I love using coordinating prints. When I saw this fabric on AliExpress, I knew I had to make some sort of colourblocked dress from it. But what?? Strangely enough, colour blocking does not feature as heavily as one would expect in vintage outfits.

So I sat on this fabric for years and years until I was watching a rather fabulous show, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and I saw this beauty!

Isn’t this dress just stunning? Of course it is made from some sort of silky fabric that I would ordinarily have no access too and it is more of a traditional colour block with solids instead of prints but I knew this was the direction I wanted to go with for my dress, so off to draft a pattern.

Now it’s not an identical replica, obviously. I didn’t have buckle cover kits at the time so I sacrificed a cheap belt for this cicada clasp and I brought up the hemline to where I wanted it (looking at it now I’m thinking I need to start making my dresses longer. Is that my age talking? Christ!) and I brought in the shoulders a little.

In hindsight, if I ever make this dress again, I gotta move those shoulders out. They would cover more armpit fat and it would look truer to the image. ANYWAYS! This was fairly cheap fabric, so I’m not allowed regrets.

Other than those few criticisms, I’m suuuper happy with how it turned out. The bodice was a little complex because there’s a real button-up front instead of a fake one and then a side zipper and all of those together meant that a clean, turned under lining at the waistband was impossible. I have to work out a better method next time. I would probably prefer buttons all the way down if I’m honest, zippers are getting on my nerves nowadays.

Another thing I’m stoked with is how my darts turned out. It sounds terrible but I’m always eyeing off fellow seamstresses’ darts. I feel so satisfied when I see darts without the typical little pucker at the end, no fabric tugging anywhere and all darts pointed precisely at the bust apex instead of several inches too high or low or whatever. A perfect dart is a beautiful thing, and I’m kind of proud to say I think that’s where I’m at right now. I have mastered them. Huzzah!

Now if only I could agree on the location of my waistline. I blame the lordosis. It looks okay in these photos, thank god.

So I completed this dress live on stream at some point last year so I’m sorry if this is old news to you, but I’m just happy I motivated myself to get off the couch and get photos taken. I need a haircut and a holiday so terribly badly, but I think I’m just waiting for life to get back to normal. Hey, I get to see Shrek the Musical in a few weeks, so that’s something to look forward to!

6 Comments

  1. Nanci Swaim Reply

    What a fun dress with another fabulous fit! I love your button choice and the way you made your own belt. You are such an inspiration!

  2. Love this dress! The color blocks would be so fun to experiment with different contrasting fabrics. Not to mention but Your dress making skills never cease to amaze me.

    • Demi

      You are just too kind! I really like using contrasting/complimentary fabrics in my projects, it makes it infinitely more fun and unique, so long as you can get it right that is!

  3. A beautiful dress and what a great print to color block with! I’ve been toying with the idea of color blocking for quite awhile, but still haven’t reached the point of trying it…maybe this year, though!

    • Demi

      Doooo it! I highly recommend it, especially if you can find a good pattern to balance both colours with.

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