Dress design for Shabby Apple dresses
This is my dress design for Shabby Apple dresses /Dare to Design/ competition. I first heard about the competition last year, but I didn't feel comfortable enough with my sewing skills to enter the competition. I know I could have entered with a sketch, but I wanted a beautiful showcase piece I could wear, not one I could only look at.
A year later, I have honed my sewing skills and tried several patterns and dresses to see what works best on my body. I finally have a dress I am THRILLED to share.
Inspiration: I adore the French film Amelie. The whimsical, do-good feel of the movie brings a smile to my face each time I watch it. Amelie (Audrey Tautou) is a young woman who finds great pleasure in simple things, such as skipping stones and running her hands through sacked grains, and in bringing happiness to others. I think that this dress conveys the sense of whimsy from the film and that the dress, like Amelie herself, is infectiously happy.
Description: The dress is made of a thin red and white striped cotton shirting top with a navy center stripe and a navy skirt. It has a round neck, petite cap sleeves, a side zipper, and three bold buttons down the front. The bright red 1/2-inch edging around the neck and waist give definition to the most flattering parts of the body. The bodice is tailored in the front and back to give the perfect shape. The high waist pencil skirt is the perfect length for lady-like activities like chasing kids, going out to lunch with friends, and sitting down at an afternoon garden party.
Color Options: I love the nautical / French feel of this color palette. It is fresh, comfortable, and always looks crisp. This dress would look fantastic in a variety of other colors palettes as well. A charcoal gray skirt and canary yellow top with white edging, for example. Or perhaps a robin egg blue skirt and white top with tan edging, similar to the colors in the Greg Hatton room pictured below.
I am so excited to have this dress in my closet. I wore it to church today and received several compliments. Not one person asked if I made it myself. That is a huge success for me.