The dropped waist has been back this season in a big way (check out this beauty and these beautiful babies) and I couldn't help but wonder what the BurdaStyle flapper dress would look like with a bit of a modern spin. I wanted a red ponte knit, but Mood was backlogged with orders post-Sandy. I ended up settling for one on fabric.com. When it arrived I almost cried; so rough and acrylic and completely unwearable (we need a fabric feeling app on our iphones ladies). Thankfully I ended up finding a beautifully soft double knit while fabric shopping with Sarah in Toronto. It wasn't quite the shade of neon red I had in mind, but it would do.
In the spirit of the book, which gloriously celebrates pattern modification, I made a muslin out of the icky combustible ponte acrylic nightmare and fiddled and twiddled until I came up with a fit that I liked. I added a boat neckline, took in a lot at the waist, and added a few darts in the back to prevent the fabric from pooling in unsightly ways. Rather than doing multi tiers as the original pattern called for, I added one gathered tier.
Because jersey is very clingy, I thought it wise to line the entire dress with more of the double knit to minimize the old "belly button shadow" issue (am I the only one who notices this in tight fitting dresses?!) The tier was also doubled, so the entire dress has some heft to it. It is practically reversible! I wish the tier was a little fuller at the hips like in some of the links I shared above, but I think you would need a less drapey fabric to achieve that poofiness. I had purchased some big beautiful gold zippers in Toronto as well and intended to do one of my classic exposed zip moves, but this lady in red is so stretchy I didn't even need it! It's so comfortable. It's basically the dress equivalent of jogging pants!
She had her debut at my best friend's 40th and was much complimented; I also wore her to my staff party this week. It's turning out to be the perfect holiday dress - lots of stretch for when you overdo it on Christmas cookies.
I thought I would share how I styled it for a Montreal winter night out.
Thankfully it has been pretty mild the past week so I could still pull off wearing my cape! I haven't felt this sophisticated since I accidentally ordered a vodka martini and had to pretend I could drink straight alcohol without whimpering.
So there we have it. My take on a 20's flapper dress. I am so happy I managed to take a silhouette I've always loved and make it work for my body. You should take a minute and check out Amy's version; it's jaw dropping and she looks fabulous in it!
Big love to BurdaStyle and Jamie Lau for asking me to participate! I love the book and I love my dress!
Oh, I LOVE reading your posts! This made me laugh so much.
ReplyDeleteTo address your (super valid) points in order:
My post birth hips don't really like drop waist dresses, either.
Disappointing fabric.com orders are disappointing.
YESSSSS I notice belly button shadows on those wearing tight dresses. DRIVES ME BATSHIT.
You win at life for making the tracksuit of dresses look soooo smokin' hot!
You are full of sophisticosity in that last pic!
Belly button shadows are the bane of my existance because I like my shit tight. Thank god for linings. Thank you for the kind words as per usual!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! I wondered what the dress would look like with a single tier. I like the effect with the solid color. I love that you also added a waist and hiked up the hem. What a fun book that one pattern from it inspired both a flapper dress, a smokin' red hot dress, and the two very different Jackie dresses already up on BurdaStyle. So fun!
ReplyDeleteYour take with a waist is fantastic, although I am still getting used to the style. The dropped waist will probably be on its way out by the time I decide I'm in. Love the tights and necklace and it looks so winter party ready with the cape and hat.
ReplyDeleteLooks gorgeous on you! Great job :)
ReplyDeleteYOU RULE. you rule you rule you rule. suddenly the thing i planned to sew today is looking like second prize.
ReplyDeleteUm. YOWZA!! You are seriously my hero! Drop waist dresses frighten the (pleather) pants off of me! But you somehow made it look so hourglassy! Don't know if that's because of your smokin' hot bod or your master slicer and dicer pattern-altering skills. Most likely a combination of the two. Either way you totally rocked this. You look like a knock out!
ReplyDeleteWOW. I am really impressed. This is a style I would have never given a second thought to and you ROCKED it. This is friggin' awesome.
ReplyDeleteFabulous! I love the modifications you made-your one tier skirt seems a great alternative to the original multi-layered setup. I've found with jersey (and thicker woven fabrics) inverted pleats are a great way to avoid gathers-but yours really fit into the style of the outfil. Also, I love the stockings-where're they from?
ReplyDeleteThey are from a Canadian accessories chain called Ardene. Unfortunately the ass completely ripped out after one night of wear. Cheap shit - sigh.
ReplyDeleteSally, I think you would KILL in one of those looser dropped waist dresses in the Pair and a Spare link above. KILL.
ReplyDeleteI totally share your reservations on the drop-waisted dress, but you've truly made this saucy little number work perfectly for you! It's so flattering and flirty, no wonder you're getting loads of compliments on it! You look gorgeous as always!
ReplyDeleteNow I'm wanting to slice into my red doubleknit. (Gorgeous Fabrics carries really nice doubleknits, btw. I gave up on the generic stuff because it smells weird when you press it.) Very good call on adding the back darts--I like the waist shaping. Whatever it's doing it's doing it right because it stars these gorgeous legs right out of a Robert Palmer video! (And those amazing tights--where did you find those?) The legs make it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a stunning red dress! It looks so different from the original, and from Amy's; just goes to show what a versatile pattern it is. I love the tights you've paired it with too!
ReplyDeleteThis is ridiculously fab. The color is perfect (way to triumph over Fabric Hunting Adversity to find this beauty) and the silhouette is beyond sexy! What a great dress! As usual, your styling is completely rad, too!
ReplyDeleteI just chose you to receive the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. :) http://theprettypickle.blogspot.com/2012/12/very-inspiring-blogger-award.html
ReplyDeleteI love how the dress turned out! And your styling is fabulous as usual-- especially those tights. It might not be worth it, but you could turn them into stockings. (Btw I liked that other photo with the badass alley cat (!)
ReplyDeleteHere here to that fabric feeling app! Maybe just avoid fabric.com in future? :-/
ReplyDeleteBut seriously, you've ended up with SUCH a gorgeous dress. Really very flattering on you too. I can only wish to one day feel as comfy in front of a camera as you do - great photos! And I'm so please to see you've been wearing your cape to death. Goodness knows it deserves it!
i first saw this on burdastyle's facebook (i'm so behind on blog reading...) and was like "so cuuuuuttteee!"
ReplyDeletei like that you lined it. sometimes knits can be really clingy. i also liked that you took a pretty shapeless design and made it your own. i, too, have some birthing hips and need my clothes to help me prove i have a waist, which is why i also tend to avoid the dropped waist. yours has inspired me to consider it!
i agree, we need a feeling app, or at the very least more info about fabric content/weight/stretch, etc on fabric websites.
thanks for share.
ReplyDelete