Kitty Hudson's 1920's Beach Pyjamas

Entering the last unofficial weeks of summer, some of us might be thinking and planning ahead for those months of fall, the 'bers.  Eh?  Me?  Not yet.  I'm going to get as much out of summer as I can while the sun is still high and the nights are warm.  Which means continuing my beach themed costuming.  

After completing Lacie's 1930's beach pyjamas from the Sporting Fashions book, there was one more young lady who I knew would enjoy having a pair and would wear them well.  Kitty Hudson, Heather Cullman's antique 1469.  For those of you who are just learning about my blog, in 2020 I created a lovely trousseau for this doll as she traveled through Europe.  On occasion, I add to her wardrobe, and add to her story.  Her story began in February 2020 if you care to jump to those entries on this blog.  Without further ado...

"Dear Charles, How are you my dearest friend?  As the end of summer approaches, I've noticed our Kitty has become a bit 

despondent while her friends start packing and traveling off to University abroad.  While Kitty is scheduled to attend a private girl's university this fall, she has so much energy yet to spend and could use a little distraction.  I hope your current pursuits in Greece have been rewarding as I read about the discoveries of Byzantium, and the excavating of Corinthian culture.  Fascinating.  I can't to hear all about it when next we meet.  In the meantime, how would you feel about hosting our debutante in Greece?  I know she is quite interested in what you all are doing out there and would love to enjoy the beaches, water and the cuisine of Greece.  Looking forward to hearing from you.  Always, Madame Hoover"

"Dear M, Delighted to hear from you!  We'd be thrilled to entertain Kitty in Greece.  One of the professors has a son her age who is quite skilled sailing his father's yacht and would love to show Kitty a good time.  He enjoys a great group of other kids his age and I think we can keep Kitty busy until her return

to University.  Looking forward to the New Year's party this year in your fabulous salon.  I wouldn't miss it for the world!  Always, as well, Charles"

And so, Madame Hoover and Kitty's mother put their heads together to ensure Kitty had something new and fabulous to wear on those beaches, on the yacht and in cafes as well, for her trip to Greece.  Beach Pyjamas were the latest craze and quite daring as they allowed a young girl to wear pants.  They were smart and fun, allowed a girl to run and play and sit without keeping those fabulous knees held properly together.  A stylish pair would go from beach to cafe in an instant.

Kitty's mother sent along to Madame Hoover, a lovely Italian sunhat that she picked up for Kitty in Italy last year, along with Kitty's favorite French beach shoes that she found at a souvenir shop at one of the resorts in France the same year.   

Dear Madame Hoover, As promised, here are the sun hat and sandals that I'd like you match with a fabric for a pair of beach pyjamas for Kitty.  I have faith you'll come up with just the right yardage to create something fun for her to wear.  My undying gratitude, Mrs. Hudson"

After finishing Lacie Churchill's set, I was still awaiting a fabulous piece of lawn from the U.K.  I was so surprised when it showed up because the print was doll sized.  I had fully expected the sailboat print to be oversized on the doll, which was fine with me as Lacie's costume required such a large print. Of course I had to rework the pattern to fit Kitty, or create a new one, and this is what I did from the existing patterns I kept for Kitty.  I underestimated how much fabric these would require and just about used the entire piece of cloth during the pattern layout.  I had hoped to make a full skirted dress out of the for Grace, but that's not going to happen now.  Which is fine.  

As I'd already made a first pair, there wasn't much to add in description of how they came together for Kitty.  A bodice lined one piece with matching belt.  

What was going to be different is the color scheme of the hat and I'd be making a pair of beach shoes to go with it.

As with all difficult things, I tend to tackle them first because if I'm not successful, there's little point in continuing the project.  All pieces must be present for the overall effect to be a success.

The 1470 by Doug James, has a similar low-heeled foot like the 1469.  I hadn't yet made a flat soled shoe for Kitty, so I was in for a challenge.  I began by trying to make her a pair with a wedged sole to fill in the raised heel of her foot.  I was completely unsuccessful with this venture since the sole turned out more platform than simple wedge.  This foot is 1 1/2" long and the materials would need to be very thin to pull this off.  And I really

wanted to make a pair like those shown in the Sports Fashion book.  I even figured out what to use for the black rubber soles!  But after a week and a half of effort, I started looking further and elsewhere for ideas.

Lucky me, I found this vintage pair of French beach shoes from the 1930s on Pinterest.  The blogger collects antique and vintage clothing and accessories and the stacked heel on these beach shoes was just the thing to complete Kitty's pair.

The process sped along after that.  It was still slow detail work, but at least I knew the heels would work with seven pieces of leather stacked together.  I simply kept adding a layer until the doll could stand flat footed.

This was the result.  A combination of a simplified design from the book's shoes and the soles of the antique French shoes.

In order to get a buckle on them I attached the strap in a way that the foot would slip into them, and the buckle would never have to be messed with. 

With thin pleather or vinyl which is used by doll clothing factories, which makes buckling much easier, these shoes are of cloth and near impossible to wiggle through a tiny buckle.

Solution completed.

On Emily.  My doll and mannequin for Kitty's wardrobe.

Next came the hat.  I had every intention of dying hat straw in an aqua to match the waves on this fabric, thinking it would look so pretty. The dying was successful, the hat turned out pretty, but too small!  I don't know why I thought my mold would fit this head when Lacie's head is so much smaller.  But I screwed up and did not have enough blank straw to make another dyed batch.  I'd ordered more on the 30th of July, and three weeks later it is still not here.  I'll write to Nelly Valentino one more time.  She never answered my inquiry last week.  Frustrating.

Yet one of the color schemes I originally suggested was a navy and white and I had just enough navy hat straw to make a sun hat.  I reworked my mold to enlarge it for Emily's head and began again.  This time with one less row of alternating straw since the crown was a good deal larger.

I also included a complimenting scarf to pick up that aqua color in the waves, and it worked out well.  This was a fabric I had

used years ago, for a beach costume for the princess Elizabeth doll that was popular at the time. (Referring to the reproduction dolls in a much smaller size of the dolls France had presented to the then, princesses Elizabeth and her sister on a state visit.)

Lastly, I asked Heather what she thought of my adding a beach parasol.  The answer was yes, I wish it had been "no".  Ha-ha!  These parasols are as much effort to make as a garment, it not a bit crazier because you need to find the artwork, print it out in multiples, cut out the tiny pieces and manage to make an attractive design with them.  Measuring, temporary taping, accurate spacing, and finally Mod Podging them on.  Then a final seal.

I had every intention of using an aqua parasol as the base, but having to change the hat color scheme pointed me in the direction of the yellow one I had painted earlier as a possible for the bat parasol for the Little Stella.  

I'd seen the beach parasol in the Sports Fashion book on page 164 and wanted to try something like it.  However, finding a clip art of bathing sitters like the ones on that umbrella wasn't going to happen.  It took me three days to settle on a sailboat theme, which is fine, because the umbrella in question did have sailboats on it as well.  I was not trying to replicate in miniature.  The idea was to make a believable 1920s beach themed parasol to go with all the elements of the costume I'd just created.

The yellow picked up the light gold in the fabric print, and I think its catchy and came out well in spite of all the tribulations involved.

Emily is modeling her pair of round sunglasses, and Kitty Hudson received a pair when I made her the bathing costume last year.

Below are some lovely vintage illustrations of days by the sea from the 20s and 30s.  Perhaps the one on the ship is of Madame Hoover's friend, Charles, accompanying Kitty Hudson on a tour of the coast. 

For some reason, summer has never been my favorite season.  So hot.  So dry here.  But this year I'm enjoying it immensely and perhaps that's because I've taken a slower pace to things and have spent time in the sun and sand with two of my favorite dolls.  

It won't last long!  Enjoy the rest of summer!