On fashion, 80s and Life in the USSR

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We interrupt our regularly scheduled shows to bring the 80s back! It is the 1980s theme at Project Sewn , and I decided to play along! I was born during 1970s. Late 1980s was when I came of age and began to experiment with fashion. Except, I was living in the USSR where fashion and anything related to it was strictly forbidden. Soviet women were supposed to study hard and become doctors and engineers, fly into space and build new cities in Siberia and not to stuff our heads with such silliness as fashion. That was for the "rotting West" we were told. By the time I was a preteen, the Soviet propaganda machine was cracking and sputtering and not functioning that well and fashion seeped in. It came through magazine pictures, glossy catalogues picked up on rare trips abroad, and Soviet celebrities and party officials parading their expensive outfits. By the late 1980s Gorbachev was in power and everybody was talking about "perestroika" and "glasnost" and the arrival of Burda Style magazine. That's when my sewing adventures began and the start of the dress I am about to present.



Two years ago I was visiting home and my mother begged me to go through her fabric stash and take some home. Among rolls of vintage cotton, flannel and lace I spotted something that was shiny and sort of looked like snake skin. I promptly pulled it out and lo and behold it was a cut out dress.  I wanted to make it for a school dance in 1988. The pattern was traced, the fabric was cut, the darts marked and that's when I ran out of steam and it stayed there for  almost 25 years. I brought it home and again it was buried in my stash until a week ago.

And now it is all done and ready to take on the world in all it's shiny glory! A tribute to the awesome 1988. The fabric is stretchy, but kind of stiff at the same time. It's really a weird combo.


Will I ever wear it again? Of course! It is sparkly and who wouldn't want to have bat wings for sleeves!


 Also, it kind of tickles me that 25 years and four kids later it still fits me, well sort of. I still have a few pounds to lose after the last baby, and I am pretty sure it would have been too loose on me in 1988. But still, it brings good memories. And there you go! 80s rule!







26 comments

  1. Nice! Love that you found an actual dress from the 80s, cut out and ready to sew. Great job!

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  2. That's awesome, finishing a project from 25 years ago. :) It turned out really nicely. It looks like it fits great.
    --Jill
    Jill Made It

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  4. I remember this dress that didnt have any more hope to be finished! :) Great revival! I can also testify to that early Burda fascination, it seems the loyalty to the first fashion magazine stays for life:) The dress looks amazing, such a perfect fit. two words: hot mama ;)

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  5. Love it. I have some unfinished projects but none from that long ago.

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  6. Great story and dress! Was the perfect time to revive this one as the dolman sleeve is popular all over again!

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  7. I loved reading your perspective on fashion in the USSR during the 80s! The dress is stunning and fits you so well. I still have an evening top, handed down to me from the 1930s, that has batwing sleeves and I love it.

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  8. HELLO Olga...BABE! Love the dress and the little history lesson and family story (ms teacher ;-)

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  9. Hey there! Here from the Blog Hop! Just wanted to let you know I liked your Facebook page and am following your other social networks! Hope you'll get a chance to visit me :o) You can find me here:

    Blog url
    http://www.croppedstories.blogspot.com

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    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cropped-Stories/615495055132216

    Bloglovin'
    http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3718883

    Twitter
    https://twitter.com/croppedstories

    Google+
    https://plus.google.com/u/0/102758509830977850235/posts

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    http://pinterest.com/croppedstories/

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  10. Great story, wonderful dress, amazing 4 kids woman! (How do you find time for sewing and blogging with them?)

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  11. What an amazing story and I think it is fabulous that you can fit in the dress after all these years. ~Major Moma

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  12. This is such a cool dress. I love the fabric and the fit!

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  13. love it! love your interesting post too

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  14. This is really cute! I'm extremely impressed that it fits you in the size you cut out in high school.

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  15. great job!
    It's always fun to learn where people come from... I remember when Gorbachev visited MN in June 1990

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  16. It's actually quite stylish now - I would not have known it was started in the 80s! And it's a perfect fit.

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  17. I could totally see myself cutting out a dress and forgetting to finish it until 20 years later! It's impressive how well it fits into current style!

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  18. This dress is cool! I love how the material looks.

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  19. Yes!! You made something for yourself! You deserve it and look wonderful in it!
    Gale

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  20. This turned out lovely Olga! Wait you cut his out twenty five years ago?Congats as it still fits!

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  21. A gorgeous dress that fits like a dream - well done you!

    Thanks for linking up!

    Sarah @ A Cat-Like Curiosity

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  22. Awesome....Pattern!!!!!!!!!!
    www.blissfulsewing.blogspot.com

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  23. Wow..........!!!!!!! Beautiful pattern.
    www.crochetdreamz.blogspot.com

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  24. It was quite a close race! Thanks for stopping by. Looking forward to seeing what you've been sewing for the last challenge!

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  25. I cannot believe you cut this 25 years ago. You look amazing!!!

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