A few days ago, I was obsessed with finding a pattern to make a gray crisscross bodice knit dress like Sandra Bullock wore in The Proposal. I can't find a good picture of it online (here's the best I found) but I at least thought it crossed in the front (doesn't look like it here....) There didn't appear to be any that were exactly what I wanted among any of the pattern companies (amazing!) so I found an actual dress that I thought was like it on sale at Nordstrom.com and ordered it. This is a picture of the red version as it shows the design. Strangely, the red version was on sale for $50 less than the "galaxy" (what color is galaxy, anyway? apparently a yucky navy blue) but only came in large. I went ahead and ordered the "galaxy" color in a small, which was super unusual for me as I haven't bought a dress or any other garments since the sewing bug hit, probably over a year or more. I figured I would at least be able to knock off the construction, even if it didn't fit or I didn't like it.
I got it yesterday - HOW DISAPPOINTING. It was Nicole Miller, so a decent brand, and originally priced at $255, and the fabric was...I can't describe it as anything but "yucky"...and the picture was misleading. It ended up having all of these gathers under the bust, many more than it looks like, and wasn't at all what I was looking for. And they called this thing a "special occasion dress". And the crisscross construction consisted of two ties that came straight down out of the V-neck (kind of like attached i-cord, in knitterly language, but wider and flat) which then criss crossed in front and tied in the back (all the better to complete the maternity look.) The sleeves were also about 2" too long. It was a trainwreck and is going back today. I would show it to you, but it's already packed back into the box and it doesn't really look like much anyway (and is navy blue, so it doesn't show the details that well.)
So this whole experience reaffirmed my belief in sewing my own stuff, from a quality, fit, and cost perspective. I like my fabrics way better than the one they used for this dress.
I'm kind of thinking of turning this pattern (New Look 6729)
into a dress, just by extending the skirt section. I made it before as a top, so I know it works on me. I would just use a gray ITY jersey or wool jersey for it, which I think would really change the look. Anyone know of a pattern that already does this?
I think this will be a perfect choice to remake the Proposal top, but as a dress. I would just raise the neckline a bit and not add the ties. Can't wait to see it!
Posted by: Susan - Knitters Delight | July 30, 2009 at 11:06 AM
Go for it! It is a rare day when RTW meets my expectations. It may be more 'work' to sew it myself, but I don't look at it that way since I enjoy every minute in my sewing studio....even when things don't go as planned 8-)
Posted by: Patty | July 30, 2009 at 03:08 PM
I hate that, when you obsess over smoothing look everywhere for it, finally find it and it sucks. I'm sure you'll make a better one!
Posted by: rogue2408 | July 30, 2009 at 05:48 PM
You might want to take a look at Simplicity 2733 (Simplicity is on sale through Saturday at Joann's). It's a Project Runway top, where the bodice looks a lot like the bodice of the Nicole Miller top.
Rose in SV
Posted by: Rose in SV | July 30, 2009 at 11:42 PM
I'm sorry the RTW dress didn't work out, but that just means you can buy even more lovely fabric! I hope you find the pattern you want too.
Posted by: Debby | July 31, 2009 at 09:22 AM
I wish places that sold online had to show a pic of the item on a person, front,back and side views AND a pic of the item laid flat on a table with front and back views. Would save a lot of irritation
Posted by: Carol | July 31, 2009 at 11:13 AM
Maybe it's time you started drafting your own patterns? :-)
Posted by: Amanda | July 31, 2009 at 12:48 PM
Have you seen this new HotPattern pattern?
http://www.hotpatterns.com/products/hp-1089-classix-nouveau-3-graces-t-shirts
I think that's a quite nifty and interesting design that would lend itself well to be made into a dress just like the Proposal dress, no?
Posted by: Sandra | August 02, 2009 at 04:10 AM
Oh bummer! I'm just seeing this because we had an archive project at work the second half of last week and I had no internet time those 3 days. The HORROR!! Anyway, I found a decent picture of the front:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u8fydAf_uGU/Smw6iFmmLdI/AAAAAAAABpE/30PDK_53jls/s1600-h/at+the+house+-+Grey+Dress.jpg
I'll let you know if I find a pattern that comes close.
Posted by: Jenny | August 02, 2009 at 07:16 PM