Saturday, September 1, 2012

Black and Blue Roxanne dress


Do you remember me raving about Victory Patterns' new collection? Kristiann, the brilliant mind behind these wonderful designs, was so kind to ask me if I wanted to try one and while it was a tough choice, I was too in love with the collar of the Roxanne blouse not to pick it.
My only problem was I wasn't too sure of this blouse lenght, because I feel it only looks good when paired with leggings or skinny jeans, two type of garments I fell extremely uncomfortable wearing.
Since I loved other design features like the little pocket, the back yoke and the back pleats, I decided to simply lenghten the pattern and make it into a dress.


What I did was to slash the pattern pieces at the lenghten/shorten line and extend the lines until I added about 35 cm. I must have done something wrong, though, because I didn't intend to replicate the asymmetrical hem of the original design. I don't know if the fabric just shifted while I was cutting, or it wasn't on the grain, but when I sewed the front and back pieces together, the front was significantly shorter than the back. After a few moments of swearing and head scratching, I tried it on and found out I didn't mind it at all. I quite like this lenght, actually, and although the front is a teeny tiny too short for my taste to be worn with bare legs, I'm writing you 4 days after shooting this pictures with rain pouring out my window and a temperature of 11°C, so I guess it's time to wear it with tights (YAY!).



The pattern was a pleasure to work with, it's very simple to construct and the instructions are super clear. I love the "Victory!" exclamation at the end. 
If you decide to make Roxanne yourselves, please be aware that this gorgeous pleated collar is quite bulky, and keep it in mind when you choose your fabric. I used the same IKEA cotton my Lily dress was made of, and while everything worked out great in the end, I had to grade and trim seam as much as possible and steam and press the life out of it to keep it flat and nice looking. Just FYI.




I'm pretty much in love with this dress and all of its features, it's quite edgy and eye-catching. The contrast between the bright blue and the tiny polka dots is bold but very "me".
I know in photos the dress looks better without a belt, but in real life I think I need a bit more definition at the waist, especially when I don't wear 12 cm heels like in these pictures (i.e. always).

I'm sure I'll wear my Roxanne a lot with tights and a cardigan and I really want to try and adapt the collar to other tops, just like Nettie and Lee did.

70 comments:

  1. I have the pattern cut out and cannot wait to make it. Your version is delicious! I love the polka dots with the blue. So pretty.

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  2. I saw this collar shape next week and bookmarked as a must do, ohh yours is so adorable!!!!

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  3. last week. Oh way i mistype so much with iPads

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  4. Really nice, I love it :)

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  5. Oh my, I LOVE this! I especially like it in dress length. I've always wanted to sew a Victory pattern, but haven't yet. This may just push me to purchase one.

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  6. Gorgeous gorgeous dress! I love the pleated collar (and even the tiny asymmetrical hem!) Well done as always.

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  7. I love the color combo. and the collar is superb. What a coincidence...I am working on a blue dress just today!

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  8. That collar is amazing. Love the dress :)

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  9. This is fantastic!! I would do anything to have my sewing machine on campus.. sad college life. I'll just have to live through others and daydream about sewing beautiful things like this!

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  10. This dress looks great on you and the collar is just a beautiful thing! Another good idea for adding something special to plain tops! ;)

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  11. So cool! I love that bright blue. I just saw a dress on ModCloth that reminded me of this pattern and your love of collars (http://www.modcloth.com/shop/dresses/long-time-cumin-dress). If you played around with the pattern, I bet you could recreate something like that!

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  12. Adorable! I love it! :-)
    Amy
    www.amystebbins.com

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  13. I love it!! I love it as a dress, I planned to make a version like this myself!
    The
    collar IS quite bulky. Even without interfacing it. I think you did a
    great job of getting it to look crisp and lay properly.

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  14. that collar is quite something! I am going to have to see about incorporating something similar into my own creations. great job on the dress xXx

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  15. You have completely sold me on this pattern! I love this and I love your version. It looks great on you.

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  16. Oh my ! You totally rocked this dress, it suits you so well !!! And now I want to make one too, poor me :(

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  17. This collar is so cool. And I like the use of fabric on the back!

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  18. Cindy/SiestasandSewingSeptember 2, 2012 at 1:04 AM

    The dress is lovely! I really like the collar and the back color blocking.


    I 'found' you via Sew Country Chick's Sew & Tell Saturday.;)

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  19. i like this pattern the first time i saw this and now i am in love with this pattern after you made your own version.

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  20. brilliant. Oh how I love it.

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  21. LOVE your collar (and love miss kristiann too)

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  22. That contrast collar and back yoke are a bit special :) Looks great!

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  23. I love it! I was a bit unsure about the length too, it's good to know that it can be lengthened so easily! Thanks!

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  24. The collar is fantastic! Is it OK after washing? I just made a double Peter Pan collar and obsessed with interesting collars at the moment!

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  25. Just gorgeous, your choice of fabric is spot on LOVE your photos too.

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  26. Oh I LOVE this! And the collar is perfect. Great fabric choices too pretty lady!

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  27. Oh my gosh, this is wonderful! The colour of that collar is just perfect :-)

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  28. Beautiful, and wow how awesome is that pleated collar??! I have looked at the technical picture of this pattern and didnt realize the collar was pleated.

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  29. Great work, I love your fabric choice and how you lengthened it. Beautiful photoshoot.
    Visiting via Sew Country Chick

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  30. This looks fabulous as a frock! The contrast between the collar and the polka dots is wonderful :D

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  31. wow! this is great, i really liked it as a blouse, but that shape of blouse isnt very flattering on me! I love that your turned it into a dress and now im thinking I will definately have to make it! great fabric choices!

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  32. You have aced this! Looks great on u n love the colours ;) I really like that collar....

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  33. I agree with everyone else. Fantastic dress from a really great pattern.

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  34. soo cute! i loved the photos initially but then at the end realizing the fabric has pindots on it--just sent me over the moon. i am also very weary of the asymmetrical hem but this is so much less extreme that i think it looks great.
    black and blue are also a great combo--we might need a "with tights" photo because i am sure all of the cuteness will just increase. great job on yet another great garment and modification!
    (promise i'm not a kiss ass i just really love your stuff.)

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  35. I LOVE this-- it's so, so stylish and cool! I love the fabric pairing and the longer length! Great job, gal!

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  36. You look very nice in this dress. It is quiet flattering. And the collar is very cool.

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  37. Love this (as per usual). That collar is the jam.

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  38. I love it without the belt! It is so cute!


    -Ashley
    http://distractedashley.blogspot.com

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  39. Thank you! I think that's THE BEST definition I've read for this collar :D

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  40. I'll definitely show it with tights sooner or later, thanks for suggesting it.
    And don't worry, I often fear to seem like a kiss ass because I put a lot of enthusiasm in my comments, so I understand ;)

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  41. Thank you! It's a very easy alteration, so I hope you try it!

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  42. There's also a variation with a little tie and long sleeve, but this collar cannot be beaten! :)

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  43. Thank you Kazz! The love is mutual! :)

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  44. I haven't washed it yet, although I think I'll hand wash it and be careful with it. Although I think that it might be enough to iron it very carefully after a wash to maintain it.

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  45. Me too, she's so sweet! And a genius, obviously!

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  46. Thanks! I'm sure you could do wonders with this pattern!

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  47. I totally forgot to mention I skipped interfacing. Thank goodness I did!

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  48. I completely understand you, I usually have my sewing machine on weekends only, during which I also work, so there are weeks that I miss sewing so much!

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  49. asewingodyssey.blogspot.comSeptember 6, 2012 at 1:49 AM

    I absolutely love this Anna, great job!!!

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  50. adorable!!! i can't wait to do my version of this gorgeous collar! thanks for the great photos and inspiration :))
    http://sewingyourstyle.tumblr.com

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  62. Gorgeous !!!! This collar is really great, and I love your dress version. Have to order the pattern too !

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  64. This is great !!!!! I bought the pattern because I loved the colar so much but was not too much enthusiastic about a blouse. Now I know, thanks to you, that it looks perfect as a dress. Thanks a lot and Bravo !

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