Ha!
The last time I wore this for my blog and I was writing a description, I was about to segue into rhapsodies about how useful a garment it was when it occurred to me I hadn’t done a 6-way post in a while and this would be a good candidate…
I actually love doing these; shopping in my own closet is fun when I have the time, and it certainly brings to light some garments and combinations that hadn’t occurred to me before and breathes a new lease of life into some “lurkers” that haven’t been worn in a while.
When I first made this dress it was intended to be a light beach dress to cover up the bathers, and it spent the first few months of its life just tossed randomly into my beach bag… then one evening I put some white linen pants on underneath (those particular ones were old ones, also permanently tossed in my beach bag for a coverup on colder days) and I realised it could be quite a chic combination, if said linen pants hadn’t been so creased from being stuffed casually in the bottom of a bag, hehe… The dress migrated to a hanger in my wardrobe and has been worn for occasions of various formality since, so it is quite useful and demonstrates why everybody should have a little sundress with a pretty hemline and of a cheerful colour in their wardrobe…
For the bodice part with the halter neck I used McCalls 4453, and the skirt part I drafted myself, inspired by the hemline on some dress I had seen somewhere, in a perfume commercial? ( I think?) … It is made from sparkly red/pink polyester chiffon, and lined with pale pink lining fabric. I altered the bodice to close at the left side seam with an invisible zip.
For its original purpose; at left, it is worn as a very casual beach dress; then at right, with white linen pants on underneath it becomes quite chic enough for a semi-formal summer evening function. I wore it like this to the theatre in Melbourne, and when we met friends at a swish-o riverside restaurant in the evening also…
On slightly fresher days; at left, it is funky and fun with a fluffy cardigan and lace-up boots for casual wear; then at right worn as a tunic with jeans on underneath and high heels, it looks not-too-casual for a barbecue with friends
Even in more wintry temperatures, it can work as a top over a skirt with tights, flat boots, cardigan and scarf for everyday wear (boy, I wish I’d thought of this combination during last winter, because I love this outfit now I’ve thought of it!). And even though it’s a summery dress, with a top, tights and high heeled boots all in a solid one-colour worn underneath, at right, it’s warm enough for cooler days and looks a bit edgy and kinda mod. I could start wearing it from early spring like this, and stretch it out to cooler autumn days also, out to town or to meet friends or the husband.
The six-ways posts are some of my favorite. My No. 1 pick is the one with the white slacks.
Wow, your creative combos look fantastic. I would have never thought that style would be so versatile. I like the one with the grey skirt underneath.
Christiana
sewamusing.blogspot.com
I like it best with the white linen pants. But the number 5 combination is pretty awesome too. I had fun seeing pictures of you and your hubby in your younger years. You have me and my hubby beat by a couple of years, but we looked like people too young to be engaged also; 17 years ago! Hurray for you two!
Ooo! This is a great blog post idea! And great for your own reference I can imagine, if you ever get in a "oh what to wear today"-mood.
I like versions number 2, 4 and 5 the best. Nice!
My favourite is the look with the white linen. Love your idea of playing around with stuff already in the closet.
My favourite is the look with the white linen pants but I also quite love the denim jean look.
I love these posts! My favourites are the one with the grey skirt under it for winter and the linen trousers for spring.
I love the outfit with the layered skirt and dress and the last outfit is pretty cute too. The combination with the white trousers is beautiful. Somehow I love combinations like that on other people, but never think of wearing dresses on trousers myself. Weird. What a fun idea to try 6 different combinations, I should try it too!
Definitely the top with the white linen trousers. But then, I am a sucker for white linen anything!
I LOVE the one with the gray skit underneath, #5. Just something about it, it's fabulous. Thanks for the inspiration.
What a lovely dress, I love the hemline! I like it best pure as a sundress and with the tights, black shirt and high boots, that really brings out the dress I think! Although the idea to layer another skirt under it is pretty cool, too…
Love these posts. I like the last one the best. Can I borrow your boots? oh, we live on different continents … he he.
Thanks for the clarification on the stretch… I must confess my ignorance to "well-established terminology", having been tutored by the selections in not very upscale fabric shops. Glad you clarified 🙂 it makes soooo much more sense now.
Have a good weekend.
Very cute dress! My favorite looks and #4 and #5.
What a great post. I love seeing how people incorporate their projects into their wardrobes. I like #2 and #5 the best.
My fave is the one with the linen pants. That is just such and elegant look.
I just saw the weather report for Perth tomoz… and I think you better just do #1!
Love this series and so cute that engagement pic!! 🙂
http://www.modelmumma.blogspot.com
Love it with the white slacks and over the grey skirt.
The 6-ways posts are always my favourite. I love the dress with the white pants underneath it. You're totally working it!
With the white linen pants. I'm such a sucker for white pants.
I also like it layered over the skirt. This is how I could actually wear it here in Canada.
I love your "x-ways to wear" posts. I vote for a look with jeans, but first one looks nice too.
Since I didn't find your blog until SSS, this is the first of your 6-way posts I've seen. It's rather inspiring to see how versatile you can make one of your sewn pieces– I may have to play around with some things in my wardrobe to see how I can stretch them!
I think my favorite is the tunic-with-jeans look, but I also really like that one with the olive skirt for the sheer artsy factor of it.