I can't decide on my feelings about this dress. I really like the drapes on the skirt-bit, but it feels a bit like a pajama with the very wide top-part. That might very well have to do with my choice of material though, which was quite unvoluntary as I had failed to see that it requires a 165 cm's wide fabric. The one I bought for it (a viscose jersey with thin stripes in two shades of red) was only 140cm's wide.
This was the only material in big enough a piece I had at home. I plan to dye it a dark grey or deep blue shade.
The sewing was rather straight forward, not too difficult, but I had to sew the side-seams twice for two reasons: it was way too wide for me at first, and I made the top fold the wrong way at first and ended up with a bit of a bag in the back of it. It was a bit lucky that I had to take it in, that meant I didn't have to unpick any seams to correct the back fold (I just cut it all off)!
There are only two pattern pieces, the sleeves, upper back an front piece are one piece, and the lower back is another.
I do plan to copy the draping on the skirt-bit. I've tried on fabulous Vivienne Westwood-dresses with a very similar drape all over them, I want one! I even bought one on sale that I returned, it wasn't perfect for me (a bit too wide, a bit too short and a nice but not very discreet = wearable pink colour) and still quite expensive, so I was sensible, cried a tear and parted with it...
Update: This is the dress as it looks in the book. I forgot to mention that I omitted the slits in the sleeves. I thought it might be a bit too flirtatious for me to be able to wear it at work, and cold in winter.
Odd. When I look at the pictures of my dress, I quite like that it's black and white and not darker. I may have to wait a bit and actually wear it a few times before dying it.
I'll keep you posted on that one!
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Be careful if you do dye the dress - the stripes may still show through & you might not get a solid-colour effect (if that is what you are after) :)
ReplyDeleteI like the shape a lot. It's unexpected and thankfully so different to what I see in stores here in Berlin. I don't know about you and Stockholm but in my opinion it's alway a good thing to look a little bit different. On another note you have the body shape to pull it off. I'm affraid it could look very unflattering on the wrong physique...
ReplyDeleteI like the dress format, is different as you say but, I'm not sure about the stripes either...maybe in fabric with one but strong color...blue navy...pernhaps.
ReplyDeleteClaire: Thank you for warning me! I actually hope that the stripes will still show though, just in a more clothes and less pajama-like way! Sweden is a bit of an undeveloped country when it comes to fabric sye though, there's good dye but it's not flexible to use, and it's expeeeensive!
ReplyDeleteKatarina: Thank you! And you know, I really agree that it's nice to stand out a bit! I always thought Berliners were the masters of that though? But then, the chains of mass produced clothing are invading all of Europe I guess... I'm so glad I sew!
Oh, Papagena, I didn't see your comment! I actually like the stripes, I like that they reveal how the dress is constructed, and that they create movement in the surface, but I'd like them to be a bit less obvious, not scream you in the face but more softly reveal the secret if you have the patience to look :-)
ReplyDeleteWhich size did you cut?
ReplyDeleteI like the stripes but think it would also look good in a block colour too. I think its really flattering, and the detailing on the skirt is fantastic. I think I need to look into these patterns!
ReplyDeleteI'll be interested to see how the dye job goes!
Nikkishell: I cut a size right in between the M and M/L since I'm precisely a M up top and a M/L at the bottom. I think a M might have been better for me with this one, it's cut a bit more loose than the way I like it to be.
ReplyDeleteBefore you dye your dress, do some research on what kind of dye to use. There are three basic kinds of dyes. I think fiber reactive would be the best for your fabric. If you can find Dylon Cold Water Dye, that is a fiber reactive dye, which means it bonds with the fabric more so than RIT dye (the most common dye here in North America). As usual follow the directions. Good Luck.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to mention how much I love the dress, it looks fantastic on you!
Odd that this is the one you are not crazy about, because I absolutely love it. But then, I grew up in the 80's, and this is a very 80's silhouette. The stripes going every which way on the back of the skirt totaly make it, IMO.
ReplyDeleteFantastic dress. It looks stylish but yet comfortable to wear. And the pleats are so cool.
ReplyDeleteHey I really like this dress- especially the arms- i'm loving that volume!!!bx
ReplyDeleteWhere do you buy the Drape Drape patterns or book?
ReplyDeleteTahnk you all for nice compliments! I've worn the dress a few times now and I really like it. The only con is that I'm hopeless with thin tights, I rip them in two seconds, and this dress doesn't look good with thick, dark ones... so despite the fact that I like it I might still dye it to get more use out of it. It's a proper winter dress, waaarm, so i need to be able to wear it with tights/leggings.
ReplyDeleteElle C: Thank you for tipping me off on what to consider when buying dye! Not sure we have the same brands here, but surely the same issues. I'll keep fiber reactive in mind.
couturearts: so did I :-). I was a firstgrader (?) in 1980. Actually I love 80's clothes, the ones I remember though and not what is often labelled as 80's fashion nowadays. I think loads of what's considered very modern now is actually 08's retro... (or am I wrong?).
FiiFi: look in this post and the comment section for more info about the books (volume two) and on where to get it, there are several options, I've tried two: http://ancien-nouveau.blogspot.com/2010/08/drape-drape-vol-2.html
This is a seriously awesome creation, congratulations! x
ReplyDelete(I'm signed in anonymously only because I can't figure out how I've commented before via blogspot ... so sorry ... )
ReplyDeleteI love the Drape Drape books, though I'm perplexed about the invariably very wide yardage that the patterns call for. I notice you say that you used 140cm w. Was that enough? Do you find that the width requirements can be reduced with other Drape Drape patterns without compromising the final garment?
Thanks, Zoe.
Zoe: Hm, no, I think you do need to check the required width of fabric carefully beforehand. I couldn't actually use the 140 cm wide fabric for this one, the one I ended up using is - I think - 160cm's wide (or is it 180...).
ReplyDeleteThe pictures of the pattern layout in the book seem to be rather correct. Actually I think that the measurements overall are more correct than one is used to with Western patterns, f.ex. I often find that commercial pattern fabric requirement tables often trick you to buy more fabric than needed, but not the Drape Drape books.
It doesnt look pyjamary, the top pictures are fantastic, the back looks incredible, I dont believe you would get as much incredible effect from the folds unless you had used the striped material. I think its very special. I might have kept the slits in the top part. Out of all of the draping projects youve done, I think this is my ultimate favourite. Fantastic.
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ReplyDeleteLove it. I made one unbalanced stripes and found this while looking for links to other Drape Drape 2, Dress 7 makes. Thanks Google images XD
ReplyDeleteYou give stripes a new dimension... Gosh, I wished I had your skills! The waterfall cowl dress too, I love that one. Ever thought about selling online? :-)
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