The dress with draped design is finished, and…. I had some issues with it.
- This is not the right sort of fabric for this design. The georgette is way too slippery and hasn’t enough body to hold the drape at the front.
- It’s too long. I know, the last dress I made I thought was too short, this is just a bit too long.
- In the book, Tomoko Nakamichi says that if you don’t want the skirt flopping open in the front, just sew it up. This doesn’t work, as it twists the “twist” in the front to the wrong side.
- Trying to stick to my “don’t buy anyting unless absolutely necessary until Sewing for Pleasure” rule was sorely tested. I had a turquoise silk satin blouse that I didn’t like and was happy to chop to make a camisole, but I had absolutely nothing for lining the bottom part of the dress. I bought some crepe de chine from the Fancy Silk Store in Birmingham to make a slip in the end. Of course, the colours are not the same, so it’s an un-matching set, which is not ideal. Luckily all the lace and picot elastic was in my stash.
- I am not entirely sure this shape works for me, and that is a real shame because I really wanted to make something I’d get lots of wear out of with this fabric. Maybe it will grow on me.
So this is it with the cami and slip.
And this is it styled slightly differently, an idea from the mum of a friend of mine. She said it may look good with a pair of fitted silk trousers… lightbulbs went off in my head. I had made a pair of stretch satin trousers from a Burda magazine 12/09, no 104 about 2 years ago, and they are pretty fitted. So what do we think? Maybe with the trousers the dress does need to be shorter…
Or maybe I should just leave it in the “remake this” pile. Maybe if this dress was made in a different fabric, something with more body, it would be better. Either that or it needs a body in it with smaller boobs and more of a waist! I have a very good feeling this style will look fantastic on Daughters 1 & 2!
So to cope with the disappointment of this dress, I have made 4 Renfrew t-shirts and a vintage cotton dress in 3 days. Sometimes you just need to get it out of your system by making something that someone else has spent time and effort perfecting, and all you need do is cut and sew! I may feel better by Monday. 🙂
THE COMPULSIVE SEAMSTRESS 
You look gorgeous!
You look gorgeous!! I love it!
Thanks!
Instead of you I am sure this shape works on you! And to me the lenght is also o.k.!? I really like the dress and especially the way how you combined it with the trousers!
Grüße von Immi
Danke Immi. Maybe I was just having a bad weekend! Everyone thinks it looks great, so it must just be me!
I really like the colours on you and the dress I think is a good length, though heels are needed to balance, so I like the way you styled the first shots. You’re right about it needing to be shorter to work well with the trou. though.
I think the shape is good for you too BTW, and the colour of the slip and peekaboo cami lace are all lovely. It depends on how you feel in it of course so let us know what you decide to do with it!
thank you, I guess it will just have to grow on me, although I do like it with the trousers best….. I might try it with dark skinny jeans.
I really like it. When worn with the trousers it could stand to be a little shorter but there’s nothing wrong with it as it is. I think I’d keep the length so I could wear it both ways.
Thanks Catherine. I think the biggest problem is once again, perception and reality colliding!
I think what may be bugging you is the sleeve length. Do you have enough fabric left to add a 2-3″ extension on the sleeve (or perhaps some black lace or georgette). I think this change would move the emphasis away from your chest and down to the thinnest part of your body.
I agree with the others, though, I think it looks very nice and I love the fabric and colors!
Thanks, I have barely scraps left for making the sleeve longer.. and I’m not sure there is a thinner part!! 🙂 I had thought after looking at the photos again to maybe shorten the sleeve a little instead… I think if there had been enough to do the cowl sleeve I had planned it wuld have added width at the shoulder line, which would have made the rest look better, but cest la vie!! I’ll try wearing it a couple of times before I take action.
I really like the dress on you and agree that if you want to wear it with trousers or jeans shorten the hem a tad.
Also I think my favorite part is how it opens a little to reveal the slip.
Hope it grows on you!