Wednesday, September 07, 2011

Designer Interpretations - Pinstripe Inspired Photos

As I mentioned in my last post, this dress is an interpretation of a Heidi Merrick dress. This too is a sheath dress with interesting details...and it's those interesting details that made me want to make a version of my own.




Some stats:

Pattern:
TNT dress pattern

Fabric:
From the fabric closet, I pulled a lightweight pinstripe tropical wool that I purchased from Fabric Mart during one of their 'the entire store is $1.00 per yard' sales. The sleeves and tie are made from a very lightweight silk that I purchased from Fabric Mart during the April Fabric Shopping Spree.

Notions:
22" black invisible zipper
black bemberg rayon lining
1" black lace

I loved the sleeves and the tie on the designer original. I loved that the dress was made from a pinstripe fabric which is such a corporate fabric but had the fashion forward sleeves and tie. And I realized that this dress would be very easy to make using my TNT dress pattern.

I made a few changes to make the dress suit me. First, the sleeves have the puffy sleeve cap of the original BUT I left the sleeve hems flowy and loose. This looks better on me than the banded or elasticized sleeves. I know this because I did make the sleeves with an elasticized hem and it looked like I was wearing a little girl's dress...NOT the look I was going for! *LOL*




Second, I made my tie extra long but thinner than the one the designer used. Since I'm still experiencing my own personal summers, I decided that a longer but slimmer tie would give me "the look" without all the extra fabric
around my neck.


Otherwise, this was a normal dress construction once I'd worked out the sleeve issues. I added a lining to the dress with a lace hem...you know how much I like that finish in my dresses...


...and that was it.  I think I made the dress work for me and I really like it. Amazingly, so did both of my daughters!

Here are a few more pictures:






I've started work on the next dress in the Designer Inspired Series. This one involved some pattern alterations to my TNT pattern and I will share those next...

...as always, more later!

65 comments:

  1. I like the pussybow on you very much. Nice work.

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  2. I love this dress on you... totally love it. The sleeve detail & narrow tie are great touches.

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  3. This looks great! You are really on a roll, your last dress was fantastic too!

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  4. You are such an inspiration! I love the way you are able to make other designers' ideas your own.

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  5. Love, love, love this. So flattering and perfect for your corporate world. What a talent you are.

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  6. Wow, that looks awesome! SO fashionable and corporate. I made Lekala 5432 a couple of times now and it's suppose to have elastic at the sleeves and I skipped that. The open sleeve looks really nice.

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  7. Haven't seen you in a bow, I don't think. I like it!

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  8. You look great in this. I am so impressed by what you can do with one TNT. How many different versions are you up to now?

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  9. Oh wow!!! I really love this. Love the pinstripes and pussycat bow. so very professional and so very feminine and so very flattering. Congratulations.

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  10. You could also untie the bow and do a simple knot with long tails. Love your interpretation!

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  11. This dress looks totally different than your other versions...how neat is that?! And, it looks great on you.

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  12. I love this dress...actually, it's one of my favorites of those you've done!

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  13. This dress looks fabulous on you. Is the tie connected to the dress? I like the way you've wrapped it and then tied it.

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  14. What a great dress on you! I'm always stunned at the range of looks you pull out of your TNT patterns!

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  15. Very nice - it's a bit busier than your usual sheaths with the bow on it & that bow really makes the dress pop. Very flattering.

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  16. Beautiful dress! Thanks for the inspiration Carolyn. I purchased my own copy of "Make it Your Own Personalizing Patterns for Creative Design" by Lori Bottoms & Ronda Chaney for 13 cents plus shipping last night. Can't wait to add it to my sewing library.

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  17. Love love love! This look is fabulous! I love that long skinny tie on you - what a nice vertical line. The sleeves are really cute too. This may also be one of my favorite dresses on you!

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  18. I *love* this on you! If I had a TNT sheath dress pattern, I would be copying it in a NY minute.

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  19. I love this dress on you! Congratulations! Really, makes me think you need to go brief the Supreme Court of the United States. Really, adorable and lovely! Love it!

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  20. I'm about to head back into the workforce--this would be a perfect interview dress. Thank for the inspiration!

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  21. One of your best dresses yet. Love it on you.

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  22. Love the blouse and the pinstripes! You are always on trend!

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  23. Wonderful on you, very flattering!

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  24. WERQ!! I think it's fantastic! With this dress and the Jason Wu one, you're really upping the sex appeal of your work wardrobe (in a thoroughly work-appropriate way).

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  25. I love this look on you! I loved in on the Selfish Seamstress, too. I'm with you on the "personal summers". You inspire me to (1) get a TNT sheath perfected; (2) copy this dress!

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  26. Wow! You look hot! Love this dress! :)

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  27. This dress looks better then the original in my opinion! But also what great idea for silks or other $$$ fabric you don't have quite enough to make a shirt out of.

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  28. I love it! When you share how you changed the style to fit "you", it gives me the courage and inspiration to move beyond my sewing boundaries.

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  29. Oh My that is lovely too! I really need to get me a TNT sheath pattern. Your versions are always amazing!! g

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  30. Oh, it's lovely! Very stylish, yet - as you say - totally workable in a corporate environment. I need to get myself some pinstrip material!!

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  31. that was quick! And it turned out really nicely. Looks very smart on you.

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  32. Wonderful Carolyn, another fantastic dress!

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  33. That is SO flattering on you!!

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  34. Wonderful job, Carolyn, you look fantastic.

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  35. Great combo. Bow and pinstripe!

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  36. Carolyn, I love it! This is one of my fave Carolyn dresses, ever.

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  37. Holy cow this looks fantastic! I love how your dress turned out. You look so classy!

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  38. Wow! This is such a flattering dress, I think you look amazing in it.

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  39. Very, very cool! I love the bow.

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  40. Wow - another stunner. Love the tie at the front.

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  41. Wow Carolyn, this dress looks awesome on you. I just love, love, love it.

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  42. I absolutely love your version! Even though this has the base of a sheath dress you made it fantastic! This may rank in my top 5 favorites you've made.

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  43. Oh I just love it! You look fantastic!

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  44. So I am trying to figure out what did this dress cost in the end with such great prices from Fabric Mart?

    Maybe $10 with thread and zipper?

    You look just darling and so Fall-ready!

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  45. Oh, Carolyn, I love this dress. Youthful, in style, looks great on you; what's not to love?

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  46. Really lovely on you! I can't believe how quickly you made this! And I particularly love "my own personal summer" comment!

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  47. This is just beautiful. Your Designer Interpretations are always an inspiration.

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  48. Very smart & professional with a touch of woo hoo. Love it!

    Kathy in Oz

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  49. I like your version better than the original. That original bow was just way to much fabric!

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  50. Love! Fab idea to use sleeves and neck tie to suggest a blouse underneath.

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  51. Carolyn - your new dress is so stylish, and way classier than the designer model you took for inspiration.
    The soft, gentle silk sleeves and neckline with a classy bow together with classic finely pin-striped wool (and a light lining for comfort - trimmed with lace!).

    This granddaughter of a bespoke tailoress is in awe of your pattern shaping and cutting, and your fine sewing,

    I found you blog thanks to lovely Gaylen, sending you care and gentle huggles from downunder,

    Michelle in Wellington, New Zealand

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  52. very nice and very professional. Looks like it came right out a very expensive shop!

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  53. Another great look from the TNT patterns! Really great job making that look your own.

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  54. love the dress! You've inspired me to create my own version.

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  55. That's a great dress! I love the lace on the hem - nice touch. You'll get a lot of mileage out of this outfit. Aren't Sewcations great?

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  56. Fabulous dress. I love to see one design on different body types. Love it on you. This style suits you so well. It looks professional and stylish at the same time. Well one!

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  57. I love the contrast in this dress, not only in color but in fabric type--menswear pinstripe with a ladylike silk. Good choices all around.

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