The Sewing Place
The Emporia => A bit of a 'do' => Topic started by: SewRuthieSews on May 09, 2019, 07:21:17 AM
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Last year I attended a wedding and pulled out my one 'posh' frock which was really a size too small but wore it anyway.
I threw a wrap over it as all my jackets looked like the work jackets that they are!
This year there's another wedding (but not until September) and having not lost any weight I decided to buy two stretch dresses from Dorothy Perkins, both are a dark burgundy colour as its flattering on me but one is more wintery and the other more summery. They've turned out to be really useful as I now have a suitable dressy dress for many occasions.
I have bags, shoes etc already which work so I'm pleased to have solved my problem.
I've tried to attach pics and may have another go.
Anyway the reason for this rambling post is the layering piece. I wore one dress to a special service at church where the choir were in pretty dresses (not black) and the only layer I could find was a ribbed cardigan which was OK for church but wouldn't work for a wedding.
What topper/layering piece would work for these? I had a look in Debenhams and there were lots of cropped knit jackets to wear over the fancier dresses. I don't normally do cropped but maybe its right for these?
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I quite like a cropped jacket... a nice lacey one would be nice for weddings....or a kimono style?
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Something like this (https://www.romanoriginals.co.uk/petal-lace-jacket-15007379)
or this (https://www.romanoriginals.co.uk/faux-fur-shawl-12002446)
or this (https://www.joebrowns.co.uk/sp+new-popcorn-shrug+wk244)
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I had a pink lace crop style thing similar in thought to @BrendaP's first suggestion. It wasn't even structured enough to be called a jacket but I wore it everywhere over everything and everyone commented on it. My biggest hit was with a pale silver grey skirt and white top at a wedding and the compliments just kept coming. :loveit:
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What about a loose Kimono type of jacket. Made in some really lovely silk...
Jessie
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Thanks for all the ideas.
Here's another go at the pictures
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uza7QQ62S7g/XNPtYh-5H7I/AAAAAAAAMXQ/s8MNYKsvtrk0yVja4UnfreIkrXPhNDKXACLcBGAs/s1600/BurgundyDress1.JPG)
Dress 1 - Upper back and sleeves are burgundy lace.
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y7uhGzzgURE/XNPtk0U8uBI/AAAAAAAAMXU/-mDUiTFOXugMC7z992FYPgZUcB4YUd8jQCLcBGAs/s1600/BurgundyDress2.JPG)
Dress 2 - Front neck has black mesh trim embellished with silver beads and diamante.
I have also added black stretch lace to the hem of the skirt and sleeves (as the skirt was slightly short for me)
So much as I love the lace jackets I think they would compete with the lace accents already on the dresses.
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@SewRuthieSews Nice dresses and I can see how versatile they would be.
Difficult to know what to suggest except that I think a shrug would work with either; I'm thinking of something made in a nacre fabric, which you could run up yourself?
Nacré: Velvet with an effect similar to shot silk, where the pile is woven in one or more colours and the base fabric in another, creating a changeable, iridescent effect.
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Why do you need to cover those lovely dresses?
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Why do you need to cover those lovely dresses?
Glad you like them, the layering piece is to stop myself being cold when outside on the way to the event.
Or to wear at the event if its not that warm (ie concert in old stone church).
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I think I would go for a shawl or wrap or a jacket that is less structured than a work jacket. I don't think I'd go for a lace cover-up as it would compete with the lace on the dress.
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I like pashmina type cover ups. Not sure if it would be best in similar or contrasting colours. Maybe a black with a bit of sparkle for the diamanté dress.
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Lovely dresses, @SewRuthieSews ! I was thinking along the pashmina/shawl lines myself too. I had a really pretty silvery lacy one for DD's wedding, just took the edge off the wind in NY. I can't wear a cropped jacket myself, way too much going on on top, but I think one of those on a normal-sized person would look good too x
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How about a fairly simple short black velvet jacket, especially with the one with black lace trim?
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I think I might make a few options to cater for different temperatures and occasions.
I'm not an occasion person really so have to work quite hard to look smart enough.
So this is part of a deliberate strategy to be able to attend weddings, parties and other smart occasions without too much angst about the outfits.
I could do
black lacey sweater knit cardigan
black boucle jacket
pink textured jacket
burgundy jacquard jacket/coat
Then when I have an occasion I can just pick a dress, a topper, bag, footwear and I'm good to go!
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For cooler weather a faux fur shawl similar to the one Brenda posted is always nice. I made one a couple of years ago in a silvery grey faux fur (matches my hair and goes with everything). I lined it and added pockets into the lining - very useful.
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I have used V8963
www.amazon.com/Vogue-Patterns-Misses-Jacket-Template/dp/B00GXASUI0
several times and it slides very nicely over dresses. Because it has just the one button in the front it doesn't seem to matter what the shape of the dress underneath is.
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Hi @Greybird thanks for that suggestion. It doesn't seem to be an easily available pattern currently, but the jacket shape looks very familiar and I should have something similar in stash....
Thank you
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Hi @Greybird thanks for that suggestion. It doesn't seem to be an easily available pattern currently, but the jacket shape looks very familiar and I should have something similar in stash....
Thank you
That is a pity. It looks a useful shape.
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Have found it on Etsy for £12.93 plus postage.....
https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/280339076/sz-1416182022-vogue-separates-pattern
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Righto I have a few thoughts... I'm not a fur stole kinda girl, I like jackets with sleeves.
So I am planning
a dressy coat in a dusky pink fabric (poly but looks like slubbed silk) M4394 coat
a dressy jacket in a burgundy brocade
a kimono jacket in a black and silver crinkle novelty knit (possibly reversible if I can work out how to do that nicely).
a cardigan in a light floral lace (white with meadow flowers)
a cardigan in wooly black lace sweater knit
This should let me create more formal or more casual outfits with the same two dresses.
I'm already OK for jewellery, bags and footwear.
Bring on the invites (but not until I've made at least one topper!)