This is my favorite dress of them all! It makes me so very happy.
Pattern-fabric
Mock-up. I changed my mind on the sleeves, and picked a different contrasting fabric (but one that was similar to the yellow polka-dots).
The end result:
Without the sash...
With the sash (you have to look very carefully to see it - I think it'd be better in a solid that contrasted a bit, like the darker stone color in this print. If I had some of that color in my stash, I'd totally make one up.
Bow in the back. The sash is completely separate, so it would work in the front too, or at the side. I chose to go without it today, as it seemed fussier than I wanted. But, were I going to a church picnic, I'd be all over this gigantic bow at my butt.
How about some details?
OK, it was hard to edit the colors on this - the yellow really isn't that bright. But it's been cloudy here the last few days, which makes picture-taking difficult. Anyway. Here you can see the bodice lining, the pink invisible zipper (from the inside - it was one I found on clearance for $0.50, and was 22" long, so it's super easy to get this dress on - no shimmying needed to get it past the hips), and the pink lace hem (also a clearance item - discontinued color. $0.57).
Today, I wore it with a sweater, because work is too cold to go without sleeves. I rather like it this way, though I do wish I had some stone-colored sandals. Those would have looked better. I suppose my white ones would have too, but I really wasn't in the mood for those toe-less nylons again this week. Once was enough (see Monday's Unemployment Dress 1 for my white sandals).
did an excellent job pin-fitting the bodice on me. It fits like a dream! OK, the bust part is still a bit baggy, but there’s only so much that can be done. I find that the straps are just the teensiest bit wider than I’d like, but we did tighten them up so that there’s little chance of them actually slipping off. I must have a short collarbone or something – we needed to take the straps in significantly on all of the dresses.
Oh, I also took this up about 6″ from what it was supposed to be. I like it shorter, though I could have pulled it off in the longer length.
I’m so bummed that I’ve now used up all of this print, in both colorways (remember the skirt?). It’s so pretty and fun. I’m sure I have a few scraps, enough to use in a scrappy quilt or maybe for a waistband facing, but I’ve used up the majority of it. Oh well. That’s the point, right, to use the pretty stuff? Mission accomplished.
[...] Unemployment Dress #3 [...]