Dress – handmade
Necklace – Just Jeans
Bag – Vintage Celine
Shoes – Libby Edelman
This dress is made from pattern F2 of Feminine Wardrobe, a Japanese sewing pattern book I recently reviewed. Big news – I’ll be giving away a copy of this book on this blog so keep an eye out for that!
There’s so many patterns I wanted to make from Feminine Wardrobe, but I chose to do this dress first, because I had just bought an overlocker (serger) and I was keen to try it out on the four layers of ruffles that go across the front of this dress. I used the rolling hem to finish off the edges of the ruffles – it saves time and looks really professional.
I used a very simple printed cotton fabric I bought on eBay. It has little nautical prints on it, like an anchor, fish and sailing boats. I’m sure it was meant for use on kid’s clothes, but that’s never stopped me before!
The body of the dress is basically made of two rectangles. You insert elastic across the back of the dress, so you can pull the dress on over your head. Hence no zipper insertion required – I love that.
This is such a comfortable and roomy design, I think it will be a great little summer dress for holidays and travelling. I bought a pair of Libby Edelman “Rose” wedges online, from Endless, which is my new favourite online shoe store. It’s arrived just in time for my upcoming summer holiday to Japan. The bag is a vintage Celine number, which originally belonged to my Obaachan (grandma on my Japanese side) – she is a very stylish lady. This outfit will definitely be one of the ones I’ll be wearing as I trawl through the fabric stores of Tokyo buying up a storm!
Buy Feminine Wardrobe at YesAsia.com
Buy at Amazon.co.jp
5 comments
[…] here. It’s full of lovely patterns that you can start making right away, like pattern F2, a ruffle front midi dress I have made in a red nautical […]
That’s a cute red dress! I bought the pattern book a few months ago, directly from Amazon Japan because they tend to cost $40 each in Australia. I wouldn’t have the top frill for me as I’m a bit “top heavy” but the pattern is so simple (as you said), with the elastic across the back. I do love many Japanese fabrics, mainly because they have many natural fibres and fine weaves, but retailers here charge like wounded bulls! I’ve managed to get some Nani Iro fabrics when on special and combined them with other fabrics to make skirts, tops and simple dresses. Once I finish the current project I must blog about it as I don’t usually blog crafty things! Didn’t think anyone would be interested!
Hi Kay. Where did you get the Nani Iro fabrics? I really like their fabrics, they’re so simple and a bit Scandinavian in their designs… Definitely blog about it and let me know when you do! You’d be surprised at how many people would really enjoy seeing what you have made 🙂
[…] before, and it comes up top of my list of favourite Japanese sewing pattern books. I have made the ruffle front dress (pattern F2), and it is my most frequently worn garment I have made myself, ever. I think I love Feminine […]
[…] From the same awesome book as above, I made this dress years ago using cute nautical print fabric. […]