Saturday, October 4, 2014

Vogue 1395: The Meat Dinner Dress

Every year, Michael's family has two fancy-pants dinners together where we all go to a nice restaurant and eat (way too much), drink and be merry. They are generally scheduled around birthdays - one in April, one in October. The one this October was last night at San Telmo, an Argentinian restaurant here in Melbourne. It was a meat-fest and I woke up craving some crisp greens and tomatoes. Michael suggested we have lamb chops for dinner tonight and is still laughing at the filthy look I gave him. I like meat (love a good quality rare steak), but not to that extent - I have reduced my intake of red meat drastically in the last year and feel much healthier for it.

Anyway, I decided to make a dress to wear - I'm a bit sick of the good old sack at the moment, and feel like some waist definition. I decided I would sew a new pattern - one of the Rebecca Taylor for Vogue ones - V1395.


This is a fairly basic dress made less basic by the addition of a back overlay that extends into the ties at the waist. I was intrigued after seeing Morgan's Bee Version. Morgan is one of my favourite bloggers. I decided to use my rather precious length of rayon from Darn Cheap Fabrics that I bought after Jenny made this top out of it. The fabric is lush, but was horrible to sew for this dress. Narrow hems and slinky rayon were not made for each other and I had to unpick a lot. Luckily I made this when Little M was out, as she would now have a lot of very choice swear words in her vocabulary too. This is what I ended up with:



I made some adjustments after a muslin. I had to take 3.5cm out of each shoulder seam, beginning at the neck edge. I then added 3cm to the length of the bodice, and 5cm to the skirt length.


In these photos, the neckline looks way too high, and I admit for the first two hours I wore it, it annoyed the living daylights out of me. Magically though, after those 2 hours, it somehow settled in place and sits about 2cm lower - which is where I wanted it. I wonder what happened? So weird.


My wings. That is the back overlay being extended out, which you then tie in front (obviously). I found I had to cinch it in pretty firmly, otherwise I looked a little pregnant (which I'm not).

That's a pretty awesome tan line happening there!! I accidentally got burnt at Phillip Island last weekend. I am usually so anal about being sunsmart. 


While I didn't completely enjoy making this dress, I really enjoyed sewing something different and something that wasn't a sack. I'm not ruling out future sacks, but I don't reach for them as I used to. Maybe when summer properly hits I will.


I'm currently making a dress to wear to my sister's professional ball in two weeks. I have barely started - I have no sewjo!!! What are you sewing?

35 comments:

  1. Ooh, looks awesome! There were so many great pattern suggestions on IG but I definitely think you picked a winner! It's always nice to play around with some different silhouettes from time to time; mix thing up a bit :)

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  2. I made this one too and love it. I think yours is so flatter okc and the back yoke area is perfect!

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  3. Hello Rachel. Your patience paid off - a lovely dress. I too spend a lot of time unpicking.

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  4. What a great looking dress! Yours looks better than the Vogue model version.

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  5. I love it on you and really like the front seam! Great to see you back with a fab make. I had no sewjo but then met up with some Canberra sewing peeps and I'm so enthused all of a sudden!

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  6. Ooh this turned out wonderfully Rachel! I also far prefer the position of the ties on your version compared to the Vogue website shots (even though I adore that splotchy fabric). Question though - and this is in no way a reflection on you - do you think it could be altered to fit a pregnant lady? Like lots of extra gathers at the front? I've a bff who's up the duff and in desperate need of a frock for her brothers wedding... which I'm thinking of sewing for her. This is totally her style.
    I've been to San Telmo - loved it! But yep... definitely needed a meat free day following it ;)

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  7. Such a pretty dress. I love the dors. I never (well I should say rarely, because I just made something with dots) think to buy dots or spots. But then I always love them so much when I see others wear them. I agree with Jo too, your version looks way better than the packet.

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  8. I was working with rayon, too! It wasn't that slinky but it was very flyaway. I'm foolishly considering sewing with this pattern again in silk, though, especially after seeing your dotty version! What a great party dress. Thank you for the kind words, too :)

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  9. I saw the title and thought you'd made a Lady Ga Ga style creation. This looks much more stylish!

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  10. I love this! I have this pattern sitting and waiting for some loving. I even have two fabric choices lined up. You look great!

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  11. Very pretty! I was interested in the pattern after seeing Morgan's version, too. Now even more so. I love the tie in the front.

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  12. Man I heart this hard! I love the back wings/ties as this add great waist definition- what a tops pattern!
    I'm knocking together a couple of simple summer skirts at the moment just to get me back into the swim go things. Hope your sewing mojo comes back soon!

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  13. Such a lovely style on you, and great length too. My sewjo has departed me at the moment too.. but after seeing your Bellatrix the other week I am planning that next or maybe pants.

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  14. I love the fabric & wing combination ;) such a pity it was a #%@(!! to sew - I felt the same about my previously beloved Collette Dinnegan blue silk, so pretty, so disobedient - it took my sewjo & is hiding in the corner ATM... I did enjoy embellishing a RTW top with lace, so perhaps I'll stick to hand sewing next ;)

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  15. Hand sewing is so soothing. Maybe I need some of that! Looking forward to seeing a pic of the RTW top!

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  16. Thanks Helen. Make a Bellatrix! It will look fantastic on you.

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  17. Thanks Amanda! I'm loving your skirts - particularly the batik one you posted on Instagram this morning!

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  18. I think this dress would look fantastic on you Liza Jane.

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  19. Thanks Christy! Get cracking - you'll look great in this dress.

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  20. Haha, the moment I read your comment I realised it really does make you think of that! Ewwww

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  21. What a fantastic party dress! Looks fabulous on you. I'm not a big fan of sewing with rayon for me it still seems too slippery, but I love the end look you get!

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  22. i always wondered about this kinda tie-- looks pretty, and especially POLKA DOTS!

    maybe the neck settled went it saw all that argentinian meat. was it the kind of joint where they bring you meat till you call it quits?

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  23. love this dress. i bought this pattern and plan to make it up next spring once i find the perfect fabric. so cute in polka dots.

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  24. You will rock this dress Kelli.

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  25. You know, I think I've always thought I loved sewing with rayon & viscose - I think I actually like viscose or rayon crepe. This fabric did my head in - it woukd be great for something simple, not this narrow hemmed number!

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  26. Ha! Yeah, maybe it thought I needed the extra room up top to breathe. They didn't give us an endless supply of meat, but they gave us two types of sausage, fish and beef. And a lot of it. The sausage included black sausage - my first time eating it. I liked the flavour but not tge texture so much. And I couldn't get the image of BLOOD out of my head!

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  27. Yes, a meetup at the JPG exhibition!

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  28. Leith & I bought tix a week ago!

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  29. Oh that would be amazing! I'll email you shortly :)

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  30. There is surely no limit when it comes to that particular fabric?!

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  31. I really like this on you and I love the spots! I have this pattern in my "to do" pile, but right now am not working on anything, just doing a lot of planning for summer.

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  32. This is really lovely, that back overlay is pretty awesome! I love rayon, but it is definitely a bugger to work with.

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  33. Rachel, your dress is incredibly pretty and oh you look so gorgeous in it! I'm enjoying your "waist definition" dresses.

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  34. This looks fantastic on you on worth every minute you spent sewing it!

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