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Saturday 5 May 2012

Vogue 1287 DKNY dress

This was one of my favourite patterns in the last lot of Vogue patterns, but there have been hardly any reviews of it which always makes me nervous!  One of the criticisms at the time was that the dress on the pattern photo was made in such a busy print that it was impossible to see the details and I'm afraid I have done the same thing with my version.





I wanted to get some of my older Vogue patterns made up before the new ones arrive so I just worked with the fabrics I had in my stash.  This needs a fabric with stretch and as my stretch fabric stash is quite precious to me I used a very loud, some would rightly say gaudy, jersey that I bought because I loved the colours but then didn't know what on earth to do with.  It has brown, teal, tan, coral, marbling and animal print on it and if that sounds like too much that is because it probably is!



I always enjoy making Donna Karan designs, the pattern pieces are generally unusually shaped and the details are always interesting - this was no exception although it wasn't particularly difficult.  I was a bit confused by the pocket facings and had to do quite a bit of pinning together before I understood the instructions, but it worked in the end.

I made a few small changes;
  • I put elastic in the whole of the waistband instead of just the back.  In my jersey fabric, which I didn't interface anywhere, this helped give the waistband a bit more support and keep it in place.
  • I didn't make the slip to go underneath the dress, but I did add a few invisible stitches just to keep the front wrap in place.
  • I was short on fabric so I couldn't do a faced hem, I just did a narrow hem instead.






Back view

I'm still on the fence with how I feel about this dress, like the Vena Cava dress I made last year, the pleats and pockets draw attention to the hips so it is a little challenging to wear, but I think I like it enough to try it in a plain solid fabric rather than a crazy print.  At least this stuff is out of my stash now, I'll give it a test outing and see if people cross the street and run away shielding their eyes.









53 comments:

  1. Looks lovely. Thank you for blogging about it, I've also got this pattern and was wondering how it would look on a real person!

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  2. Your dress looks marvelous and fabric is to die for. I wish I had some in my stash! I don't think you need to worry about people running off. :-)

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  3. I like it! It looks really great on you - I think this was a perfect use of your fabric.

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  4. I wasn't convinced by the shots on the dressform, but on you it's lovely!

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  5. wow- I really liked the pattern cover, but yours is the first real version I've seen so far- I think it looks brilliant and really suits you too )))) Great Job!

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  6. I really love everything about this dress! The fabric is gorgeous! You can send it to me if you don't want it!! I have this pattern & have not made it yet...I'm definitely pulling ou now!

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  7. I love this dress, fabric and style.

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  8. This dress looks great on you. I think the style really suits the busy print.

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  9. Really pretty! You rock it.

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  10. Thank you for blogging this! I pulled it out last night and was contemplating it but the lack of reviews made me hold back. It looks great. I know what you mean about the pleats and pockets, but it looks smashing on you.

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  11. I really like this on you, and think you should try it in a solid, too. The solid will really make the details of the dress design pop. Great job.

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  12. I really like this on you, and think you should try it in a solid, too. The solid will really make the details of the dress design pop. Great job.

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  13. Nice. Visually it appears pretty well balanced, but if you're concerned about the hip area balance it out with a chunky metal/ wider leather belt. Or a linen jacket but the latter would hide the femininity of the style..

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  14. It's a keeper, if you ask me. I'm putting that pattern on my list for the next Vogue sale.

    Prints are so personal that you should just go with what you like. One of my daughters, who almost only wears dark solids, looked at one of my recent print dresses and declared it "a little much." I'll take her advice on what looks good on me line-wise, but never on prints. If it makes me happy, then who cares what others think?

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  15. Very pretty, and I do like it in that fun fabric! I never did buy that pattern despite really liking the envelope photo. Yours is very nice.

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  16. I absolutely love that. I looked over that pattern but you made it come alive for me. That fabric is really fabulous!!

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  17. So glad you made this and that is is such a success! Your fabric may be busy, but it is a big enough scale to see all the beautiful draping in the design. I bought this pattern too but now am wondering if it would look good on a small busted person.

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  18. It looks great on you! Better than on the dress form.

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  19. i seriously think that it looks amazing. the pattern is really on trend - even with those hip gathers. i want to make this pattern as well.

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  20. You look wonderful! The fit, the print, the style... All fabulous!

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  21. I love the fabric, and although I agree that I too would have been skeptical at the beginning, I think it worked out fantastic.

    It looks terrific on you, much better than on the dress form, and definitely a much better fabric choice than the pattern photo.

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  22. Allison - I am just hemming this dress today ! and I feel almost the same as you do. Kind of on the fence about it. In fact I looked at your previous blog posts last week to see if you had made it. Yours looks great, quite flattering.

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  23. I love how that dress looks on you! However, I hear ya about pleats and pockets on the hips. Most of the time its all in our heads anyway so wear it like you own it because you have nothing to worry about. You look fab.

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  24. You look great in this dress! It really shows off your hour glass figure. Lush fabric too!

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  25. Wow, that's a great dress. Didn't love all the front draping so much on the dress form, but it looks really good on you.

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  26. It may be a bold, (I'll call it bold instead of loud) but it's a perfect match for your pattern and looks wonderful on you.

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  27. I love Your version and it's a relif cause the couple of reviews I read were rather negative. Is that a viscose jersey?

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  28. That style really suits you - it looks great!

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  29. What a wild print, but very flattering colors for you. I'll bet you will get only complimentary looks when you wear it out.

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  30. This is beautiful. The draped lines are perfect for this fabric and it looks GREAT on you.

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  31. I don't think you need worry about drawing attention to your hips - I think the dress gives you a great silhouette.

    I also really like that fabric used that way. Maybe it suits a busy fabric to be used in a busy pattern?

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  32. I really like your choice and, like everone else I think the silhouette is very flattering you you - and the fabric is gorgeous!

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  33. This dress is fabulous on you and I love the fabric!

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  34. Well done! I am loving your fabric!

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  35. I really love that print -- on the crazy side, but fun!

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  36. I think the print looks great in that pattern! Beautiful dress!

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  37. The fabric you chose is beautiful!

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  38. Terrific look! And what a wonderful design on the fabric.

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  39. Great looking dress! I love the fabric!

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  40. I'd wear this dress without a doubt! Love it! And you look great in it!

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  41. Me encanta todo lo que haces, me gusta que utilices la revista Burda que es mi guía para todo lo que confecciono, saludos
    http://lupecienta.blogspot.com.es/

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  42. I love it - wear it with pride! (it's not that loud - I agree with bold). I have this pattern (and the Vena Cava you referred to) so can't wait to make it now.
    Thanks for the review.

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  43. This is a wonderful dress and I hope you are no longer fence sitting! It really looks great on you.

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  44. I'd forgotten how much I loved this pattern. It came out when I was being strong about not purchasing more patterns. Your version...just wow!

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  45. Another winner! Gaudy fabric and all. Report back on the street panic you may or may not have caused, please, LOL!

    Funny, I didn't remember it as a knit dress at all, though it made my wish list from Day 1.

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  46. I totally love it! I think the shape is flattering and interesting, and the print even works. I didn't realize this was a knit pattern; it is much more appealing now.

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  47. Sophisticated dress design. Sophisticated material. You wear it well. This is a super dress for you.

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  48. I think the patterns really works for you, it is very flattering. I have got the pattern in my stash, I now am looking forward to using it! Thanks!

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  49. Thank you for your comments. Vogue patterns are rare here, in Russia, and I got this very patters in my stash and even have bought nearly the same fabric.
    your comments are very helpful.
    So you wear it without inner dress, am I right?

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  50. Allisonc, I think it's very flattering and am glad you reviewed this dress. I took a pass on buying this one. But now I've reconsidered.

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