'Posh' Frock Finished

[julesapple]

I've finished the posh frock for the Andre Rieu concert in July. Fished out my shoes, belt and goth (as #1 calls it) net petticoat, and put it all on. I thought it looked good. Then I went downstairs and showed the BH.

He pulls a horrified face (he's never aware of doing this, but he can't hide it) and then smiles and says it looks 'stunning - better without the petticoat' and 'what about a nice cardi over the top?' and 'What's it for, again?'

Send a copy of the pic to my mother, I don't say anything other than 'What do you think?' She phoned up and says 'You can always sell it on ebay' What's that supposed to mean, I ask, and she says I'm getting a bit long in the tooth for frilly things......

So, now I don't know whether I can wear it given that, of the three people I'm going out with, two quite clearly think I look silly.



I really must clean that mirror.......

[OverWyreGrower]

Love. It.

I would buy one of these from you - absolutely serious!

[alldigging]

Stunning.
Lovely colour.

Stuff 'em! You're never too old for what you like.

[SarzWix]

Jules, you look bloody gorgeous, and my mother carried on wearing things like that til she was in her 69s, and also looked fab. So just ignore them!

[julesapple]

Thank you, girls.....I was really pleased when I first put it on. I need to go back to that 'save point' The sister has just texted to say that I should lose some 'tummy weight' because I look 'inflated' (Thanks for that, darling)

It's not frilly, it's not revealing, it's not embarrassing......I still like it and I'm always hyper-critical. I usually live in jeans so these dresses make you feel very feminine - kind of forgotten what that felt like.

[vikkib]

Pffft! I have no idea what your lot are on about... it looks AMAZING!

A beautiful colour and fabric and a stunning bit of tailoring... I love the contrast of the delicateness of the fabric and the sheen to it with the belt!

The only reason I can think of adding a shrug or something is if it's chilly!

Looks awesome!

[eirish]

Nuts to the sister. I think it might be a bit of excess fabric about the waist that's getting gathered in by the belt. Can you take in the darts a bit more? (exposing my ignorance of sewing here...my mum's the seamstress) If not, perhaps a slightly looser belt would help keep it from pooching out that little bit?

My preference would be to have the outer edge of the armscye hit just a little further up the shoulder. From knitting I'm very sensitive to the effect of fit through the shoulders - an overly wide shoulder line ends up looking sloppy and dumpy. It's hard to see from the angle of your photo, but it looks as though, like me, you'd be better suited by an armscye that comes up a little higher toward the armpit and cuts in toward the body a little more. I'm guessing that's not an easy alteration though!

It's a lovely dress and looks well made - not 'homemade' (in the derogatory sense) at all. That sort of style can really make the most of a slender torso and tiny waist, and you've definitely got the figure for it.

[Hazel at the Hill]

I'd be delighted with it too! The colour looks superb on (what we can see of) you.

Without seeing it either way, I think that I disagree with your BH - the petticoat gives the skirt volume and I suspect it would look a bit 'flat' without?

Mind you, if it were me, I'd wear the belt a little further down? But then again, I'm a bit short-waisted and look more proportioned if I wear a belt waist-and-below, rather than waist-and-above. For me, that has the additional advantage of hiding the bit extra that carry on my tum, and wearing a belt lower hides it!

[julesapple]

Eirish, you're right about the arm.....there is something not quite right. I think it's the underarm bodice seam or possibly the front armscye - I thought the underarm bodice seam needs to come in maybe a centimetre and there possibly needs to be tiny darts in the front armscye. I can't tailor that to myself though because the line goes squiffy when I put my arm up to pin it. I will get my Ma to look at it next week.

It's funny how I've now made this same dress three times and got three differing fits from the same pattern. It has to be the fabrics!

I'm off to start dress no.4 - which is a different pattern but still 1950s. It's the same pattern as the one I wanted to use for the fox prints, but a polka dot printed, embroidered border, in mid aqua.

You're all right, guys, I shouldn't listen to my family.......familiarity breeds contempt and all that

[julesapple]

Hazel, the belt does look good lower down - it's elastic so pulls your waist in - but it keeps popping back up! I love the swirly, swishy, susurrating petticoat but it does give quite a different look without - just as pretty but slightly calmer - 'nice meal out' but not a 'dinner dance' type thing.

I have heard tell that Michael Bublé does dinner dances - small, exclusive audiences, fabulous food, dancing - and the tickets are about £2000 a pop. I'd love to go......

[Potstubsdustbins]

A mans take on things, GGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. Love it.

My SWMBO's 65 and still wears 3" heels, maybe the rest of the party feel they might be left in the shade.

Colin

[Sheneval]

Potty - I agree but she really must clean that mirror that reminds me........

[Seahorse]

You look gorgeous Jules. I'm 45 and still wear things like that, as well as other 'unsuitable' items. Stuff being conventional

[Dotty Sarah]

Hi Jules, well done, it's a fantastic dress, perfect for dressing up or down depending on the occassion. Are your family used to seeing you in this kind of thing? If not that may be why they're not so keen at the moment. If you want the belt lower could you use safety pins inside the dress or a discreet stitch to hold it in place for the eveing?

[Potstubsdustbins]

I can go back to a time when ladies looked, dressed and acted like old grannies by the age of 50.

Thank goodness that attitude has gone, why should you age before your time.

Get out there and rave on, lets party.

Colin