I love this photo! I couldn’t resist! We were downtown for the Singing Angels concert in the lovely Allen Theater in Cleveland. (My son and daughter are musicians.) We were heading to a very nice restaurant a few doors down and – presto – a city grate! (I’m a bit superstitious about walking over those myself.)
This dress is Simplicity 2398, a Jessica McClintock design. It includes stapless and halter options as well as variations in length, overlays and the under-bodice.
My daughter selected the full length, halter-style, without an overlay. The fabric is a crepe-backed satin from Joann’s. ( The color is truer in the outdoor photos.)
The kids head downtown about 8:00 A.M. for a 3:00 P.M. show. They get ready in dressing rooms so all the clothes are packed. When she stepped out on stage I have to say she looked stunning. A friend had done her hair in long, soft curls and it looked beautiful.
These photos were taken about 8:00 at night, in the waning light, dinner stains and all.
Review:
Pattern Description: Special occasion dresses in two lengths.
Pattern Sizing: 12
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes
Were the instructions easy to follow? For the most part, the construction was straightforward. Since the skirt is cut on the bias, it is a large pattern piece and it is split into two. I was able to avoid this because the fabric was 54″ wide and I purchased the required amount for 45″ wide.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? The directions were straightforward and there were not that many steps in the construction. I found the description of the “bands” and their “facings” a bit confusing and sewed the wrong pieces together. I caught the mistake and was able to correct it.
Fabric Used: Crepe-backed satin.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I did not use an overlay.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I don’t thinkI would sew it again because my daughter loves to pick out new styles. However, I think the style is classic and elegant and is one of the best I’ve made for her. I would recommend it to others.
Conclusion: My daughter received many compliments on this dress….it has an outstanding look. People were even coming up to her to take her photo. In the end, this was a mom-approved dress that made a 16-year old girl happy!
The dress is beautiful, and so is your daughter! You did a great job on the dress. Kudos to you!
vavavoom!!!! your daughter, the dress, and the work you did are all absolutely stunning!! love that first shot too! I, too, am a bit fearful of walking over huge city grates also!
~over from sew retro~ I love the grate pic one for the books to always look back on youth! Your daughter looks beautiful in that dress. The cut and color are so flattering!
Great job!
It’s absolutely gorgeous!!! The colour is stunning and the cut and fit is beautiful. I want one for myself!
Sarah (over from Sew Retro)
http://www.rhinestonesandtelephones.com/
Your daughter is beautiful and so is the dress! Love the Marilyn Monroe type picture– just gorgeous!
Beautiful!
Trudy
http://www.sewingwithtrudy.blogspot.com
GORGEOUS! You know, I think girls’ formal dress patterns have evolved so much in the last ten years or so. My Mum made all of my prom and special occasion dresses and while they were all lovely – there just wasn’t the selection in either pattern or fabric that there is today. I think maybe it’s because sewing seems to be back on the “hip” list of things to do in the last five years or so and more young people are getting into it. Not that it wasn’t hip before… you know my Mum has been sewing longer than I’ve been living and she, if I do say so myself, is VERY hip! : ) I’m ranting – but hopefully you see what I’m saying! 🙂
Beautiful and so stunning. I love it all. The color is fantastic. You should be proud all the way around. 🙂
Wow, just incredibly beautiful…both your daughter and the dress. Love the MM shot!!!
Absolutely stunning, she looks beautiful, love everything, the dress, the color, her hair……wonderful.
This dress and your daughter are both beautiful. Thsi is the first satinbacked crepe dress I’ve seen on any blog with perfect seams. So many of the other dresses have “wavy” or slightly pucked seams. Bravo on working with a tricky fabric and making it look couture.
MaryEllen
absolutely stunning. and it looks gorgeous on your lovely daughter.
I admired that dress when you had first posted a picture awhile ago… it’s absolutely gorgeous!
Gorgeous…you BOTH are amazing…mother and daughter!
STUNNING! oh how I wish all us bloggie friends could hang out in real life!!
Perfectly elegant! She looks gorgeous!
really beautiful dress. i just won the pattern and i was thinking to make for my graduation.. sounds like a great party dress
Researching this pattern make and number from a different decade (1940s) and ran across this one. This is the most darling formal dresses I’ve seen in a long, long time. Jessica McClintock designed so many beautiful outfits and dresses, and you sure found a darling one. You did such a wonderful job sewing it and your daughter is just lovely wearing it—I’ll bet she did get bunches of compliments about the dress. She is just adorable in it. What a nice Mom you are! Sounds like your daughter is just as smitten with the dress as all of her admirers and I hope her experience with such a successful project will spurn her on to learn to sew too!
This is absolutely beautiful! You did a great job. I’m thinking of making this, but do you think the pattern runs about the same size as clothes at say, Ann Taylor? I’m never sure what size to sew.
Thanks,
Caitlin
Just beautiful! Do you think the pattern size is about average?