At long last, the size 16-26 Ladies' Classic 1950s Wardrobe pattern is ready for printing! Many thanks to all of you who have waited such an age for this one to get to press--particularly so long after the 4-18 version went to press last year! I am truly delighted with the results and ecstatic to show them off with my beautiful South African models who brought such grace and glamour to our photo shoot.

I shared this on social media last month but forgot to post it here--eek! This is a wonderful challenge to get you sewing from your own family tree (or borrow a family tree!). Tanya has extended the deadline to April 24, so there's still time to participate!

When it comes to retro maternity style, I may not be an expert, but I think sheer experience has to count for something! I've lived through two decades of maternity wear, beginning with my first pregnancy in 1996, when I was just starting out as a seamstress-for-hire and making lots of Regency gowns.

My friend Lorna McKenzie of The Tailor's Apprentice asked me in 2011 to review the Lilly Rose pattern she was developing from an original 1940s design. Unfortunately, I had just moved to Kenya and was expecting a new baby at the time, so I never did get around to sewing the dress. But I can't stand leaving a project undone, so five years later (!!!) I asked Lorna if I could still stitch up the pattern and provide feedback. She graciously sent me a review copy, and I got started!

One wonderful accessory my late grandmother left to me that I wish I’d taken better care of was a pair of classic 1959 “cat” sunglasses. Those shades were of a heavy bakelite-style plastic and looked great with vintage dresses or just about any outfit. Alas, the plastic (while thick) was brittle, and one day, as I bent over to retrieve something I’d dropped

I so enjoyed writing about my paternal grandparents in Part I and Part II of this series, and I promised to share at least one more post about my grandmother's beauty regimen. Well, as I got thinking back over my memories of Mimi, I realized there were actually quite lot of things to write about, so I've got at least three posts before I'll finish off. Today's will be my grandmother's general philosophy of loveliness. It's one that rings true with me all these years later, and I think its wisdom is timeless. I hope you enjoy this blast from the past that still resonates today!

The flared skirt look lasted well over a decade--even when the slimmer skirts started coming into vogue. Here is a 1959 dress pattern with options for the both the slim and the full look.

A 1954 pattern for blouses. Note the interesting angled sleeve/armscye details.The "Atomic" age brought with it a vogue for more defined shapes. You see it in the furniture and home design as well.

Early 1950s dress pattern, just beginning to show that 1950s "New Look" silhouette. I love the notched collar and the belted waist. This is a tailored, chic look for daytime.

Perhaps more than any other item, the circle skirt instantly brings the '50s to mind! My late grandmother wore these all the way into the late 1960s and looked fabulously glamorous in them. I love this feminine silhouette!

This knock-out 1940s Vogue pattern is very classy with its princess lines and back skirt panel (just right for dancing).The 1940s were famous for wonderful bodice and neckline treatments, and this one is no exception with its double bows below the V neckline. Gorgeous!

This 1940s Hollywood pattern features a fitted midriff belt with back ties, a V-neckline created by the crossover bodice and softly gathered shoulder yokes. It was my chief inspiration for the 1940s Swing Dress Pattern!

Here is a young Lauren Bacall, right at the start of her climb to fame. She has such a lovely personality, and her clothing--even now--is so classy.

This is a 1940s tailored jacket pattern from Simplicity with top stitching and lots of pocket options. I admire the clean lines and feminine fit.

Fifteen-year-old Shirley Temple sits on the diving board behind her home in 1943. Her cute play dress features a white collar and a slightly flared skirt, and note her "grown-up" shoes with peep toes. (Image courtesy of Rita Dubas and 20th Century-Fox.)

This is a page of 1946 Fall fashions from Woman's Day Magazine. Note the color samples the ladies are showing off. At this point, fashion still hasn't moved away from the fabric-conserving lines of WWII, but skirts are a bit longer, and you can see a move toward the emphasized hipline on the model at left.

Here is a late 1940s Simplicity pattern for a "wrap" dress. You can see how the style is starting to edge into the 1950s with the emphasis on wider hips with a fuller skirt.

Here are my glamorous grandparents, right in the middle of the "swing" era and all dressed up for a Hollywood party. My grandmother was a knock-out, wasn't she? Wish we could see her entire dress. She was known for her beautiful taste in fashion. The second photo shows my grandparents in 1947, shortly after my father was born.

These are my grandparents, Reichardt and Elizabeth Taylor, on their wedding day in 1944. As was common with many young women in the 1930s and '40s, my grandmother wore a dressy suit for her wedding, including a matching hat with veil.

This mid-1940s dress pattern by Simplicity, features flattering day dresses. Note the details of the gathered shoulder seams and scallops on the dress on the left--and you've gotta love diagonal stripe matching as seen on the right!