As an unapologetic lover of pretty dresses, I was really intrigued to have a copy of Famous Frocks land on my desk recently, courtesy of the kind folks at Chronicle Books. In this book, authors Sara Alm and Hannah McDevitt have curated a collection of 20 dresses ranging from the 1930's (Bette Davis) through the 1980's (Madonna), and provide pattern sheets and instructions for modern interpretations of them all. The black and white photos of the famous ladies wearing the featured frocks are lovely and the line drawings give a sense of how we could riff on those older versions now, but for an even better sense of how these patterns actually work up, check out the dress photos in the Famous Frocks Flickr pool.
If you'd like to try your hand at copying Marilyn Monroe's iconic white halter dress, Audrey Hepburn's perfect little black dress, or even Stevie Nicks' bohemian handkerchief-hemmed number, just enter this week's giveaway. We'll even throw in a set of dressmaking notions–pattern-tracing paper and wheel, Gingher 8-inch dressmaking shears, and a French curve–to help you along! To enter, just leave your comment here or on the corresponding Facebook post. Do include your Spoonflower screen name or other means of tracking you down easily in case you're our winner. Entries close next Tuesday, 7/24 and we'll announce a winner on 7/25. Good luck, dressy divas! This giveaway is now closed and we'll be announcing a winner shortly.
Last week, we gave away a downloadable Wiksten pattern and three yards of Spoonflower fabric to make it up in. Our congratulations goes out to giveaway winner Samantha Saville all the way over in Aberystwyth, Wales. Hope you make something pretty, Samantha!
I have been thinking about trying to make clothing and this seems to have everything I would need to start! Thanks for the chance.
Spoonflower name Ali Coe
ooh, what a fabulous book, I’ve just begun making dresses and I’m hooked! I definitely need to have this whether I win or not. Thanks for bringing it to light!
I would love to win this book and goodies! Thanks!
HELLO! WHAT A LOVELY GIVEAWAY!
THANKS SO MUCH FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THESE GOODIES!
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK/VERY INSPIRING BLOG!
msstitcher1948@yahoo.com
What a great giveaway! I love looking at older garments for inspiration. Will have to add this book to my library for sure! Book AND tools would be a lovely prize! ~tearose2
Oh my! I LOVE the idea of this book. 🙂 thanks for the chance to win (: malinda
I’m just as into these tools as I am the book! Bring on the French curve!
Eeep! Love this! Crossing all my appendages that I win!
meig.heyburn@gmail.com
Oh my! This is such a good giveaway. I would love to channel Marilyn Monroe.
needlesing at gmail dot com
Wow, what a great giveaway!! I’d love to try out some “grown up” stuff for a change! LarkChildrenswear@gmail.com
I really would love to win this.. I’ve sewn dresses, and it’s my dream to own an “Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly” inspired dress!
(spoonflower id: wamber)
This would be a perfect gift for my mom (she loves to sew)!
beewilde at hotmail dot com
username Anonra…this would be a perfect birthday present for me on the 24th…come on birthday luck 🙂
I would love to win! Great giveaway!!
KnittyKaty on spoonflower
I would love to try them all!!
(spoonflower id: Christagordon)
Oooh, lovely! The dresses and the notions! (Spoonflower ID: queenorual)
I’d love to win this, I just started sewing clothes and am totally interested in learning everything about it! Spoonflower name – lkglioness
Ooooo I love those dresses! Any chance Maggie the Cat’s dress is in there?
What a fun book of patterns! (robyriker)
That’s a great give-away! (Linda Blowney)
Wonderful giveaway – I would love to win this book!
crystalfulcher(at)ec.rr.com
Wow, what a great give away, I would love to win… Thanks for the chance! (joos23)
Thank you for this opportunity to win such a well put together prize package!
Another great giveaway! My “to read” list is getting really long because of you guys (yarndoggie)
This looks like a fun book to read and explore. (meagangracie)
I am a Danish recently graduated fashion designer who unfortunately (like a lot of other designers i Denmark) are out of work. I am constantly trying to develop my skills. That book look so inspiring and would deffently help me develop my sewing skills and give me inspiration how to make modern design inspired by fashion from the past – I would love that book 🙂
http://www.linalissner.com/#!contact
I’m about to start a dressmaking and tailoring course and this prize would be a wonderful help! Plus it’d be nice to have some more glamorous clothes to wear, as a new mum who has spent the last few months in clothes with baby sick on them, something classy and stylish would be a real treat!
Oh my! I LOVE the idea of this book. 🙂 thanks for the chance to win .. funnymesjc at gmail dot com
How marvelous! A MUST for any fashion devotee.
cristpthomas@aol.com
I just started sewing about 2 years ago, and want to learn how to use patterns. I make clothes for my two kids (8 month old boy, and a 3 year old girl) but have never made anything for myself. I would love to start with Audrey’s iconic black dress! Also, I’m turning 30 this week! OOOOH pretty please!
Cavimiller823@gmail.com
Fabulous giveaway! Then again, your giveaway’s are always fabulous! Thank you for the opportunity!
mmjohnson555(at)gmail(dot)com
I would love to own that! (line191)
Amazing giveaway! With such fabby extra goodies! (miss_ella)
OOOOOO! I WOULD LOVE TO WIN THIS!
My spoonflower ID (yoginibee)
I’d love to experiment with this book and some Spoonflower fabric!
charlene_harkins
I would love all of these items – especially the French curve!
I’ve recently made graduation dresses using Spoonflower fabric for myself and a friend, (here’s a photo), and this book looks like what I need to further my sewing skills as another friend is asking me to make her wedding dress! (Inkyishtar)
This is a faboulous book. I would love to win this. 🙂
Spoonflower: lilyart
Lily
Oooh! The Flickr images are exciting! I’d love to try one of the Jackie dresses, maybe for my sis. And I need a French curve! Pick me! Pick me! id: victoriaberry
This is a dream giveaway! I had never heard of the book before, thanks for sharing it. If I don’t win, you bet it’s on my Christmas list. Spoonflower:Wendyg
Yay for giveaways! Hope I win – awesome gift!! <3 Jayme
Not convinced I’d be able to follow the patterns but I would love this to have a go! Wenna Catt http://www.morwennacatt.co.uk
Gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would love to win this :)!
caitlin@caitlinrose.com
I love all the Spoonflower giveaways 🙂 This one has some new-to-me tools.
I find it really hard to locate patterns for iconic frocks that are any good. these look fantastic and the tools really useful.
thevampyrakasha@hotmail.com
I would love to win!
I love the word FROCK …in itself a vintage word.It doesn’t sarry the same connotations as DRESS does it. What a wonderful book and tools and patterns as well. what fun to make some of these elegant designs. Count me in!! daisydawn (at spoonflower)
Oh to be able to sew dresses with class,
At least I am ahead, with a ‘Marilyn’s ***’.
Audrey and Katherine, and so many more,
With a dress like their’s, chins would fall to the floor.
My daughter is studying design and technology,
To present her with this, would make me #1 mommy….
Lyn @ binny90@hotmail.com
What a fabulous book! I hope to win and make 1 of each dress in there!
Gorgeous giveaway – great book!….anybody would be lucky to win (can it be me though???) (trinic)
So cool! I’ve got my fingers crossed for this one; thank you.
I’m corvus on spoonflower and corvus.melloriATgmailDOTcom hits me just fine.
This looks like great fun to read and know will use the notions and tools. spoonflower id MarciaW
I have just spent 2 hours browsing fabric choices… I think I have found my new addiction! So many beautiful, different fabrics… how do you choose? Should I be having this much fun looking at fabric?
I’d love to check out these dresses! And the gingher shears.
spikedlorelei at hotmail dot com
Fabulous, indeed! Could sure use those notions. I think that a sewing gal can never have enough.
Deborah
homemakerhoney @gmail .com
Love, love, love vintage dresses. Will be checking this book out! Thanks for the chance to win. (sendithere at q dot com)
looks as a terrific book! great kit!
mariao
WOW…what a great prize…Looks like fun!
Wow, my daughter would love this. (rutger)
I was browsing through this book at the store and put it on my wish list. I’d love to win it!
What a great addition to any designer’s shelf!
This book would be very cool to have. I love trying to recreate clothes I’ve seen into something that would look good on me.
What a great book and extra goodies! I’d love to give those patterns a try! Thanks so much!
I would love the little black dress, Unusual and way cool giveaway..thanks!
Boppiesgirl@gmail.com
Oooooh, I NEED this book! So much dresslust. (avadahl)
Great book, I am anxious to read it. Thanks for the chance to win. Beth
Oh, I’d love to practise making more dresses! (thingsivemade@gmail.com)
Oh, what an exciting looking book!!!! I want to read it!!!!
This is my kind of giveaway! Totally my style. I love it! Great as usual.
I’d like to win this prize 😀
(dollbecky)
Such a neat book. Adding this to my wish list.
I have not seen this book yet! Would love to win.
That looks like a super fun book, especially the earlier dresses! (hintofhistory)
Love your fabric and would love to have these goodies!
Super cool!
http://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/bohobear
I would love to have this lovely book. So into retro fashion!
Looks like a great book!
Ooo please. I wish I could master this!
I just love Spoonflower! Thank you for the chance to win this amazing book. It looks like an amusement park for all of us who love to sew. I hope I win, I am ready for my first ride!
OHH I have been eyeing that book! I would love to win! Thanks for the chance!!! Spoonflower id: redeva007
I simply adore vintage fashion and this would be a fabulous thing to own and the tools to sew something up with would be great too. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
Great book idea. Fingers crossed 🙂 (Fifona)
What fun!
SO cool! I would love a chance to dive into that book and learn how to make some fabulous dresses! Thanks Spoonflower! (circlesandsticks)
Just unpacking my NEW! SEWING ROOM! and looking for a great summer project. Iconic dresses? Yes, please!
This sounds too good to be true! I know I can use some of these beautiful designs for myself and my daughter. There’s something so special about retro designs. The other prizes are wonderful, as well! Thank you and Chronicle Books for this beautiful package!
Would really feel inspired and grateful to win ! I’ll share with my sister. I’m the designer – she’s the sewer. We make a good team – plus we both have birthdays coming up soon. What a great gift to win.
Would love to win this, Gail/Buzz
This is so wonderful! I would love to try my hand at one of these dresses. Thanks! (hbredding)
oooooooooooh would love this book
What a nice giveaway! Count me in!
juliagooding
This book looks such fun! Thanks for the chance to win a copy along with the other goodies 🙂
angelasmart[at]hotmail[dot]com
Great giveaway lining up with a weekly great contest with the same theme! I’m a firm believer that we make our own luck – so here it goes! (papermoonpatterns)
Quite a novel concept! I’m looking forward to sewing one of these beauties up! (thetropicalsewist)
I’ve had my eye on this book for awhile. It would be lovely to win it!
I’ve just started down the path of clothes for adults and been using these shapless patterns with no darts. This looks like a great book to start me on the next step. Would love to have a french curve too as veryhing here is in metric, making it hard to measre imperial!
I would love to win this. Jesoikkeli@gmail.com
Jennelle
I sewed all my maternity clothes back in the day. I could NOT deal with sailor collars on everything…this is a great giveaway!
looks fabulous. thank you for the chance!!
I have been eyeing that book for a long time now! It would be fabulous to try some of those amazing dresses out! 🙂
This one I would LOVE to have. Who could be more fabulous?
Well. I agree with others…if I don’t win, I need to find this book and purchase it. Thanks Spoon!
Love the book! Thanks for the chance to win! Ksmith8@emich.edu
As a current Parsons design student I would love to win this giveaway!
email: Truddie.Reif@gmail.com
Ooooooooh I totally know which fabric I’d want to use and these are just the tools and book to use it on.
PlucksDuck
I saw this book at the craft store and would love to own it. The tools are cool, too! (mousmonkey on spoonflower)
What a nice giveaway. Count me in!
The book and set would be a great addition to any crafter’s collection.
Looks like a fun book! (audreyclayton)
Oh how lovely! I like the twiggy dress in the flickr pool. (spoonflower id: catying)
This looks soooooo cool! 🙂
Wow!!! I love dresses! I looked at the pictures….and want to make them all! They are wonderfull. Saw some beautyfull fabrics here on Spoorflower, that would look a dream with these patterns.
With Love, Anna
AllemaalMama
I try to win, maybe I am lucky today (lesdoigtsdanslenez)
This giveaway is delightful! As a sewing instructor, I can tell you that there is a ton of interest in these vintage looks. It will be fun to share this book with my students when I win!
Oh, what an amazing giveaway! Just have to get Audrey Hepburns figure in preparation now!
Thank you for the book’ selection in your blog, my shop list in amazon is fullllllllll….
Love the idea and would love to win.
yes please!
-lemonadefish
I would love to have this book, have been thinking about dressmaking again
thanks for the chance to win! love the fabrics
What a fab. book! Fashion, Costumes, Textiles, Art. Spoonflower is the best!
Oooh, I’m really getting excited about vintage clothing, especially dresses (and hats!). Dreaming about creating some of this has been a great motivator for other personal changes. It’s a great way to stick to weight loss commitment, much better than a little bitty bikini! Thanks for helping to make stuff fun!
I just love the “pretty dresses” of years gone by. I love to watch the old b/w movies and see the costumes worn by the screen sirens of the past. So feminine!Babs
I can’t even begin to describe how much more daughter would LOVE a Marilyn Dress!! Great giveaway. Thanks! klucking(at)fairpoint(dot)net
I would love to win!!
ooo, would love to win. I wonder what other awesome dresses are in the book, sounds so cool! (helocin)
I love this giveaway, vintage dress styles are so inspiring and if it’s a Chronicle book you know it will be wonderful! (needlebook)
Really loving sewing again after many years of “not sewing.” I have been wanting to learn more about garment construction and using the “tools of the trade.” I’m also delighted that there is now a company that will print your own creative graphics on fabric! Sure hope I win !!!
This seems like an awesome book.
Username: Tahsis
Count me in too please! thanks! I would Love to win this!
This looks like an awesome book!
(Spoonflower id: angalese )
oh my gosh…..i would so love to have a french curve…….fingers crossed!
thanks so much for the opportunity:)
What a fantastic giveaway. Thanks for the chance!
oh man, this is *so* up my alley. as a textile designer and vintage seller this book would be an amazing resource! my spoonflower username is youngcaptive.
I have been wanting this book, would love to win:)
Great giveaway! I love to sew vintage style dresses – the book would be perfect. 🙂
Great give away!
Spoonflower name: ruthellison
Thanks!
A friend has just told me after your fabulous company! As an avid user of vintage patterns, I would love to have this book. Thank you for entering my name!
As a costume designer I’m always looking for books explaining the unique cutting and sewing techniques of clothing from all periods in life. This would make a wonderful edition to my costume drafting library. Thanks for the opportunity to enter and possibly win.
Rencraft Designs Atelier
rencraft@snet.net
I would be thrilled to win such a great prize! I’ll keep my fingers crossed…
Lovely book. Love to cozy up and read it cover to cover!
Oh, I’d so much like to win! That book looks great!
(frk_bustad)
Nice looking book! (mkbemish)
I would love to try some of these classic looks! I have been a movie lover and sewer for many years,and even went to Parsons. Thanks for the contest!
Wow! What a fabulous giveaway! Fingers crossed here.
cool giveaway! flowerchild22
I would love to win this! It would be so much fun to create modern versions of both Monroe’s and Hepburn’s iconic dresses. Thanks for the opportunity to enter! DezB53@gmail.com
This would be a sweet win. I LOVE vintage clothes and having a pattern to pull off a great dress would be just lovely. (lydianna)
looks great!!
What a great giveaway – this would help so much in my custom retro sewing! Everyone wants iconic fashion!
what a fantastic giveaway package! the diana dress – yes, please! scarrier
Would love this. Screen name Belle975
I would love to make an infamous frock with this — for my son’s girlfriend, not me!
Oh I need it!! This is a really great giveaway for all dressmakers! (Su_G on Spoonflower)
Am I too late? I would love a chance to win this lovely prize pack.
Fantastic Book and notions. What a great giveaway! Thank you for the chance to investigate garment history and possibly recreate with spoonflower fabrics.
Very late in the day for this, but now I have seen this post, a big thank you from Wales UK, I am indeed making something pretty! 🙂