Bodycon dresses: Givre & Prescott

Suddenly I needed a flaming yellow bodycon dress in my wardrobe.  I also really wanted a skin-coloured dress.  I knew that these probably wouldn't be very flattering, but I wasn't sure whether I would care. 

I've had the Prescott and Givre patterns in my stash and have made Givre as a tank top a few times.  I hadn't bothered making the dress yet but I have a see-through designer dress I stupidly bought recently and in hopes of wearing it often enough to be worth it, I wanted a merino bodycon dress to wear underneath for winter (it came with a slip.)

I started out with the Prescott tank dress, as I was very curious how the bra works. I mean, I mostly could sort of imagine the process, but I've never put in a shelf bra before.  I elected to use my very precious piece of Milk viscose in a body-colour for this, for better or worse...I didn't have much.  I had to line it with something else. 

I made a size 4.  As usual the question of which bust measurement to go by. The high bust matches my bust, and the waist and hip measures are spot on.

I didn't have enough for the back hem so I added on a piece. 

I had to follow the instructions as the construction was a little bit fiddly. It was helpful to be told when to use the sewing machine instead of the overlocker - often because it's not the direction of stretch and will decrease bulk.  Unfortunately the instructions for elastic application were confusing - they say to put it on the right side, but from my way of thinking that's the wrong side.  

I see that there are pull lines on the model and I can see those on me too.  The way it shapes below the bust is kind of loose.  Overall I think I like the shape to the level of the hips, but I don't really like the way the underneath bra and the overlayer interact.  It might be that using super strong elastic wasn't a good idea - I didn't realise as much of the support comes from the fabric of that bra layer, rather than just from the elastic.  

I have the feeling that I might turn this into a tank top to salvage the fabric, which I love.  I'm not actually finding that I want to wear it much.  I left the hem raw because I don't have coverstitch thread in a close match, and because my machine isn't behaving very well lately. If I'm going to turn it into something else, no need to suffer extra...

2. Givre, dress version

This is green merino from Otara in Auckland.  The cheapest place to get merino!  I had a really exact colour in mind and this is exactly what I wanted.  

I did the same as making the tank top: 36 at the bust, 38 everywhere else.  The fit is spot on - perfect amount of room.  Flattering?  I would say absolutely not.  But I might not care.  Maybe I should have fallen into my bodycon lust right after coming back from life in Nepal, when I was anorexic thin for a few months.  I love the feel of this but I'll have to be in the right mood to wear it without something over the middle section.  To wear under other dresses it's perfect.  It was easy to make - really not any different than making a tshirt.

I have some plans towards the Lola tank and dress and maybe making another Mission dress (it's been awhile since I had one in my closet) but other summer sewing is taking over so we will see what happens later in the summer! I'm still holding onto the neon green rib fabric so I'm sure it will show up eventually.

True Bias Nikko Dress review

 I made the tops earlier in the year, and it's possible the entire matter was inspired by a certain sunflower print fabric from Emma One Sock.  I knew I wanted to make a long dress that was a single, unbroken cut of fabric.  In the middle of winter I wasn't keen to actually make dresses but I had some fun with the tops (here.) 

So, summer arrived.  And I needed something quick for a party.  I whipped up version 1 of the Nikko.  I went ahead with size 4 though I'd waffled when I made the tops about whether a 6 would be better.  It took a very short bit of time to make, even with figuring out how to finish the slit, and it's possible I made the entire dress on my sewing machine aside from the neck, which must be overlocked due to how tight it is. 

Everyone at the party was suitably impressed. I thought it was a wee bit tight across the bum so I tried to expand that part for the magical sunflower version, but naturally all my expansion was probably too high up so there's even more pooling in my back and the bum is, if anything, even tighter. Arg.  Hopefully the beautiful print is enough distraction. 

 

 I realised pretty quickly that I couldn't pattern match at the sides because the colours shift down the length of fabric, and also the front and back are somehow different lengths, so I had to just accept the imperfection.

I love this dress, but I think the allover pattern was a bit more flattering.  I don't have any burning need to make heaps of these but they are a great summer addition for just looking that touch more put together.