project: spring birds shift dress

Okay, so here is my secret to these spring dresses. I'm not being totally original here (but, when it comes down to it, most of fashion today isn't). What I've been doing, as my main source of inspiration, is to go to the websites of stores I often shop at, look at their spring collections, and knock them off.

The joys of being a patternmaker.

It's true. That where this dress came from. Of course, it is a basic shift dress. But I had the idea in mind after seeing this Anthropologie dress. I then went to the Needle Shop (my new FAVORITE place to purchase all fantastic fabrics) on a sunny Friday afternoon. With the Anthropologie dress in mind, I saw this printed fabric by Kokka, and knew exactly what to do with it. A few days later, I had a pattern, a fitting, alterations, and a finished product.

Front view

Side view

The pattern I made only has two bust darts in the front, and I decided to add two fish-eye darts in the back (to give it some shape, and to also help the fullness swing to the front). There is a center back zipper, and for the first time in a long time, it is lapped and not invisible! It turned out awesome.

Once the spring flowers are in bloom, many pretty outdoor pictures will be taken! At least I'm ready...

up close photo of the print

playlist: spring bird shift dress

1. "georgia" - yuck
2. "bochicha" - DOM
3. "crash" - the primitives
4. "woe is me" - the walkmen
5. "should have" - cloud nothings
6. "bushwick blues" - delta spirit
7. "3rd planet" - modest mouse
8. "yea yeah" - matt & kim
9. "left this world" - la sera