As I finished this dress, I realized... it might be a little
too sweet, in a cutesy and girly way. But let me tell you the story.
I bought the Lisette print cotton lawn (relatively new line at JoAnn) half off when it was on clearance, and I love the prints in the line but really liked how this one was such a lightweight, finer quality of cotton, like batiste. Not at all scratchy or thick like quilter's cotton, and nothing like the cute print twills they also have of the Lisette brand. They have some great colors and ikat-ey prints!
So because it was lighter and finer than some of my usual dress fabrics (I often go for more substantial!), I envisioned it with some gathers somewhere on the bodice. I kind of imagined a vintage-feel, Sookie Stackhouse-ey sweet bodice, I guess not unlike a summery Zooey Deschanel dress. In fact, we've talked before about a cute
Sookie dress on Sewing Circle. See what I mean, with the gathers?
And I had a pattern in mind. Out of context, it's totally different, but I think of this pattern as having sort of a vintage, 50's-ey shape, with the flattering scooped midriff panel under the bust. I had McCall's M6162, which is now out of print, but you can still find online, and used it but with gathers instead of the darts!
So it's not a whole ton of gathering--I guess I could have added at the center front and done more--but it's cute if you notice it.
Also, I thought this needed some contrast. So I added white piping at the curved under-bust seam, and--here's the cutesy part--white scalloped crocheted lace at the neckline. How cute, right?
Oh! Another cute touch--the little slightly puffed sleeves I added, drafted from another dress pattern. Cute on top of cute! (What was I thinking?!!?)
Okay, so tell me. Should grown women not walk around in such girly-sweet dresses, or can I pull it off?? I know Zooey can, and I bet Taylor Swift, too, and fictional characters in the vampire-ridden South, but... can I?
And if I can pull it off for the next couple of years, what should I wear with it? ;)
