Following my post on the Simplicity Amazing Fit dress for the day of the wedding, this is the dress for day 3. I love the look of the line drawings of this dress on the pattern envelope but once made up I'm not sure it was quite right for me. Let's take a look at Simplicity 2219.
Photo courtesy of Simplicity.com
Day 3 of this swanky wedding was a fabulous brunch at my favorite restaurant, Luca on Seven Mile Beach here in Cayman. Brunch is a Sunday tradition in Cayman. It starts at 10:30-11:00 and is a perfect mix of breakfast and lunch, and you sit at big tables and eat for hours until you waddle off to sleep all afternoon. So I wanted something loose fitting that wouldn't show up the brunch-belly. And with it's empire line waist and the knit fabric, I thought this would be a comfy dress for what was a more casual occasion. I decided on View C.
I thought it was important to get a good fit on this dress first time because alterations might not be easy. Reviews online suggested it came out larger than expected so I did find time to run up a quick test and I blogged that dress here and asked for fitting suggestions. The envelope sizing suggested I could be a size 14-16, but I measured the pieces and cut a size 10 and made it up without any sizing alteration.
Although the empire style usually suits me beautifully, this one I wasn't so sure about because of the gathering and the lack of shaping at the actual waist-line. And it did seem to emphasize my least favorite body part – my armpit chub.
But time was drawing on and I didn't have many other options, so I went for it with just some slight changes. And here is is – a complete change from what I might normally wear. And I'm still not sure about it. But on the day I paired it with my very eye-catching bright pink and purple shoes and actually had a lot of compliments – so perhaps I worried too much.
Originally the skirt pieces were gathered across the back, but I thought this looked a bit like a little girl's dress so I took in the excess in a center back pleat instead and that did make it hang nicely at the back. The front skirt gathering is only in the center and it did do a good job of hiding the brunch-belly. I could have pleated this too for a neater look.
I also brought up the gathered parts on the front where they join to the center V just by gathering them a little less. I could have done it more I think. If I were to make it again, I would probably do away with the worry of the armpit chub by adding the little draping sleeves. Looking at the envelope again, they actually look pretty cute.
What I also really like about this dress is that it is fully lined in the bodice and while the front looks ‘strappy' the back bodice is full coverage so there's no need to hunt around for some specially shaped bra.
The fabric is a very lovely grape knit from Fabric Mart. It is from Anna Sui and is incredibly soft and supple while still being a nice weight which allows it to hang beautifully. I wish I'd bought more of this lovely fabric.
So the future for this pattern ? One day, I'm certainly going to give View A a try with the fluttery sleeves. I also think if you had the right fabric this would make a really good nightie!
Authored by: Deby at So Sew Easy
This is actually one of my favorite dress patterns. I have already made 5 dresses from it. And there will be more. I always get compliments when wearing one of them. I think it looks fabulous on you
Yay Deby! So good to see you! I love the makeover I’ve the simplicity pattern.
Deby, I’ve been sewing since 1965 and I am amazed at the progress you have made so quickly! Your dress is beautiful and so are you. I would forget the “armpit chub” and celebrate the beautiful woman with a beautiful shape. We are all so hard on ourselves. While I definitely wish I had your shape, my meds have decided otherwise so I make clothes that flatter the body I have. That’s just what you did here. The pleats in the back accentuate your shape, as does the elastic in the front. And yes, you do usually wear fitted styles, but this dress is a surprise to those who see you often because it is so different while still being extremely flattering. It’s nice to surprise our friends when we make a change-up. Have you gotten the message yet?? 2016 is a good year to be kind to yourself and celebrate the shape you are blessed with. Thanks for all your inspiration and the free patterns. You’re a gem!
I think it’s lovely Deby. The single pleat in the back looks more refined than gathers would have. I wouldn’t however do a single pleat in the front because the gathers on the side of the bust AND the front create a cohesive design look. I believe if you also pleated the front it would interrupt the visual flow of the design. However, if you do choose to do that, you could also make tiny pleats at the side bust as well. That way the design features on the front would all flow. Just my two cents! I think the way you did it looks beautiful!
Debbie, this is a lovely dress. I love the colour! I have been sewing for around 50 years, (since I was 12). I have found that we sewists are our own worst critics, especially making clothes for ourselves.
Hi Deby,
The dress is very flattering and you did an excellent job. I have a wedding coming up in a few months and this would be just perfect. I’ll have to see if the pattern is still available. Wish me luck! I’ve only found your blog a few weeks ago but I am now a fan for life, keep up the good work. Thank you.
Love your dress, Deby! I think you’ve shot past many of us who have been sewing for years! I have just finished a skirt that said it had 3″ of ease, and when I basted it for fitting, it was miles too big, but had been cut out according to my hip measurements. Just goes to show that design/fitting ease is purely subjective!
Thank you so much for the nitghtie idea! Brilliant 😀
Your dress is absolutely gorgeous! You did a fabulous job. Thank you so much for sharing with us at A Bouquet of Talent last week. Sorry I’m behind in my comments. You deserve top view for this!! You look fabulous in it, too! 🙂
XOXO
Kathy
You looks absolutely beautiful!
It’s a lovely color on you, Deby, and I think the dress does flatter! It’s fun to try new styles. Great job!
I think the dress came out lovely. I think the pattern is wonderful and I think the fabric is beautiful. Great job!!
It looks great on you! Good job on your dress! I really like the pleat you made in the back too!
The alterations you made are perfect. Lovely dress.
It looks really lovely on you – and the shoes look fab with it! Well done!
I love it Deby! It looks great on you.
I love the style of this dress! Pretty color too.
Blessings,
Patti
Beautiful! I love the idea of the pleat instead of gathering. I never thought to do that. I often do mini-pleats instead of gathers, so why not one big “feature” pleat?
I like both the color and the fit. 🙂
I love the color!!
Very pretty! I think it looks great on you and it’s perfect for a brunch.
I think it looks lovely and I never would have thought you had armpit chub!! Love the colour too 🙂
I think this is one of my favorites. You look fantastic!
Angel
This is so different – and much nicer – than the sample version that you did. What changes did you end up making? Beside the pleat vs. gathers in the back, is it mostly the fabric? It looks like you managed to tuck it further under your bust and closer to your waist in the front. I wonder how you did that – by lengthening that center front panel or taking in the waist at the sides? And it looks like the gathers on the bust don’t come as far inward toward the center. Maybe it’s the camera angle but it looks like they are out to the fullest part of your bust, a much nicer fit. Did you widen the center front panel?
In all, this is quite beautiful.
Actually the pattern calls for elastic in the seam allowance between bodice and skirt but most of the reviews of the pattern on pattern review said to leave that off. Once I switched out to a heavier, nicer fabric and added that elastic, it really pulled it in under the bust and made the whole thing hang that much better. It made it much more of a success than the trial I made so I am glad I kept with it. Thank you for leaving such a nice comment Mary Ann.
You’re a character,lol…I have the same arm pit issue. I like the dress and yes a flutter sleeve would do it better justice. PS. and alot less worrying
It’s still really cute, and you have such a great figure for it!
I love this dress! I think it’s fun and flattering, and I never would have said it gave you armpit chub.
You are very kind. I was holding my arms at the most flattering angle for the photos!
I love the color, it might be different than your normal, but it looks great. 🙂
I really like the dress! I also like empire waistlines because they can hide a lot of my “flaws”. 🙂 I just might have to go get that pattern to try View A myself! This dress looks great on you and I love the color. No wonder you got so many compliments.
Beautiful dress! It looks very flattering.
What a beautiful dress! Well done!
I’m so impressed with your garment sewing Deby! Everything you make looks fab to me!
I think it looks pretty!! 🙂
I really like the contrast in the line direction that come out when bold patterns are used.
That looks really nice! I think the addition of the back pleat looks so much nicer than simple gathers would have.
I think you look absolutely fabulous! The fit and color are perfect!
I like this dress a lot.