Here’s an update on my attempts to make dresses I can wear to work this summer. I’ve made two so far (only one of which was in my original summer plan).
Dress #1: Simplicity 2703 (view A) in a stretch linen-rayon blend with linen contrast
Verdict: I love this dress. Its super comfy. It pops over your head with no zipper. The fabric is nice and cool but not too thin. And best of all it has POCKETS! I feel like the pockets are key to making this a wear-to-work-able dress, since I just feel more comfortable if I can stuff my hands in my pockets. Also if I have a place to put useful bits of string. I’ve worn this twice on the weekends and I promise I will wear it to work one day. Really. Plus my stylish sis asked me to make her one so it must look okay.
Dress #2: Vogue 8486 in polyester microfiber knit
Verdict: You may notice that this is not in fact a dress. I wasn’t super optimistic about it as a dress to begin with because its pretty shapeless. And indeed, when I put it together, it didn’t work as a dress on me. I did wear it once with a skirt underneath and I think it might work if I added a ruffle to the bottom:
Also, someone at PatternReview pointed out that polyester might not be such a great choice for hot summer days. Point taken. It makes a very comfy nightgown though.
So that makes one dress that I think I could wear to work, but haven’t yet, and one that I’ve worn twice to work but never as a dress. Not so promising. But I will persevere…
Coming up: Hooded kangaroo-pocket dress, as suggested by LaKaribane!
Lindsay T | 14-May-09 at 1:39 pm | Permalink
I’ve made that Vogue dress twice now and plan on making it again. The first time I made it in black I loved it! It is my favorite dress to throw on during the summer. Then I made another version and I hated it as a dress. This jersey fabric caused the pleats to fall awkwardly. I have a brown print jersey I’m going to try again with. See the April/May issue of Vogue Patterns magazine for their cute take.
LaKaribane | 17-May-09 at 6:55 am | Permalink
Very cute dress, pockets and all. I was wondering when you posted the fabrics, if the fabric itself was striped or not. But the combination really works. The lighter band really offsets the greyish blue of the dress.
And I’m very proud to have inspired the next dress. Is it new fabric or one of form the storyboard? Can’t wait to find out.
Oh, and you must have realized by now that the Jan 06 isn’t available online at Burda, only the july but it’s basically the same thing. If my internet was cooperating, I would have sent you the images but today is the first day I have a phone line working at home again so I’m in a rush to answer emails. Hopefully my luck will hold enough that I can post what I’ve been sewing lately.