The Blue Gardenia learns to sow her blossoms

That touch of fashion: Doris Day, girl singer.

Doris Day did not intend to be a singer. That wasn't this pretty Ohio miss's goal. No. She had a dream — to be a professional dancer. She was focused. She worked diligently. She wanted that dream to become reality. She was no slacker teen. Not Doris.

But. There was a car accident. An accident that damaged her legs — and crippled her dream.

However, during recovery, she discovered she had another talent. She found she had a voice. A good one. A voice of which an angel could — and would  — be proud. Celebrate the birth of Doris Day, girl singer.

(I suppose this proves that old adage that often slips from the tongues of optimists: When God slams one door, he opens another. Or lays waste to the version spun from the lips of pessimists: When God slams one door, he opens a window for you to jump out of. Or my version: When God slams one door, you're so busy wailing that God quietly shuts the other door he opened for you to walk through.)

Oh well. Whatever, as the ubiquitous they say. Doris Day has never been a whiner. Or so I've read. I have.

Anyway. I say that you might as well be fashionably dressed, whether emptying a box of Puffs, tumbling from a high window,  or gliding through a freshly-opened door.  And I particularly love this evening ensemble on the sexy sway back of Ms. Day. Absolutely.

Wanna duplicate this look? Then I suggest Butterick 4055, circa 1940s. Select Version B, ditch the bow, add short sleeves, pin on a sparkly, mint condition Schreiner brooch, hire a band, (unless you've already got one) reach for the microphone and set those dulcet tones free. Use your favorite skirt pattern — be it straight, A-line, gathered — to complete your glamorous look. I think I'd whip this up in a three-mummy crepe. Maybe raspberry. In case you care. Tell me you do. Lie, if you must.

And, yes, pattern and brooch may both be yours. Just click to The Blue Gardenia. You knew that was coming, didn't you? Well, I have bills to pay. I do. So. Naturally, I hope you cannot live without this multi-tasking Butterick pattern and this ever-so-girly pink gem. Tell me you can't. OK?  Make my day. In fact, make my day a very happy one, and go on a shopping spree at The Blue Gardenia. Por favor, if I may quote the beautiful, independent animal activist Ms. Day.

That touch of fashion: Doris wins the Trojan War in these PJs.

Absolutely. Love them — or, at least, the upper half. Love The Pajama Game. Love the score by  Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. So hummable. (In fact, His Bertness and I rarely take a road trip without the soundtrack. Though, she sniffled pompously, we have the original cast recording of the stage version from 1954, with Janis Paige and John Raitt. Yes, he's the pop of songbird Bonnie.)

In the close of the movie version, released in 1957, with Ms. Day as feisty factory worker-union activist Babe Williams and Raitt as imminently lust-worthy new superintendant Sid Sorokin, she wears the top, and he wears the pants. Mmmmmmm . . . let's not analyze that.

If you want to emulate this look — and I think your mister would be most pleased if you did — may I suggest Simplicity 4108? (I may indeed, because I'm writing this, and I'm my own editor, so there. I have the power, and it's gone to my head. In fact, I'm dizzy with it.) Just add piping, and you've got Doris's PJs. (Sarai has an excellent piping tutorial on the Coletterie, if you need any help.)

The details: Simplicity 4108 Pajamas and Nightshirt Complete; sleeve trimmed but extensions are present Copyright 1952 (All right, all right. It's a few years off, but how much did pajama styles change in five years. Really?) $22

And here's a clip from the movie. Doesn't Mr. Raitt wear those khakis darn well? Certainly this fan thinks so. Ummmm hummmm.)

Where to find this cute pattern? Why, at The Blue Gardenia, of course, where the patterns are counted, the jewelry is sparkling, and domestic shipping is free. (And, yes, we happily ship abroad — either Global Priority or Express — for less than USPS charges us. Isn't that grand? I think so.)

That Touch of Fashion: Doris Day nails the casual look. And how.

Now. This is stylish casual. This is comfy casual. This is the way to dress on Saturday. At the farmer's market while pinching tomatoes. At the cafe while dipping a fry in ketchup. At the car wash while reading People, your favorite guilty pleasure. Yes, Ms. Day knows how to do this look. She's got it down. Absolutely.

And if you want a similar look, you might stitch up Advance Sew-Easy 3436. It's the fall version, with the longer-sleeved tunic and the rolled neck to protect you from brisk winds. I recommend wearing shoes while outdoors, though. No need for frosty toes. And, of course, there are those proprietors that frown on bare feet. Go figure.

And, yes, this pattern is available at The Blue Gardenia. The details — because, of course, you want to know — Bust 34, still in factory folds, $33, and no shipping fees unless you live abroad. There you go. Let those fingers do their thing and walk on over to the The Blue Gardenia. Because. This look is classic. Because. It's a beginner pattern, and that means easy. Because. I appreciate you. Because. Henry and Emma like their canine treats. They do.

That Touch of Fashion: Be bubbly. Be witty. Be Doris. No?

She can be effervescent. She can be sleek. She can be hilarious. She can be serious. But she's always engaging, whether playing an abused Ruth Etting in Love Me or Leave Me or an independent modern woman like Jan Morrow in Pillow Talk. McCall's 9169, copyright 1952, illustrates her cupcake mode — strawberry buttercream piled to the stars — perfectly. Think Lullaby of Broadway. Can you resist this yummy evening gown? Say no. That is the right answer. Yes indeed.

"Gratitude is riches. Complaint is poverty." So said Ms. Day. So true. Though I admit to the occasional bout of complaining. I do. Really. I'm not proud of that fact. I'm not. But there ya go. Cold hard truth. And all that.

At the moment, I'm very grateful for For You by Raul Malo. (Thank you, Marticia, for playing his music today. I scrounged around my piles of CDs, and there the Malo/Mavericks CDs were.) I want to be your story. I want to be your glory. The secret that you're keeping that you can tell no other. Oh, Raul. Raul. That is so fabulous. I feel a teen-age girl swoon coming on. I do. So. Excuse me, dear readers, excuse me. I must hit replay. Absolutely. 

That Touch of Fashion: Annoyed, yes. Stupid, no. Glam, you bet.

She's feisty. She's ethical. She's independent. She's a career woman, most definitely 
not a career girl. And she is dressed for success. Totally. The movie: 1961's Lover Come Back. The character: Carol Templeton. 

Duplicate the look with Advance American Designer 6952, designed by Stanley Wyllens. And, yup, it is available at The Blue Gardenia. But you knew that. You did.

And you may get a kick out of this quote from Ms. Day — I know I did: "Any girl can look glamorous . . . just stand there and look stupid."

That Touch of Fashion: A lace top to spur howls at midnight

Who can forget the sexy lace pant suit that  Doris Day wore in Midnight Lace?  (Who, for that matter, can forget the annoying character she plays, Kit Preston? Did you want to seal her up in a vault? I did. Stop whimpering, woman. Take charge. You're rich. You're good-looking. Stop being so helpless and naive. Now. And give me that lace ensemble designed by Irene before I shut the door. Just hand it over. Pronto. Thank you.)

But. Down to brass needles. Absolutely.   This enticing set can be yours. It can. First, get Simplicity 3703, circa 1950s.  (Mad Men alert! It's that day, after all, and this pattern is very cuspy; it'd look right at home in the '60s. Absolutely.) Get it at The Blue Gardenia, of course. But you knew we'd have it. Didn't you? Thought so.  Use View 2, but trim the bottom of the blouse straight across. Forget the point. Save that style for later. It's casual. It's cute. But it's for a barbecue, not an after-hour seduction. (Yup. This is a multipurpose pattern. Make it once. Make it twice. Make it once again.)

And might I suggest Gorgeous Fabrics rayon Chantilly Lace  for the top? Luscious. Line it in nude georgette for modesty. Or just wear a black camisole underneath. Your choice. Either way, the wolves will be sniffing around your door.

 

That Touch of Fashion: A sentimental yet strong Doris Day look.

  "I want to wear beautiful clothes and look pretty." So said Doris Day. And is there a prettier look than this lovely scallop blouse, McCall's 8929, copyright 1952?

It captures Her Dorisness perfectly. Spot on. Truly.  Just add the don't-mess-with-me gloves and the feminine-as-a-perfume-bottle pillbox hat, and you are there. Be sure to put Latin for Lovers on the CD when you wear this blouse for full effect. Or maybe Sentimental Journey if you're in an extremely sappy mood. You decide.

If you want to make this ensemble complete,  then you'll want to snap up McCall's 8725, copyright 1950. A bargain at $18. Can you say no? Of course not. Because you want to make me gleeful. Don't you? That's your goal in life. Right?

And, yep, these patterns are indeed available at  The Blue Gardenia. You knew that was coming, didn't you? Well, I have bills to pay. And a hubby out of work. So. Naturally, I hope you cannot live without this pattern. Tell me you can't. OK? Make my day. 

In fact, make my day a very happy one, and go on a shopping spree at The Blue Gardenia. Por favor, if I may quote the beautiful, independent and kind Ms. Day.

That Touch of Fashion: Day's the boss, but her clothes deny it

Yes. It's true. Another post about Doris Day. I continue to work my way through her film catalog. (Sheesh! The pointless tasks I set for myself!)

Today, I'll See You in My Dreams, a 1951 pic directed by Michael Curtiz. Ms. Day plays Grace LeBoy Kahn, meddling (or some might say domineering) wife of lyricist Gus Kahn, who wrote – you guessed it, gold stars all around – the lyrics for I'll See You in My Dreams, It Had to Be You, Mammy, and so on. Marjorie Best and Leah Rhodes costumed this film. The clothes tend to the bland. Ever so. Even the evening gowns are dull. My personal favorite is the housewifey waitress dress, or maybe it should be the waitressy housewife dress, shown above.

Now. If this is your look, might I suggest Anne Adams Instructor 4811? Yes. I might. It's my blog. After all. One caveat:  Avoid pink. You'll look like you should be slopping hash or toting a basket of chocolate eggs and bunnies.

That Touch of Fashion: Doris works the skirt and blouse

I am in the mood for skirts and blouses. This frame of mind could be inspired by Doris Day's wardrobe in the 1950 movieYoung Man with a Horn. Could be. But then, she also wears form-fitting ­yet ladylike suits and frilly evening gowns as big band singer Jo Jordan. They leave me cold. They leave me frigid. Indeed. Do I still have a pulse? Mmmmm . . . it's fading.

Of course. Doris is a good girl. (That goes without saying. I suppose.) In fact, she's such a trusting, devoted, clueless gal pal that she introduces her alleged buddy Amy North, played in slinky psycho fashion by Lauren Bacall, to the man she quietly, silently loves. Girlfriend, bad move. Very. Be a good girl. If you must. But a sap? No. Amy isn't worth it. Her soul is fuzzy green with mold.

So. If I had been a good girl — and you know I haven't been. Alas ­ — then I would stitch up McCall 5082, copyright 1959, and Woman's Day 5001, View C, copyright 1951. This is the Jo Jordan look that gets my whistle blowing. It's sexy. Classic. Hard-working. Ever so.

Have Rick Martin (played by Kirk Douglas, muscles abulge, skin aglow, complete with jazz-dot dimple) check my pulse. Please. Right now. This minute. There is no time to waste.

 

That Touch of Fashion: The on-screen clothes of Doris Day

Just finished reading Doris Day: The Untold Story of the Girl Next Door by David Kaufman. (Don't bother unless you're a true fan.)

Naturally, I thought of Ms. Day's clothes. Naturally, I knew I had to blog about the garments I like.

So. Shall I start with Romance on the High Seas from 1948? Yes, I shall. What a fabulous idea. I so often have them. I do. Really.

Milo Anderson did the wardrobe for this movie (one of film critic Rex Reed's favorites, Mr. Kaufman writes), and some of the dresses are completely over the top, like the baby blue number (at least it's baby blue on my 17-year-old Sony) that Georgia Garrett (yep, our gal Doris) wears on her first evening at sea. Some ensembles (like the suit she wears in the travel agency) are plain boring. They make a suit from Talbot's seem worthy of a Vogue photo shoot.

But this ensemble, worn in Brazil, is perfect. Absolutely. I want this in my wardrobe. And it is possible. Completely. It can be easily duplicated with Vogue 5111, circa 1946, and McCall 6794, copyright 1947.

Now. All I need is a round-trip plane  ticket to Brazil. And, of course, one for His Bertness. First class, please.

Oh. Oscar Levant co-stars in Romance on the High Seas. Levant, you may recall, quipped: "I knew Doris Day before she was a virgin."

By the way, I suggest that you avoid Ms. Day's second film, My Dream Is Yours. Ms. Day sings a bouncy bubble of a tune that is second only to Johnny Horton's The Battle of New Orleans in the unrelenting earworm category. You have been warned.