Wednesday, March 16, 2011

The denim dress.



I am fond of a good denim dress. With the stiff fabric they tend not to cling and who can argue with their wash'n'wear laundry 'tude.

As soon as I saw this design in Ottobre (02-2011-14) I knew I would be making it in denim but had to cast around for a sleeve option - it's a little past sleeveless season now (for those who need to know, I subbed in Burda 05-2010- 112).

Just one word of warning about this dress - I am short and I lengthened it 4 cms. It is still above my knee. That's totally OK for someone who likes to show their thigh spread when they sit down, or who enjoys flashing the playground with their underpants when they bend over. Not so great for those more modesty inclined -henceforth I believe some dreaded mamma leggings will be out in force.

At any rate, I still love this dress, and see myself making it a few times over, although slightly longer.

Vintage buttons on the front:



Left off the breast pockets and eventually the hip pockets will have buttons too but it may take a while to find a compatible button:



Front view:



Back view:



.. and many thanks to gMarie for my Stylish blogger award!

(Aucklanders may be interested to know that I purchased this denim at Global Fabrics but I see that Nick's has just got it in for $4 a metre)
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30 comments:

  1. Miss SmithMarch 16, 2011 at 1:07 PM

    I admit that I was worried when you said you were going to make this dress. I thought it might look like prison gear. But oh no no no no, I was wrong. It looks very stylish and the sleeve addition is very smart indeed. Nice work.

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  2. kbencoMarch 16, 2011 at 1:14 PM

    Smart and casual. I am overcome with covetousness, and as usual, great admiration for your top stitching and pocket details.

    I was in Wellington last week, and naturally gravitated immediately to Global Fabrics, where I saw no fabulous denim of sufficient lightweightedness for a dress. Ripped off!(there was lots of gorgeous merino....)
    I also stocked up on winter tights, which are very scarce in Queensland for some reason :). There are very cool tights about IMO, although really, there is nothing wrong with leggings - much more stylish than knicker flashing.

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  3. katherine hMarch 16, 2011 at 1:24 PM

    You have nailed this one. It looks to be a very versatile dress. Great buttons. It's still so hot here that I am opting for knicker-flashing dresses myself.

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  4. JaneMarch 16, 2011 at 1:48 PM

    Awesomeness. I totally need a denim dress in my life now!

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  5. HeatherMarch 16, 2011 at 2:00 PM

    I love denim dresses too! This turned out really super and looks really good on you! Thanks for the heads up about the length. I'm kinda tall so I woulda been seriously screwed...

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  6. Little Miss FlossyMarch 16, 2011 at 2:02 PM

    Mmmm, lovin this dress. I'm wearing a lot of denim too at the moment.

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  7. ReneeMarch 16, 2011 at 2:27 PM

    Wow - great dress! I really liked this design from Ottobre, too. Yours looks better than the one in the magazine. Love the buttons.

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  8. spottedrooMarch 16, 2011 at 2:30 PM

    Ah...I have wanted to make a denim dress for a while. What a great inspiration. It looks wonderful and not too short at all. Bravo!

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  9. TriciaMarch 16, 2011 at 2:50 PM

    Yours looks much nicer than the one in the magazine -- it suits you beautifully. Well done for whipping it up so quickly. I'm still waiting for my Ottobre Woman.

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  10. KyleMarch 16, 2011 at 3:25 PM

    Impeccable work as always!
    Your sister and her "prison gear" comment cracked me up! Maybe in orange denim. Even then, it would look trendy. It would need to have numbers stenciled on the back!

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  11. KID, MDMarch 16, 2011 at 3:42 PM

    I see I am not the only one dreaming of denim dresses! This is fabulous, as always. I love the buttons and the pockets.

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  12. gMarieMarch 16, 2011 at 4:58 PM

    I've been eyeing that dress since I got the mag. In fact, I finally made my first garment just so I could see how they fit.

    I love this dress. Thanks so much for the review. I don't want to do any of those things. and those buttons - fabulous. g

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  13. SewingelleMarch 16, 2011 at 5:06 PM

    ahh I want one too!

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  14. GailMarch 16, 2011 at 7:12 PM

    I spotted this pattern and thought I'd make it too. Is your denim a regular or light weight? I have some jean weight denim that I'd like to use.

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  15. AnonymousMarch 16, 2011 at 7:59 PM

    I think it looks great! your topstitching is superb : )
    Mariana

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  16. BerniceMarch 16, 2011 at 8:41 PM

    This dress is a winner. It looks great on you, especially with the boots. The buttons and pockets get a big thumbs up!

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  17. MushyWearMarch 16, 2011 at 9:12 PM

    I really like this dress. White top-stitching on denim looks so fresh. I also think your choice of buttons is perfect. Enjoy wearing this one.

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  18. KarinMarch 16, 2011 at 10:47 PM

    Like everyone else, I love this dress and need to run downstairs and find my February issue of Burda! Your top stitching is awesome. So straight and perfect.

    The phrase "mamma leggings" made me smile. That's who wears 'em.

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  19. AntoinetteMarch 17, 2011 at 1:13 AM

    That is one smart-looking dress! Your topstitching looks perfect and professional, as always. I love denim dresses,too, and am currently on the hunt for a lightweight denim chambray for spring.

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  20. BeangirlMarch 17, 2011 at 1:42 AM

    Well, I'm on the bandwagon with everyone else: this looks great! And I agree it looks better than the magazine version. I've been debating this pattern (this is my first Ottobre Woman issue)... I might have to put it up to the top of the pile. Assuming I can get such good results, which is a big assumption. Amazing topstitching!

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  21. AudreyMarch 17, 2011 at 5:57 AM

    This is a great denim dress. I love how contrast color top stitching looks on denim. Your dress looks so nice with it accenting the collar and pockets. Your lovely vintage buttons remind me that I need to use my vintage buttons, instead of storing them away in closet.

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  22. SewingadictaMarch 17, 2011 at 8:37 AM

    What a beautiful dress! I join the other ladies, especially love the pockets and I'm also in need of a denim dress in my life.

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  23. Mary NannaMarch 17, 2011 at 12:31 PM

    Thanks everyone!

    Gail the denim is medium weight with 2% elastane. The dress is semi fitted so I'm not sure how heavy weight denim would go - possibly it might be a bit too rigid and not drape well though the A line? Hard to say - if you made it more fitted you'd lose the comfort element.

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  24. MaryMarch 17, 2011 at 11:32 PM

    Longtime lurker - and admirerof your sewing prowess - delurking to say ''Very cool dress'.

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  25. MiriMarch 18, 2011 at 8:16 AM

    That is one really nice dress. If you made it sleeveless, with that nice comfortable fit, you could wear t-shirts or long sleeve skivvies underneath for the warmth and then it wouldn't need washing for ages. So long as no small hands wiped themselves on you, spilt food on you, wiped nose against your shoulder...

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  26. JoyMarch 18, 2011 at 9:14 AM

    Wonderful dress! I love it.

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  27. Marie-ChristineMarch 18, 2011 at 10:46 AM

    Oh now come on, this smart thing is all the way down to your knees, you'd have to join the kiddies on the trapeze to be flashing your undies on the playground :-). Nothing wrong with a bit of sleeve at this season either, and your topstitching is just lovely..

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  28. gwensewsMarch 20, 2011 at 1:57 AM

    That's a cute denim dress. And, in cooler weather, it will look great with leggings.

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  29. JoMarch 24, 2011 at 2:21 PM

    Great dress! When it's the right design and fit I think you can't go wrong with a great denim dress and you've certainly got it right here. I don't think I'd like it without sleeves, I think they balance the length and weight of the fabric, personally. But damn, I now have another item on my mental sewing list :-)

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  30. ImaanApril 7, 2011 at 5:27 PM

    Your post about the length of the dress made me laugh out loud:-) Thanks for that, the dress looks great!

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