Sunday, May 20, 2012

My Tried 'n True Dress ala Chanel

Okay I've gone off the ranch on this one...and I'm not sure if it's a good thing or not yet! *sigh*  Here is the inspiration picture...


June 2012 InStyle Magazine


I found this picture in this month's InStyle magazine.  This of course led to a round of internet spying...first on Style.com then on Chanel's site.  Watching the dress walk, trying my best to get a glimpse of the back, cause I just don't want to end up with coffin clothes so aptly named by Kathleen Fasanella...especially if I'm going to put all that work into the front of the dress.


Let's start at the inspiration picture...this dress is made from a supple ivory leather and InStyle says that the rippling iridescent chiffon ribbons are embroidered on.  However, when you go to Chanel's site, you can see that yes these are iridescent chiffon ribbons but they are stitched to the leather.


www.style.com


Well I had some iridescent chiffon ribbons in my notions stash and I thought that this application would be a great way to jazz up my TNT dress pattern for the 10 yard Adventure Wardrobe.  I thought it would add some interest to these basics and it would make sewing this more fun.  Me thinks I bit off more than I can chew.


The dress is almost finished and maybe I'll lose my trepidations once I've gotten it on my body with hair and make-up and I see a picture or two.  Maybe I'm just experiencing that space I seem to occupy whenever I make a complicated dress ~ and I know y'all are tired of me talking (moaning) about these challenges! *LOL*  


Of course, the most sewing intensive part is the ribbons...placing them, applying them, ironing them down and cursing at them!  I chose to go with the beige and light yellow ribbons that I had in the notions stash instead of heading out to Daytona and purchasing blue and yellow ones.  This is one decision that I am happy with...


maybe I should have chosen a darker background


So to apply the ribbons, I played with placement, then pinned everything down. Next I hand-basted the ribbons to the dress before machine stitching them onto the dress.  Then using a stitch that was 2.3 length, I stitched the ribbons down making sure that I used thread that matched exactly, stitching as close to the edge of the ribbon as possible.  Here is what the front looks like with the ribbons stitched on...




...and the back...




The dress will be lined and I'm playing with adding ivory piping to the neckline and armholes because I'm NOT adding the sheer ribbon...that won't last through a full day of work and it's the part I liked least about the original dress.


A few more construction pics...


pinning the ribbons down

sewing the ribbons on using my zipper foot


Since I used my TNT dress pattern for this, all the other construction details are pretty straightforward even though this has consumed my entire weekend. The next time you see this it will be on my body. Hopefully the finished garment will be what I see in my mind's eye.


...as always, more later!

28 comments:

  1. Wow, this looks really beautiful. I love your style! Can't wait to see the finished product.

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  2. I'm really looking forward to the final reveal of this one - it looks great in the previews :)

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  3. Gorgeous embellishment! This is going to be a fabulous dress when it is finished.

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  4. I think it will be lovely when finished!!! Can't wait to see it!

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  5. I'm always impressed at how you can spot something interesting and then adapt it so quickly to make something new for your own wardrobe.

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  6. You're ribbon placement is way better than the original. Can't wait to see it on. Oh, and thanks for bringing the coffin dress up; that was new to me, but something to which I will certainly pay attention in the future.

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  7. Wow, another great interpretation of a designer detail!

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  8. Gosh, you are so good at these designer inspired dresses!

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  9. Love how you worked out this detail. An edge stitching foot is great for trim stitching as well.

    This is going to be very pretty. Did I miss what type of fabric the base dress was?

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  10. I love the back! Just the bit of ribbons falling over the shoulder. Fabulous. Can't wait to see it. g

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  11. Can't wait to see the finished dress. It looks like it will be another winner.

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  12. Looking great so far. I agree, you are so skilled at adapting RTW and couture elements into your garments!

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  13. Wow! You really are talented at creating these designer inspired pieces. Can't wait to see the finished article!

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  14. I can't wait to see the final product! I get scared just looking at the pictures!

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  15. I think this is going to look stupendous on you. I love the ribbons and suspect this will be a killer.

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  16. Love the subtlty of tone on tone. As always after reading your blog, I'm running down to the sewing room, inspired!

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  17. What as wonderful detail!

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  18. I was also drawn to this dress when I saw it in InSyle magazine. Koodos to you for making your version as I know it will be fabulous!

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  19. I love it, and of course you had irridesent chiffon ribbons in your stash, hahahahahahaha

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  20. The light color and ribbon look so summery yet sophisticated. Can't wait to see you wearing it.

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  21. Did anyone ever tell you that you have a talent for choosing the most beautiful dresses? I can't wait to see what it looks like.

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  22. There is some saying that goes (I'm paraphrasing here), "An artist allows herself to make mistakes and just knows which ones to keep." Go for it you artist/sewist.

    I actually had to find this one in In Style and realized it is actually LEATHER!!!

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  23. That is going to be a fun dress!!! I never heard of coffin clothes before...very appropriate name.

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  24. this will look fabulous - can't wait to see the finished item

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  25. You have inspired me to sew again and realize it is not about size.

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  26. Aw.., I like. Thanks for the inspiration. I thinking lots of embellishments this year.

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