I needed another ankle length dress for a ladies' night mess function and went for a vintage Vogue one this time. I had always admired the 1940s elegance and this pattern seemed to be perfect.

It was remarkably easy to make, well, the actual dress anyway, and surprisingly quick. I used a lovely silk satin from Whaley's of Bradford, which is beautifully flowing and soft. The jacket was made from red velvet (Whaley's as well) that I bought years ago for making a 1660s baldrick. I only had very little left thus the facings are made of black velvet leftovers as well, from a curtain dyed black by my friend Teddy, and the lining was yet another piece of black fabric that I've had for many years.

I machine embroidered the seams of the jacket with gold thread. The only drawback was the fact that there is no way to make the dress fit any better than it does in the photos. It should have bee tighter at the waist but alas, the cut and the panel insets makes it an impossibility.