My Reunion Dinner/Dance Dress V1348

Before I talk about the dress I made for my 50th Reunion , I want to answer  Anne Scanapcio 's      question about the changes I made to the Silhouette Patterns yoga pant pattern when I made my jumpsuit.

.She asked how I joined the bottom to the bodice. I eliminated the waistband itself but added the amount to the pant plus 1 inch. I also added an extra inch to the bodice because I wanted it to blouson. As to what I did to the yoga pant pattern, I have a post here at Diana's Sewing Lessons on how I made the yoga pant into palazzo pants. I used the ensuing pattern and added 1 inch to the side seam all the way down. I hope that's clear Anne.

Now for my dress.

I decided that I wanted a colourful, comfortable and worry free dress for this important occasion. I call this my " Last Hoorah " dress!

 The pattern I used was  V1348. My fabric is cotton sateen bought at Fabricville.

Isn't it pretty ? It reminds me of a Monet garden with its splashes of colour.

The pattern fit really quite well and I had no problems at all in that regard. When I compared the bodice pieces to the  Princess seamed version of my Surefit Designs sloper I was happy to find it was very similar. I didn't even have to do an FBA but I did make a muslin to be sure. I cut the size 10 above the bust and 14 below that and it worked great.

I of course made a couple of changes. This is a designer pattern and it had you underlining the bodice which I didn't do. That was a mistake because I have nothing to attach the pleats to as a result. They seem fine and I'm not going to attach them the actual dress.

 Now for the big mistake I made. As I was cutting my dress out, I decided to not include the side seam pleats thinking it would just be too flared. Well I've ended up regretting that but there's nothing I can do now. I do love having the pockets though.

                                               
                                            


                                       

I sewed the facings in the traditional way and the understitching works well to keep them to the inside.

I decided to add an exposed zipper  and I love that look.

I decided to not line my dress. I don't enjoy wearing lined dresses in the heat of the summer the hang of the dress wasn't affected at all.

                              

But see what I did do  to make it extra special!

The bias trim is in a highly contrasting colour but I had it on hand and it works, I think.

 Now you think that I'll be the only one to know it's there don't you and that it must have been a lot of work and it was  but I'll probably show it discreetly to some people because it's just too pretty to keep it to myself,  don't you agree?

I used a matching lace  tape  for the hem.

My pics didn't turn out very well but here they are anyway. i just can't seem to find the right setting for my camera lately !

I'm undecided about what shoes to wear. These black ones are not very dressy but would be very dance friendly and I do so love to dance.

These nude ones are better and are also very comfortable but I'm not likely to last as long on the dance floor with them as with the black ones

. What do you think? Should I go for comfort or looks ?

So my reunion sewing is finished and I still have tow weeks to go. That is a real accomplishment for me.
I've also almost finished four  matching (more or less ) little girl dresses for our four little grand-daughters . The real cahllenge is going to be the hpoto shoot and that may take some doing so I don't know what I'll show you next week but do check in to see.

thanks so much for having a look at my Last Hoorah dress.

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