The Sewing Place

The Emporia => A bit of a 'do' => Topic started by: BrendaP on April 21, 2017, 14:01:14 PM

Title: Dress to Impress
Post by: BrendaP on April 21, 2017, 14:01:14 PM
My babies will be 40 in June and they are planning on a big party.  From the invitation list and venue I think it will be akin to an evening wedding reception.   The invitations say "dress to impress" and the venue, local golf club, has a fairly strict dress code anyway, (no jeans or shirts without collars for men). 

I have no idea what I might wear, other than knee length and full skirt.  Suggestions please.
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: jen on April 21, 2017, 16:13:30 PM
What dress styles do you look good in? Could you make up something you've already liked but in a special fabric, with nice accessories?
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: UttaRetch on April 21, 2017, 22:01:58 PM
I like 'fit and flare' and would turn to Vogue for something really stylish such as:

(https://www.sewessential.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/v/o/vo_8943_b5l.jpg)

(https://www.sewessential.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/v/o/vo_8766_aal.jpg)

Vogue 8766: I have seen some gorgeous makes of the full skirt lace version, or if you don't want to work with lace

(https://www.sewessential.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/1800x/040ec09b1e35df139433887a97daa66f/v/8/v8470_front.jpg)





Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: BrendaP on April 22, 2017, 08:55:29 AM
I tend to go with fit and flare styles as they are usually best at disguising a big tummy.

I have V8470 which I made in a lightweight printed lawn for a 90th birthday party last year.  I had a lot of trouble with the neckline and in the end gave up on the modesty insert which leaves it very low in the front - otherwise the fit is good and I like the style. 

I also like V8943 - and you've got me thinking about all-over lace; I hadn't though of that.  Lots to think about. :flower:
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: Vegegrow on April 22, 2017, 09:02:47 AM
That dress you did for the stash bust really suits you Brenda  :frock:
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: Lowena on April 22, 2017, 10:26:22 AM
Which style disguises love handles and a largish bottom??  ( or rather a curved lower back ) :D
I haven't worn skirts or dresses for years, since my best friend told me my legs were awful and I should stick to trousers  :( However, I like dresses and would like to try to wear them again ( obviously longish ones  :D ) as I also miss wearing pretty shoes / sandals
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: b15erk on April 22, 2017, 11:13:10 AM
Love the black lace Claire Schaeffer dress.  That would look gorgeous!

Jessie
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: UttaRetch on April 22, 2017, 11:41:18 AM
Which style disguises love handles and a largish bottom??  ( or rather a curved lower back ) :D

That will be 'fit and flare' as demonstrated by me pattern picks.  The full skirt will cover all that 'real estate' below the waist.  :D

@BrendaP: this blogger (https://sciencenerdgoesdomestic.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/christmas-dress-done.html) made a beautiful version of 8766.  I also tried this pattern in cotton sateen, but I didn't do very well.  :(
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: Lowena on April 22, 2017, 11:56:31 AM
Thanks Utty  :)
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: jen on April 22, 2017, 17:55:24 PM
Lace sounds good, unarguably glam.
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: BrendaP on April 22, 2017, 18:02:18 PM
That dress you did for the stash bust really suits you Brenda  :frock:
Thank You!  That one is an every-day style in poly-jersey relying on the fabric's stretch as much as anything for the fitting.
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: shadykittykat on April 22, 2017, 18:11:55 PM
I haven't worn skirts or dresses for years, since my best friend told me my legs were awful and I should stick to trousers  :(

With friends like that who needs enemies?  :devil: Seriously, if you want to wear a skirt, wear a skirt. It should be nobody else's business, dress to make you happy not how you think other people will be happy seeing you!
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: Fabric Lover on April 22, 2017, 21:58:28 PM
With friends like that who needs enemies?  :devil: Seriously, if you want to wear a skirt, wear a skirt. It should be nobody else's business, dress to make you happy not how you think other people will be happy seeing you!
I so agree, SKK. Lowena - don't listen to your "friend" - wear what you want to wear! And maybe find a new BFF!
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: Catllar on April 23, 2017, 12:58:59 PM
I think the fish need to pay your "friend" a visit :devil:
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: BrendaP on May 18, 2017, 10:52:21 AM
I'm working on Vogue 8943. (https://voguepatterns.mccall.com/sites/default/files/styles/p_l/public/products/v8943/V8943_01.jpg?itok=uGM-FOx4)

Black lace fabric from The Textile Centre underlined with silver grey organza. 

As always I fiddled with the pattern.  I've put the zip in the side so that I could cut the back on the fold and also eliminated CF and CB seams on he skirt and yoke by placing the pattern pieces on the fold.

So far so good, but I think it needs lining rather than just a slip underneath, the organza is scratchy :o .  The colour of the grey chiffon I bought is different, a bit green rather than silvery which I don't like, so plain black poly lining ordered instead together with black lace edging as the fabric didn't have a scalloped edge.  I've just finished cutting that out.  I've cut sleeves but not sure if I will line the sleeves or leave them see-though.

Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: Francesca on May 18, 2017, 10:55:37 AM
Would you mind if I moved this thread to the special occasionwear forum? That forum is a little quiet and I think this fits there perfectly :)
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: BrendaP on May 18, 2017, 14:48:53 PM
Yes, that's fine with me.
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: Surest1tch on May 18, 2017, 18:56:01 PM
Wear what you are most comfortable in.
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: UttaRetch on May 19, 2017, 08:59:05 AM
The dress is looking great, Brenda.
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: Samantha on May 19, 2017, 10:48:23 AM
That dress is lovely! Looking forward to seeing the finished garment.
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: charlotte on May 19, 2017, 12:17:04 PM
Looking gorgeous! I think I would leave the sleeves unlined.
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: BrendaP on May 20, 2017, 14:40:18 PM
It's finished!  or is it?   -<

I'm not very happy with the fit, but all that ease at the back is necessary if I am to move around and raise my arms  :\
Maybe I've just got too used to wearing stretchy fabrics.

I'm also undecided about the neckline.  The lace edging that's around the hem and the sleeves didn't look right so I've left it plain but it seems to emphasise my lop-sided shoulders.  Maybe I'll be able to find a very narrow edging that's suitable.

I haven't made a belt either.  Does it look as though it needs it? - the pattern says to use ribbon.

I decided on unlined sleeves, so hand stitched the lining to the sleeve seam so didn't need to bind those seams as per instructions, nor did I need to make lingerie guards to hold shoulder straps in place but I did put in a waist stay to take any strain off the zip.  I elimiated all CF and CB seams and used the overlocker for the seams to make them narrower and less obvious.  Apart from all that it's more or less as the pattern says.

Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: Francesca on May 20, 2017, 15:54:09 PM
I think it looks fab! I think the fit below the darts is great but there are some wrinkles around the shoulders but honestly nobody is going to notice it's probably just because we're all sewing people here. I think it looks amazing!
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: Lilian on May 20, 2017, 15:57:31 PM
That is lovely and it really suits you!  Well done  :toast:
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: Acorn on May 20, 2017, 16:09:13 PM
Very, very nice.   0_0
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: UttaRetch on May 20, 2017, 17:41:18 PM
It's a good dress, Brenda.  Fitting is like jumping through fiery hoops, so don't beat yourself up.  Rather than a ribbon belt you could buy one with a diamonte decoration.
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: Vegegrow on May 20, 2017, 20:06:15 PM
It's a good dress, Brenda.  Fitting is like jumping through fiery hoops, so don't beat yourself up.  Rather than a ribbon belt you could buy one with a diamonte decoration.
That's a nice Idea.. I was wondering about a silver belt
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: BrendaP on May 20, 2017, 20:08:53 PM
Thank you UttaRetch for that idea :)  I'd been thinking about silvery/diamante jewellery anyway.

Those belts really don't cost much, even as bridal accessories which often triples the price! But, my waist isn't that trim nowadays and I don't want masses of plain chain to make the ends meet so I've ordered two of them (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B06VXQXM9Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) with the intention of maybe getting a necklace or earings from the spare bit of the second one. >:)
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: BrendaP on May 20, 2017, 21:14:30 PM
Thank you for the nice comments 0_0

I've found some black 'baby lace' in stash and added that to the neckline which does make it look a bit more 'finished' and hopefully the diamante belt will give it a lift and distract from the wrinkly back.
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: Samantha on May 20, 2017, 22:34:43 PM
Very nice Indeed! A bit of sparkly will really set it off nicely.
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: Ploshkin on May 21, 2017, 06:56:01 AM
Unless you end up standing in a long, slow moving queue, Brenda, no one is going to be looking at your back and even if you were I doubt anyone would notice.  It looks really good and will definitely impress.
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: DementedFairy on May 21, 2017, 11:24:43 AM
distract from the wrinkly back.

Looking good missus- we notice these things ourselves, because we have a notion of what 'fit' really means.  No one else does!

For future ref, you probably simply needed to fold out a teensy bit of length from the back waist.  I literally fold and smoosh the paper pattern to take out a fisheye, wider at CB, fading to nothing at the sides.  Check with a quick tissue fit before cutting out, not all patterns have that bit of excess length in the torso
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: BrendaP on May 21, 2017, 18:24:44 PM
If you look closely at the bodice (back and front) the  lace layer is longer than the organza underlining.

I think what has happened is that although I cut out in lace and in organza then carefully basted all around each piece that was flat on the table but once it was stitched together and hanging vertically the lace layer dropped a little but the organza underlining didn't.  It happened with the sleeves too, but I was able to cut off the trim, allow the lace layer to drop to where it wanted to be, trimmedoff the excess and then re-applied the lace trim. 

A learning curve 8)
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: Acorn on May 21, 2017, 18:48:36 PM
You would have been an absolute knock-out at Pippa's wedding yesterday.
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: UttaRetch on May 21, 2017, 18:56:54 PM
A damn sight better dressed than the majority of the women.  0_0
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: BrendaP on May 21, 2017, 22:35:21 PM
It couldn't be worse than a couple of Pippa's new in-laws ><
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: UttaRetch on May 22, 2017, 09:11:04 AM
Those trousers were definitely worn as a dare, but at least the stripes match across the front.  0_0  The women look as if they were going to a ladies' day horse racing meet and those clumpy, black sandals are horrid.
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: Francesca on May 22, 2017, 09:38:05 AM
I think those ladies look lovely. "Clumpy sandals" are a) "in" and b) mean that this lady who sprained her ankle two years in a row on the same bit of pavement on the exact same day IN THE EXACT SAME FOREIGN COUNTRY can wear heels  0_0
Title: Re: Dress to Impress
Post by: charlotte on May 22, 2017, 10:46:46 AM
Your dress is gorgeous! I am planning a lace dress (needed for next April), and I hope it turns out as well as yours has.