Well, so much for having pink hair, that lasted for a day until it faded to this burgundy red color...which is one of my least favorite hair colors ever after the huge boom in this red shade thanks to Rhinanna a few years back. Call me a hipster, but that crazy over popularity of this hair color ruined it for me. No offense to anyone rocking the deep red shade, it does look great on other people, but it really just isn't for me. I started going through these photos, got fed up looking at the color, and immediately went to shampoo my hair twice to try and fade the color to something lighter so it would be at least a bit more pink...why didn't I just let a professional do it? I'm so DIY in every aspect of my style, but some things, like pink hair apparently, need to be left to the professionals.
Aren't I a grump today? Shall we continue with my gripes? (answer: not really...) Well, moving right along, I don't think this dress is very flattering on me. I loved how it came out when I finished sewing it, it fits quite well, and the faux chemise a la reine front turned out just as I planned, but perhaps it's the curse of the color white that this dress just isn't very slimming. Maybe it's the square neckline I don't find flattering? I dunno. I could have gone further with the 18th century idea and build boning into the bodice and made it more conically shaped, as stays help anyone look less frumpy I imagine. I'll brag and say I got tons of compliments wearing the dress to the botanic gardens this weekend, but I think people just like seeing a petticoat. Perhaps it's fine and I'm just too grumpy to see it clearly, its always hard to say. I am really happy with the construction of this dress at least, and I have enough fabric left over to make something else, but I think I'll be over dying the extra fabric with light blue or green RIT dye before I make anything else as to avoid the same frumpy effect white can have one me.
This dress is made from an Ikea duvet cover. Yes really. I bought it to make an 18th century gown, but as I do a lot less costuming these days, I decided to make a 1950's version of a chemise a la reine/round gown instead. I made the back have a princess seam instead of a dart for a more 18th century style effect, and then separated the bodice front into two sections with the center front being a triangle-ish shape like an 18th century stomacher with gathering in three vertical sections like the drawstring channels of a round gown. The drawstring gathering is further simulated by adding small white bows of ribbon in the centers of these "channels" along the "stomacher" of the bodice. A little bit 18th century, and mostly a 1950's dress with the skirt cut as a circle style with only one seam down the back. The sleeves are a bit baggy as I cut them on the bias and it stretched quite a bit while worn. I cut them on the bias as I have never used this 3/4 sleeve pattern with a non-stretch fabric before and didn't know how a regular woven would fit if cut on the straight grain. I am also having trouble with my sleeve pattern lately and am wondering if my armscye has somehow shrunk on my bodice pattern as the sleeve caps keep coming out too big. It's not the most horrific thing as I can always gather the sleeve tops for a bit of puff to fit, but it's something I need to fix!
I suppose it doesn't matter what the photos look like if you felt like a princess in the dress at the time? Hmm. Blogging can be weird sometimes. I felt great in this outfit on the day, but I don't like the look of it now in pictures? I think my hair really is clouding my vision, and like my mom keeps telling me, its all in my head and no one else will see what I see. I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to these things you know, I should probably just chill.
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| Dress: Made by me Shoes: Royal Vintage Shoes Handbag & Jewelry: Vintage Belt: Target Hosiery: What Katie Did |
I love that dress! Hot oil treatment and dandruff shampoo are great hair color faders. But it looks pretty.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I already put some purple dye over it and am feeling more myself already :)
DeleteYou look gorgeous. Give the fabric another chance once you are happier with your hair.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lori! I still love the print, it's just the color white I have an iffy relationship with, I'm working on it ;)
DeleteI've had that before- where I thought that something was nice, until I saw the pictures. But, usually, like in your case here, everyone else doesn't see the "flaws" you do. This dress is really nice, not widening, and I like your nod to a historical style. I give it a yes!
ReplyDeleteThank you Nicole!
DeleteYou look impeccable as always. But I empathise about the disparity that the camera sometimes adds! Making vintagey dresses out of duvet covers is popular at the moment. X
ReplyDeleteThank you Porcelina! It's a duvet trend ;)
DeleteA duvet cover? Never... You seem really hard on yourself. The photos from slightly more distance are really lovely and the shape seems totally flattering and totally, well, you - the fourth photo, for example. Although I like the print (and it goes really well with this colour hair!), maybe it's that that doesn't work quite so well. I still love it, like all the people who complimented you, but we all know your standards of perfection!! Kx
ReplyDeleteThank you! I am quite a perfectionist so that's a blessing and a curse sometimes!
DeleteYou def look gorgeous! The dress is lovely - I immediately thought, "I need to get myself to Ikea for some fabric shopping."
ReplyDeleteThank you Anastasia! I do love me some Ikea shopping ;)
DeleteThe dress is gorgeous on you! That fabric is swoon-worthy. :)
ReplyDeleteMy only issue with the white is that it's hard to see the details of the construction, which sound amazing.
Hah, I'd never have guessed what you'd made that from. As for "It doesn't matter what the photos look like if you felt like a princess in the dress at the time", this is why I try not to look at too many photos of myself out and about. I go out feeling like Miss World and realise afterwards that I looked like Miss Piggy. You, however, *do* look like a princess.
ReplyDeleteIf you're still keen to fade your hair, my hairdresser told me that baby shampoo was a good one for stripping colour (in my case, one to avoid).
Thank you Mim! I tried fading my hair but gave up and dyed purple over it which I much prefer :)
DeleteNice work with the duvet cover. I think it makes a fabulous dress. I never wear white either but for what it is worth I think this looks great on you.
ReplyDeleteThank you! <3
DeleteLove the dress! I definitely see the historical influence, but blended with a more modern (vintage) sensibility. The fabric is really lovely, and I think it's actually very flattering on you.
ReplyDeleteEven if you don't love the photos now, maybe you'll see them again in a few months and realize just how great they are! I also go through periods of loving and hating my pictures, but there's always the next shoot.
Thank you Jessica!
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