In Timely Fashion--Past-Dresser~ Merryrose Watson

"THE most important accessory, for any dress, is a smile. It goes with any style!"

says Miss Merryrose Watson, a young Californian who has been turning heads, and for good reason.

Merryrose, who creates her own vintage-style clothing, says she once felt nervous about looking out of place in today's casual society, but not anymore. "If others can go around in black fishnets, combat boots, black lipstick, mini skirts, the works, or sweatpants and their underwear showing to 'express themselves' then I can wear what I please--within reason of course--my skirts aren't knocking things down in the aisles!"

Merryrose, 20, admits she grew up a tomboy. "I spent a lot of time getting really dirty in the garden and out with the chickens and used to dress in jeans and t-shirts, overalls, etc. Like most people, I was afraid of being different." In spite of this, Miss Watson says she loved the wonderfully "girly" Daisy Kingdom dresses her mother made her, replete with full skirts, petticoats, and fancy collars. Dressing up in Mother's high-heeled shoes was another girlhood delight. "I loved trying them on and clomping around on the kitchen floor because I loved the sound they made." She reports she and her sister often donned old square dance petticoats from their mother's collection. "Full skirts have always thrilled me."

At about age 15, Merryrose decided to try a hand at sewing for herself. "At first I HATED the task. I hated cutting out, putting sleeves in, doing hems, gathers, ripping...I don't know what I liked about it. But it was something I really wanted to do and to be good at. I wanted to be able to sew my own clothes." After many hours of ripping, crying, complaining to her mother, and gaining experience, Merryrose says she actually began to enjoy sewing. She began with simple projects: denim jumpers and skirts, but soon she was wistfully eyeing the costume sections of the pattern catalogs. "I just loved the costumes and wished I had the courage to wear such dramatic things in public!"

Courage or none, Merryrose was soon overcome by the charm of vintage fashion, especially the styles of the 1940s and '50s. "Somehow I found some vintage pattern websites and ordered a few patterns I'd fallen in love with. When they arrived, I got the idea that I wanted a whole wardrobe of vintage clothes. I became addicted to vintage patterns." Her first creation was an Advance 1940's dress. Another early project was a circular skirt. "I spent forever twirling around the kitchen! I loved it so much I told my mom I wanted to make some just like it for everyday. And that's exactly what I did!"

Gleaning inspiration from old movies, magazines, pattern books and vintage patterns, Merryrose says she spends a lot of time window shopping on vintage pattern websites. When she finds an inspiring image, she prints it off and stows it in an idea book. Some of her favorite films for the costumes include Oklahoma! (see Through the Week in Feminine Dress at LAF), Tammy and the Bachelor, Best Years of Our Lives, Hallelujah Trail, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Kiss Me Kate, On the Town (Vera Ellen's matching petticoats), Swing Time (the Pick Yourself Up number), High Society, and last but not least, the Anne films.

"I love the fuller look of the '50s, although I do have one dress with the slim skirt style. That style just doesn't quite flatter my figure as well. It's amazing what you can hide under one of those full skirts! I love using gathers above the waist."

Among Merryrose's favorite accessories are gloves and hats inherited from her two grandmothers, ribbons in her hair to match her dress, and shoes. She laments that the heels of the 40s are so impractical and uncomfortable for everyday. "I adore wedges, but unfortunately, I don't have any saddlebacks or spectators." With everyday housedresses, Merryrose dons sensible shoes with a vintage flair, such as oxfords or Mary Janes. "I'm not a huge accessory person, actually. I like to keep things simple. After all, I'm not trying to look like I just stepped off the cover of the June 1953 issue of Vogue. THE most important accessory, for any dress, is a smile. It goes with any style!"

Although head-turning wasn't her motive for past-dressing, Merryrose has provoked her share of stares. "I catch them out of the corner of my eye--that up and down sweep of the eyes, and then they look away! Once, I was walking into the grocery store with my mom and there were three typical teenage girls in the parking lot talking madly among themselves. When I walked by, their mouths actually fell open and they fell silent, staring the whole time until I walked through the door. When I was past, they started up again! I do get a lot of compliments. 'What a beautiful dress! Did you make it?' 'Are you headed for a dance?'"

Merryrose recounts an amusing anecdote from her train ride to Eugene, Oregon in 2003 when a 12-year old boy at the train station accosted her and asked in a haughty voice why she was wearing that dress out of the 'like 1970s.' "I told him it wasn't the 1970s actually, but the 1950s. 'Well, why are you wearing it?' I told him life was short and I enjoyed wearing it! Putting on a pretty dress does wonders for your spirits and it gives everyone else something nice to look at, too. You improve the view of the landscape! Putting on a petticoat under your dress, fixing your hair, and tying on an apron is so much more fun than pulling on a pair of blue jeans and a t-shirt," Merryrose insists.

If you are interested in sewing from vintage patterns, Merryrose recommends making a test bodice first to fine-tune the fit. "Vintage pattern sizing is different from modern-day sizing (more realistic I think), but you will need to check it. There is nothing like a well-fitting dress!"

Merryrose has a never-ending list of "new" dresses to make. She is hoping to turn 4 1/2 yards of fuchsia embroidered fabric into a 1930s style from a pattern given her by her grandmother. And she says she needs to clean up her sewing room. We are delighted she took the time to share with us her love of vintage fashion. And now, we shall let her return to sewing.

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