make any adjustments to the pattern (except the placement of the belt casing and using 4 buttons instead of 5). The arms are a little high, but that seems to be the style and I didn’t want to mess with it. I finished the seams with my serger, but I may come back with some bias tape. If I were to make this robe again (and had more fabric) I would make the skirt a little more flared in the back, to emphasize the cape.

Although I certainly don’t need another robe, I want to make 5 more of these in every wild silky fabric I can find.

Mad Men vintage psychedelic bathrobe, made by Julianne Mad Men vintage psychedelic bathrobe, made by Julianne

Like so many of my projects nowadays, nearly all the materials came from my stash. The only purchase for this robe were 1/3 yd pink satin for the tie and button coverings, 6 yd pink lace, and blue ribbon binding the ruffle, for a total of $8. I had JUST. ENOUGH. FABRIC. In fact, one of the front facings had to be cut separately, because I chose to cut the back as a single piece (I was not loving the very obvious center back seam that the pattern called for).

Mad Men vintage psychedelic bathrobe, made by Julianne Mad Men vintage psychedelic bathrobe, made by Julianne

I love that the shorter version of this robe is called “street length,” so that became the inspiration for this photo shoot.

Mad Men vintage psychedelic bathrobe, made by Julianne

Ah, I wish I didn’t have to actually work today. I’d much rather drink strawberry margaritas, eat egg rolls, and watch movies on the couch all day. But I might wear this to a potluck tonight.

15 Responses to MAD MEN CHALLENGE: PSYCHEDELIC BATHROBE

  1. jill

    Oh.my.god. This is amazing. I love everything about it, especially your crazy street photos!! Can you wear this to our next sewing meetup?? I think I need to see it in person 😉

    • Julianne Post author

      Thanks! I don’t know if I will wear it, but I will definitely bring it! I’ll also bring the pattern if you’d like to make a copy. It only took a few hours to complete the whole project, and would be even easier if you have all of your materials to begin with.

      We should also all wear our hair in curlers for the next meetup!

  2. Lisette

    I love this. It is so perfect. It is great that you got to sew something your grandma did. I’m pretty sure my aunts threw away all my grammy’s patterns 🙁

  3. Sew2pro

    Julianne
    This is fabulous and looks so genuine. A real time-travelling project (did you apply some kind of retro process to the photos?)!

    I too get a strange sense of pleasure watching Betty chain smoking around her house. Can’t imagine why. The fog in her head and the smell must be horrible.

    • Julianne Post author

      Thank you! The photos are basically untreated, just little adjustments to the contrast. I didn’t even have to bump up the saturation!

      The half-assed parenting is endlessly entertaining, and I love the sassy pain in the ass that Sally’s becoming as a result. Bobby is a non-entity and boring!

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