versus my interpretation...
...for $60.67. Yeah I'm leading with that because I couldn't buy the dress, it wasn't offered in a plus size. Also because isn't that an awesome price for a made by me designer interpretation!?!
Some stats:
Pattern ~
TNT dress pattern with pattern alterations described in this post.
Fabric ~
Black ponte knit from the collection
Black faux leather from the collection but you can get an amazing assortment from Mood. Their prices are comparable to what I paid for my fabric.
Notions ~
14" invisible zipper - cut down from a 22" zipper
black faux leather piping - made by me 15 years ago
black bemberg rayon lining - from the collection
This dress took several days to complete due to the intricacy of the original dress' design. All the design decisions were discussed in this post. I'm really thrilled with how the dress turned out. As always when making one of these designer interpretations, there comes a point when I'm knee deep in the middle of construction, that I get scared that all of my changes won't end up looking like the original. Thank goodness it did!
So a few more pics...
Recap of the Sewcation ~
I thought I would start with one of the completed pieces and then do a full recap post, so look for it later in the week. I will also answer any questions left then. I go back to work tomorrow though I really could have spent one more day at home to work on one more dress. There's several things from my "Sewcation To Sew List" that didn't even get looked at so I will be working on them for the rest of the month. Thank goodness there's another three-day weekend in two weeks so I can scratch a few more items off my list.
...as always more later!
136 comments:
As usual, absolutely stunning!!!!
Outstanding job! That dress is very slimming too.
Stunning! You look great in that dress.
BAM! I have never been intrigued by faux leather until this minute. LOVE IT!!
You should be thrilled! That dress is fabulous and Carolyn it looks stunning on you!
Carolyn I LOVE THAT DRESS!!! And you in it too!
Job well done, you look fantastic!!!
Get 'em Ms. Carolyn!! You look AMAZING!! You are my SHERO when it comes to manipulating a TNT pattern!
Your dress is fab-u-lous! I think that the band of faux leather at the waist is very flattering and the red of your necklace and lippy really make the whole look pop!!
Gorgeous! You have a right to be proud.
Amazing! Congratulations. One of your best ever-and that bar is very high.
Wow wow WOW!!! You are one hot momma. I think this is my favoritest dress you have ever made. LOVE. IT.
It's unanimous. I Love, Love, Love it, and you really rock that dress.
Amazing dress, Carolyn. I think hte band at the waist is flattering, as others have stated. I think part of the reason, this is a different look for you with the band. Fantastic interpretation.
I'm with Robin...not a fan of fake leather until this moment. What a great interpretation!! Wonderful inspiration for the new year!
That dress is sick! Where are you going in that because I wanna go too!
Lovely--it's just fabulous!!
Carolyn, this is such a great dress. I love it and you look so chic!
Absolutely stunning! Way to go!
I really love this. May have to try it out myself using the details you posted before.
Looks great on you!
I actually prefer your version. The waistband gives it much more integrity. What an awesome way to start the year. Fantastic!
What can I say, except WOW! This is a stunning interpretation--I agree with K. Line--I like your version better. Just beautiful, Carolyn!
SPECTACULAR!! This is absolutely stunning--and very flattering too!!
Magnificent - it looks fabulous on you. Your hard work has paid off.
I'm also curious--how will you clean this? Can your faux leather be washed or does it need to be dry cleaned? I just looked at the great faux leathers on the Mood site, but the cleaning method isn't listed.
Carolyn, you are reliably WONDERFUL! This is such a terrific interpretation. I love everything about it (and I strongly suspect that similar dresses are going to appear in the sewing blogosphere). The combination of ponte and leather has made for a really spectacular dress - especially as you have fitted it so beautifully.
SMASHING!!!!!!!! That is just beautiful!
Dear Carolyn, this dress is so spectacular a sew, it blows my mind! You look brilliant in it, and your ability to draft all those pieces is incredible. Congratulations, and enjoy your lovely LBD.
Absolutely stunning dress! I love it. You made the inspiration dress come to live on your body! g
Carolyn, this is by far my most favorite dress you've ever made. The shape, the two tone black, the placement of the design, everything is spot on. So excellent. I want it.
Wow, wow, wow! Sensational :)
Fabulous. You look fabulous.
~Sewjourner
All I can say is WOW!...You look amazing.
AWEsome job! Flattering, glamorous, and just look at the big smile on your face!
Honestly, I like your version on you better than the one on the model. Well done!
Beautiful.. and looks fantastic on you.. So happy you had such a fun sewcation.. Look forward to your next garment.. Happy sewing.
Wowser. Great dress. You look terrific.
Wow, super, super flattering!
Love this! Looks like 2013 is off to a spectacular start in your sewing cave!
ELEGANT!!!
Beautiful! Well done!
Wow! Excellent! You are such a role model!
Your dress is amazing! I was so inspired by the way you interpreted the original. It is also extremely flattering.
When you calculated your cost, did you include the original cost for the things you already owned?
One terrific dress! I think you are "ahead of the curve" as usual and we'll see some amazing faux leather next year. But as usual, you've done a wonderful job well in advance of the runways.
This is so awesome!!!! You look completely fantastic and tres chic.
This is my favorite thing you've ever made!
What a great project for the start of the year! This might be my favorite of your recent makes - it looks amazing!
This dress is fabulous! Thanks for sharing. I am always so impressed with your designer interpretations--you are truly an inspiration.
All I have is one-word sentences ...
Wow!
Swoon!
Speechless!
Amazing!
Flattering!
Gorgeous!
Spectacular!
Jealous! ;-)
Great interpretation! It fits you beautifully!
What an amazing start to the year - looks terrific.
I think this is one of my favourites! I surely hope it is comfortable to wear, because that would make it absolutely perfect!
Wow! I love this dress, and it looks great on you!!
WOO HOO! That is one smokin' hot dress!
You turned out some pretty amazing and inspirational things last year - I totally stole the dress with the lace overlay at the sides, and I bought the fabric and ribbon for the dress with the sheer ribbon drifting down the front (maybe this year...). But you really outdid yourself to start 2013. Congratulations on a beautiful new year!
Isn't that just gorgeous??? Love the skirt design with the relatively single fabric top (not sure I can see all the details well). But you nailed it. Very flattering on you, Carolyn
Fantastic!
Amazing Dress. I love it.
Ooh, this one worked out really well! And I think the black looks so smart on you. Well done. And doesn't it always take longer to do things then we think it will?
Oh wow...so gorgeous & flattering on you.
Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!
That is one sexy dress!
Absolutely stunning, looks fantastic on you and thank you for sharing how to achieve this.
This is a winner !!!
Congratulations.
Wow - that's one seriously gorgeous dress. I love seeing all your designer inspired dresses but I think this one might be my favourite.
Awwwww Suki Suki na! LOL!
OMG you must so delighted with the end result and its stunning on you - beautiful
Fantastic!!! I really like your version. It looks great on you. The price of your dress surely beats the $500+ for the Lafeyette dress and yours is just as stunning.
Terrific. You have to feel incredibly satisfied with the finished dress. You look fabulous in it.
wowza- this one is amazing! love it :)
This may be the best thing you've ever made!
Holy smokes! What an amazing dress. This is my absolute favorite of everything you've done, which is saying a lot because you have made many, many wonderful clothes. There ought to be a sewing blog inspiration post of the year. This should win it.
Spectacularly gorgeous. .. and so figure flattering. You did a superb job.
I'm sure this inspired one of those "I'm so glad I sew" moments. Outstanding dress!
You go girl!!! Now thats a LBD
This has to be my favorite garment that you have made! You look so sharp!
The reveal definitely lives up to the build up. Your version is lovely. You did a great job!
Looks great. Amazing knock off.
Ohhh, nice! Is it a little closer-fitting than your usual TNT pattern? I love it, front and back.
Very chic and fabulous!
hey! you in the mirror! yeah! you sexy thang!
can't help it, popped into my head when i saw the reveal. you've outdone yourself! STUNNING!
You outdid yourself on this one. I think your version looks far, far better than the inspiration piece. Very well done, Carolyn!
I'm curious to know how you reconciled the non-stretch Bemberg lining with the stretch of the ponte knit. I've been on the fence about how to line some stretch wovens with using Bemberg. Thanks much.
Lynn
WOW!!! What a way to start off the New Year!!! You inspire me so much by making dresses that speak to you and your body. So unique and so you!!!
This dress is AWESOME!!! You look fantastic.
I like your version better than the Inspiration Dress. You look fabulous, sexy, chic, etc., etc. I have my pattern drafted for the front. One thing that I would add to your helpful suggestions: have a good eraser available. I used mine a lot. I'm even more inspired now!!
OHMYGAH, this is BADASS! Nicely done!!
No WAY!!! Carolyn, that is absolutely amazing!
As always you are an inspiration.
Oh my! I have to agree with all the above!! Tres chic!
Beautiful and soooo figure flattering. Job well done.
A stunning success; looks wonderful on you.
wow fantastic. you are on a roll! this may be one of your best ever (in my opinion) I must copy you immediately :) perfection.
félicitations votre robe est vraiment magnifique et vous va parfaitement.
Merci pour votre blog, toujours intéressant et que je suis régulièrement
Claire
What a fabulous dress. I daresay, I like your version better! It is everything a dress should be- fashionable, flattering, chic, etc. I love it!
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!
You look stunning!
this is truly stunning Carolyn. I am speechless
Its gorgeous! Just a perfect representation.
This dress looks absolutely gorgeous! Congratulations!
I just LOVE how you preview a project and just do it. This is spectacular. The look, the fit, the fabric. You ('ve) got it going on!
You look HOT! Best project...ever! You really do look fantastic in this dress.
This dress is absolutely STUNNING on you! What a fantastic job you did with it... sooo very classy. LOVE it!!
A total winner! Great interpretation, stunning work and an oh, so sexy look for you!
Awesome. I just love the leather/black ponte knit combo.
NICE!!!!!!
Your dress is awesome, and way better than the inspiration!
I think this is my favourite dress you've made so far! It looks fantastic on you and I love how you knocked it off, looks better than the original!
:)!!!!
What a stunning dress. It is so perfect and like everyone said prior you look great in your creation. I love it. You inspire me. I look forward to your post every day and only wish I had your talent. Keep it coming I love your blog
Seriously, that dress is sharp!
PS: Carolyn, my husband, who has quite a particular eye for good women's design, thinks this dress is quite good. Oh yeah.
Awesome!!!
you. are. awesome!
Absolutely gorgeous!! This dress looks completely amazing on you. Fine work!!
I'm not surprised there are 112 comments!! This is stunning... simply stunning and you look amazing in it!
Gorgeous! You rock that dress, Carolyn!!
Gorgeous dress! You look wonderful!
Wowsa! You are strting off the year with a stunner!
OH! I LOVE that. I want one. Excellent work, as usual. I wish I had your dedication. I'm so easily distracted. It's a sickness. :)
Fabulous! I love watching your process too.
The huge number of comments say it all - this is a dress with a huge amount of wow factor - the ultimate LBD, you must be really proud of your work.
Ms. Carolyn - You are too much! You look sensational! I just love, love you "Haute Couture" dress. Outstanding, my dear, simply outstanding!
What a stunner!!
Now that I've read your pre post, the back of your dress is a wonderful as the front.
Beautiful dress! You are so talented! The dress looks lovely on you! Keep up the good work. I love reading your blog!
Freakin awesome dress! I absolutely love it!
Wow, Carolyn that dress is amazing!
Brava!!!
I love your adaption of a designer dress. It is spot on. It looks so fun and you look so great in it. I can't believe you've already finished a project in 2013!
Love it! Looks as I expected....hawt! Well done, you must be very pleased.
You're beyond brilliant. This is just wonderful! I love how it fits through the back. Fantastic, Carolyn!
This dress is absolutely beautiful. you did a wonderful job on this one. It looks great on you! Wear it in good health.
Well done!!!
Carolyn, I think this is one of the most beautiful and most beautifully-fitted dresses that I've ever seen you make/wear. It simply sings on your body. I am in awe. Amazing job, from conception to completion. I so want to copy this. :)
Oh, my, Carolyn. This is a stunning dress. You have the enviable knack of being both elegant and cute as a bug.
Simply the best!! I am loving this dress.
Wow! All I can say is WOW! This is stunning! Great job!
Love love love this! So inspiring. I'm sewing tomorrow!
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