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Tuesday 28 July 2009

One miss, one hit

Ok lets just get this posted and out of the way - the miss. Not quite a wadder, just not what I had planned in my head. This is the pattern I used - Burda 06/2008 103, a mock wrap skirt with topstitching detail.

There is nothing wrong with the pattern, but in my eagerness to make it I pulled some blue denim from the stash (or collection if you prefer!) which was a great match colourwise for the art nouveau fabric from my last post (thank you Katharine for the perfect description!). The weight of the denim is all wrong for this pattern and the style with a tie waist is all wrong for the longer length tops I wanted to wear it with, it just adds bulk. I'll hang onto it till the winter and see if it works with a tucked in sweater and boots.
Moving swiftly on - a new dress, this one from Burda 05/2008 116, a square neck sheath dress. I made this in a print cotton I picked up in that ramshackle market I posted about recently. It's black with a silver chain print on it. It also has some printed discs with the name "Todd Smith" on it.  


I had no clue who Todd Smith was and thought I had better investigate before cutting into this fabric.  I discovered this is a clothing line designed by LL Cool J. No disrespect to Mr Cool J but he is not reknowned for his design abilities as far as I know (which is not far admittedly). Never mind, no one has pointed and laughed at me yet and I like how my dress turned out. 

It's probably a bit blingy for daytime but ideal for evenings out. The pattern was very easy, the only change I made was to leave off the belt and topstitching as there was enough going on in my print.  The only downside is that you have to watch what you wear under the dress as the square neckline is pretty wide.


31 comments:

  1. That dress is very becoming. I think we have quite similar tastes.

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  2. Lovely dress. The fabric looks very classy. Shame about the skirt.

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  3. Lovely dress. I'm slowly getting fond of dresses. Must remember this one.
    And the pattern for the skirt is nice, pity it didn't work as you thought.

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  4. Very nice dress. Wish I was getting BWOF back then. :-) I hope you like your skirt in the winter.

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  5. beautiful dress, LL Cool J fabric, well that is one why to get him all over your body :)
    I made that skirt and I used a suiting pinstripe that is lenght-weight and soft, I really didn't think about it at the time but you are absolutely right, with the wrap tie and fold over you would probably need something more subtle

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  6. I think LL makes jeans (and maybe jackets?) so this was probably a lining or pocket fabric.

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  7. This is a great style on you! I love it. Sorry about the skirt, things like that are always happening to me. I have something in my mind's eye and it doesn't turn out the way I thought. But, you are right, it is still a nice skirt and would look great with a tucked in top.

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  9. The dress fits you perfectly, it is very attractive on you. Too bad about the skirt, I hope you can find a way to wear it.

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  10. Wow! I didn't know that LL cool J has branched off into fabric designing... any how.. The dress looks fabulous, love the print and its a great fit.... I also love the denim skirt but I do agree that the style needs a softer fabric to make it work....

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  11. I hate it when something doesn't turn out as I envisioned it. I just had that happen to me. Your dress is GORGEOUS!!! That pattern has been on my todo list for quite awhile.

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  12. Perfect for a night out. Beautifully done.

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  13. I love the dress! It fits you so well. One question though, the sleeves look really fitted, is it easy to move your arms around?

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  14. I really like both of those patterns and (in my imagination) I will sew them, too.
    Alas, I may not find the time.
    I hope that skirt works well when you pull it back out in the winter. It is so cute.

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  15. I am going to appoint you Queen of Lovely Sheath dresses. It looks superb on you.Don't worry about the wadder,happens to me also,I look at wadders as if they were "crash test dummies"......!

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  16. Bummer on the skirt, but a definite thumbs up on the dress!

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  17. I love that dress. I've always liked it. I think your version is perfect for you. The "bling" is great. Too bad about the skirt but I do think it'll be great for winter with a sweater tucked in.

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  18. That dress looks fabulous on you and has a very "Mad Men" wiggle-dress vibe to it.

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  19. Love the dress. It works for you. I'd like to have Todd Smith fit me so well. :-)

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  20. Well I knew right away that the Todd Smith fabric was LL Cool Js...he's designing a mostly urban line and I've seen a few of the pieces in the Macy's Herald Square store. I have to tell you that I thought of course you would find some of the fabric because the goods are probably made in Hong Kong. How I would love to get my hands on some of that! I am an unrepentant fabric piggie! *LOL*

    The dress is awesome! And hopefully the skirt will work for fall with boots and a sweater!

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  21. That's a beautiful dress and looks like a perfect fit.

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  22. Great dress! I knew Todd Smith is LL Cool J, but had no idea he was in the fabric biz. I guess you can do anything when you're a celebrity.

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  23. Great dress! I've always wanted to make this one, but in a very sober grey, for work. I love your version!

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  24. You are the queen of BWOF dresses! Another one I must remember.

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  25. Va-va-va-VOOM look at your perfect hourglass figure, honey! You look smashing in this dress. I like your new denim skirt too, nice for cooler weather. Have fun this weekend with Trena on your whirlwind Hong Kong shopping stop!

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  26. I love the fabric for the dress and I would not even know about todd smith(?)--so funny! I recently made a wrap similiar and didn't like the bulk at the waist.

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  27. Fabulous dress - I am off to find the magazine in the pile as I have the very fabric in mind...

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  28. Really great dress on you!

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  29. The dress is absolutely gorgeous! You always make the most flattering dresses! I was sad to see that the skirt didn't turn out the way you wanted --- I've had my eye on that skirt but just haven't gotten around to it.

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  30. I love this dress on you. It defintely makes up for your miss on the skirt. Really flattering dress.

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