The Say “No” to High Necklines Dress
Long ago, when What Not to Wear was something to watch on BBC America and not TLC, I was given (or rather the fashion disaster was given) sound advice on dressing a big bosomy woman: don't wear high necklines! I've heeded that warning ever since and with very rare exceptions will never wear a high neck or turtle neck.
With that said, I'm not quite sure why I spent a great deal of time making a dress with a neckline like this. The pattern is an old Hollywood Patterns number which I purchased at the Vintage Fashion Expo in San Francisco last month. This was my first adventure with an original 1940s pattern and I would have to say it was a bit of a nightmare to put together.
The fabric I chose was incredibly difficult to work with and the instructions called for a lot of folding over and stitching instead of using linings or interfacing. I actually felt I failed miserably, threw the pieces aside for a week and then came back and reworked the entire bodice. That's why the neckline is higher (I added a neckline piece with interfacing) and I went the route of pleats instead of gathering. I also added cap sleeves because I was just too tired to fiddle with the thing anymore. The dress is longer than the pattern indicated because I wanted it to have a slightly more 1930s feel.
Here I am wearing it at the Vintage Clothing and Style Festival. While the dress wasn't a complete failure, I have a hard time imagining that I'd wear it again. Still, I learned a lot about working with 1940s patterns, synthetic silks and buttons.
You are amazing and so inspiring!!! I’m curious what the original pattern was? And I think you look great in the dress!
Agreed, the dress looks wonderful on you. What Not to Wear is good for guidelines only, I say. Thanks for the detail you’ve described in the process – it’s a good reminder for me (an impatient beginner sewer) not to take on too ambitious projects immediately. Nothing like a difficult task to discourage you from continuing to practice…
I quite like the dress and I love high necklines, but being busty myself I understand why one shouldn’t usually wear them! However, you look darling in it!
i think it looks adorable on you. good for you for persevering through the frustration!
Wow, I say drag it out at every opportunity. It flatters you. Just stunning.
I saw the pattern sketch (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mena/4050790072/in/photostream/) in your Flickr group and was wondering if you could just remove the collar and bias bind the gathered raw edge to bring the neckline down some?