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Sunday, August 23, 2009

Inspired by Michael Kors

I was so inspired by Michael Kors pre-fall line yesterday that I immediately sat down at my sewing machine and made my own version of one.

The designer original:


My version ~ headless pic of me:



On Lulu:


(Okay I really need to stop writing about getting my dressform some legs and just do it!)

Some Stats:

Pattern
TNT dress pattern ~ v-neck version

Fabric
1 yard white cotton/linen blend
1 yard black silk/rayon/linen blend
1/8 yard red linen
(all from the collection!)

Notions
22" white invisible zipper
1 yard white lining
1 yard black lining
1 yard white hem tape
1 yard black hem tape



Construction:
I think the hardest part of making this dress was all of the times I changed the thread. I tried to sew it in an orderly fashion, but ultimately I ended up changing the thread quite often!

The other part that took some thinking about was the cutting layout. I wanted to have a white back and front and a black back and front...not something else. I ultimately ended up laying the white fabric on top of the black fabric with the right sides on the outside and facing the pattern pieces a certain way. I cut this out holding my breathe and gave a huge sigh of relief when it worked.



The dress is lined and I cut the lining out using the same cutting method as I used for the fashion fabric. I did end up sewing rayon hem tape to the bottom of the dress so I ended using a little black and a little white to insure that none of the tape showed through to the other side.



For the red band I cut a five inch piece on the crosswise grain of the fabric. Then I folded over an inch on each side and pressed flat. After the front pieces were assembled, I sewed the band down onto the front of the dress.



This is probably the best invisible zipper I've inserted. I've finally stopped feeling as if I am in an alien land during the insertion process...but I still get a lump in my chest when thinking about putting one in...I know it will get better...I just have to keep doing it especially because I know y'all must be sick of hearing about this now! *LOL*

Conclusion
This will be a great work dress. I look fantastic in it ~ much better than Lulu actually! The dress is slimming and comfortable and I love it! Finally on the third try I make one that I love! *LOL*

I cut out another one this afternoon and was a little annoyed that I didn't get to sew it! But isn't that a little unrealistic...I made a completely lined dress today and I'm mad at myself that I didn't get another one done...

Well it's back to work tomorrow...I'm compiling my list of supplies that I need for my sewing vacation...10 work days left! *sigh* I'm starting to get excited...

...more later!


57 comments:

  1. It's a great dress and I bet you totally rock it. It's hard to tell with your head cut off :-}

    I thought you started your sewing vacation last Friday - but it must be with the Labor Day Weekend, eh? g

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  2. FAB! Love the dress and good for you for jumping when inspiration hits rather than languishing.

    I think I would go for a big necklace (maybe a wide, solid metal piece) or a flashier brooch. But then, I haven't read long enough to know your jewelry preferences.

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  3. Your dress is stunning!!

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  4. I LOVE IT! You waste no time, woman, when you announce you like a dress.

    And see, all you non-believers, this is why we collect fabric. So we can have the perfect combination of colors, complete with matching lining and seam binding, all on hand.

    Can't wait to see the second one you cut out. I'm relaxing from my 2 dress weekend (but mine weren't lined) and wishing I had a vacation coming up to sew.

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  5. Absolutely Fabulous!!! Can't wait to see dress #2!

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  6. Third time's a charm! Fabulous, love your version - prefer your colours to the original too! I love the way you get stuck in and use your fav designers garments for your inspiration, totally different to doing a complete copy and a real talent to take the parts of a design that work for you and make it your own!

    You are an inspiration to us all :-))

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  7. Wow you knocked this out fast! You're right it is extremely flattering, even without a head, I love it.

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  8. Good Morning crafty lady, beautiful job.

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  9. I saw your MK pics on Flickr. You did not waste any time on this. Looks great. I was glad to read how you did the red strip down the front. When I saw this dress I thought that would be the easiest way to affix that center piece.

    Great job.

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  10. Fabulous dress, Carolyn! That is really a great way to transition to fall sewing and begin to rev up for that sewing vacation.

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  11. You look really good in this dress.

    I also hate the cutting part when there is such a construction :-)

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  12. I love this dress! Black, red, and white is definitely one of my favorite color combos, and you pull it off with such panache. Great job!

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  13. A designer dress in an afternoon! Amazing!

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  14. Awesome, love the dress. But I had to laught a little. I am german and I thought, if you exchange the white with gold it would be a german flag :)
    That's what america needs next, a woman as president :)

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  15. Love it, love it, love it! I knew you were a fast seamstress, but now you actually have racing stripes! Vroom...

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  16. You're amazing -- stunning dress!

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  17. Fantastic dress! I hope I get to see it in person this week.

    "I think the hardest part of making this dress was all of the times I changed the thread."

    LOL! Been there done that, but it's worth it in the end.

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  18. Great dress, love the color combo.

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  19. Beautiful! And another V neck again (or have you used it a lot and I just noticed the last 2 because you wrote about changing the neckline of you TNT just last week ???) Great dress, love the colors also.

    JustGail

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  20. It looks fantastic and I'm glad you love it.

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  21. Nice color-blocking! It looks very nice on you.

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  22. Love it, love it, love it!!! Thread changing...I know why people have more than one machine.

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  23. Wow! Amazing! Fantastic! You pulled it off. You look awesome. This dress is awesome. It looks very designer.

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  24. You work fast! This is a great dress. MK would be proud.

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  25. Beautiful! You look fantastic!

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  26. I can't believe you did two-tone lining, too! Looks fabulous inside and out. Love that red band down the front; it takes it out of referee territory and into style.

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  27. Wow, I am impressed by your productivity!

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  28. Fabulous knock off Carolyn! I love your colorway more than the original!

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  29. This is a beauty! Love the colour combo!!!.I still can't imagine how you finish a project so fast. Have a great work week.

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  30. It's gorgeous! Great Job. I'm having a little trouble working out how you handled the v portion of the red band you added. Would love to hear how you did that.

    I love this dress.

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  31. I like yours better than the inspiration dress and to think you finished it in one day! Really nice!

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  32. Great dress! The color blocking is really flattering.
    Thanks for the inspiration.

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  33. You little knock-off designer you! This looks great, Carolyn. Love me that Michael Kors and all his bon mots on Project Runway.

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  34. LOVE your dress. On my list for NEXT summer!

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  35. I was struck by this dress when I saw it on your last post. What a wonderful dress you created. Now/soon I have to get busy and create one for myself. Perhaps in tangerine and sage green.... or.....

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  36. I knew we'd be seeing some of these beautiful dresses.....but not this quick :)
    You did an awesome job. It looks perfect!

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  37. Your warm generous spirit shines in every post and so I have passed a meme on to you. I hope you'll participate.

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  38. This colour combination is my favourite of all times, ever! You can't go wrong with red, black and white. It's a very, very flattering dress and you wear the colours well. I love the pin, too. I can't see your shoes, what colour will you wear with this dress? Already I'm thinking of the wonderful ways you could accessorise it.

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  39. Great dress. Carolyn! Lately I have come really appreciate MK. He seems to really design what women want and can wear.

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  40. xBeautiful rendition! I might make a long tunic kind of like this to wear over black leggings and a black turtleneck...or just admire yours! Well thought out and well executed!

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  41. Holy Cow!!!

    Great dress!

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  42. Such a beautiful dress - you gotta love turning your inspiration into reality.

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  43. Excellent version - made in your own style! I love all the attention to changing the threads and matching the linings, too.

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  44. on the whole you know I think you are an amazing sewist, for a plus size woman you always bring the looks out of the runway to your body shape with class and style. I applaud you!

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  45. Well done...and so quick. Great "copy".

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  46. Fabulous dress! I know you are going to get lots of compliments when you wear it....

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  47. Ugh, I am still so bad at the invisible zipper. You're right, we just need lots of practise! :)

    Love this dress.

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  48. Love the dress and you are inspiring me to go ahead and try my hand at invisible zippers again.

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  49. Tres cool! Love your colors. The zipper looks phenomenal.

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  50. Beautiful dress! I love this Monadrian inspired style!

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  51. WOW!!!! And I mean WOW!!! FABULOUS!

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  52. Others have already said it, but that IS one smokin' hot dress! IMHO, maybe even too nice for the office!

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  53. I love that dress and I want one! Your skills are amazing. BTW, I think it may have been said before, but I think yours is better than the Michael Kors version!

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  54. It's a beautiful dress. I've been afraid to wear bold colors for fear it would make me look even bigger than I am. This looks amazing on you. Maybe now I'll get the courage to wear a dress in something other than black or navy.

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