It’s been a while since I did one of these! I don’t really have deliberate dress-up sessions to test out my clothes’ versatility any more, but it’s still interesting for me to look back and get a general overview of just how well my self-made wardrobe mixes and matches and whether everything works together. This red cotton dress has been an absolute beaut! it’s been worn a tonne and proved itself to be quite a versatile year-rounder too. I made it late 2013, using an adaption of dress pattern M from the Stylish Dress Book by Yoshiko Tsukiori.
I think its usefulness has lain in several factors: firstly the cheerful tomato-red colour is supposed to be one of “my” colours, as well as a shade equally at home in both hot and cold weather, and also the style of the dress is quite plain and simple, lending itself very well to mixing and matching with a bunch of other clothing pieces and stylistically not fighting with anything.
Some of the highlights in its life:
At left, its raison d’être was for me to have something for Wildcats games … I wore it to just about every single one and fitted in fine with everyone else! At right, during a long hot summer it was fabulous to wear just all on its own, sans any adornment.
At left; the colour looked good with just about every colour cardigan and scarf that I own; and at right, I’m wearing it here inside out! for Fashion Revolution Day. I chose it for that day mostly because it had patch pockets and not inseam bag pockets, making this the least weird-looking inside-out option in my wardrobe. Hehe and yes, I was brought up that the insides of a piece should look presentable enough for them to be worn inside out without embarrassment, but not that I purposefully make things with the actual intention of wearing them that way very often!
Speaking of that; the mission statement of Fashion Revolution is a comfortable fit for those of us who sew… after all; the question is “Who made my clothes?” If you can give an answer, and by that I don’t think they mean just “Brand x” then you are making a difference. Albeit a small one, but still. If your answer is “me”, then that can only be a very good thing! I am planning to do the inside out challenge again this year on 24th April, please join me!
At left; on cooler days I liked wearing my red dress with my paprika tights because they were such a good colour match, note to self; having matching tights and dresses/skirts is actually an excellent wardrobe idea, I must plan for this more! At right, I really liked this winter outfit a lot too. I know summer dresses can be kind of a weird choice for winter, but if the style is loose enough to enable wearing with lots of layers under and over for warmth then I think it can be done very successfully. I was perfectly warm in this wintery ensemble. Wintery for Perth, that is.
What about dyeing it red again? I would give it a try. : )
Totally I would! but it has bagged out around my backside quite a bit 🙁 the fabric was not the toughest and I think maybe I was pretty tough on it
Great way to see the versatility of your red dress through all the seasons, it is not a colour people would imagine this could be done. I've inadvertently worn my Vogue 1247 top inside out a few times now and no one has picked up on it.
It's lovely to see the dress worn through the seasons and in different settings. As you say, so versatile. It's a shame it needs replacing but I'll bet you come up with something fabulous! I shall be joining you on 24 April, I did it last year, and enjoyed it immensely – I was treated like an old lady with dementia a couple of times (including by my mother, an old lady with dementia!), so that was quite exciting 🙂
Clearly a deservedly well loved dress. It's always sad when they wear out – but isn't it great to know how much it was worn?
You could always sew a giant pocket on the back of your dress, or sew on a giant sun patch, or cut it out completely, or wear your dress backwards… No? I love this dress. At least she was well-loved. And you are so good at sewing new things. Upwards, onwards.
Ah RIP red dress. Jo x
Love the look with the teal cardi and strappy sandals. And I'm guessing that's the same cardi with the orange tights, though the colour saturation is lower. My crystal ball predicts another red cotton in your sewing future.
Hello Digs, actually they are different cardigans; a teal one and a sorta dirty green one. I have a lot of cardigans 🙂
It's wonderful when a finished garment proves to be so versatile. It's a win win, don't you think? I think it's what all of us aspire to when we make our clothes. Lovely dress, rest in peace.
You sew so many clothes, I'm amazed that one of your pieces wore out!
Looks like you made the perfect dress there! And it looks lovely, I totally understand that it got "worn to death"! Red is one of my favorite colors too, I see that I need to make me a red dress soon.
This is such a pretty look! So versatile, I love the fact that you can do so many styles with it.
RIP red dress. It looks like it lived a full and rich life.
I'll be joining you again 4/24. Last year, since I made my outfit w/ clean finishing throughout, very few people noticed.
Let's finish up and post our conversation about the ethics of clothing soon! It will be very long, so we can alternate posting each Q&A on our 2 blogs.
I'm so sad to say good bye to this dress. It was so lovely!!
Could you save the top above the bagged-out bit, as a blouse or tunic? So lovely!
Absolutely loved this post Carolyn! Had no idea this was Dress M from The Stylish Dress Book! Have always enjoyed seeing you wearing this oh-so-cute dress.
You can really pull off the Japanese style dresses! I'm afraid I would look like I'm wearing a potato sack in most of those clothes. I do hope the gingham one can fill that hole!
It's sad to see this dress go, but at least you have given it a great send-off here. That's a cute headdress you have in the first photo, by the way.
That tomato red is one of my favorite colors. Love it with minty green. I need a dress like this.
It doesn't seem that long ago that you made this dress! So sad to say goodbye to one of your favourite wardrobe items, but you could always find a more hard wearing red fabric and make an identical one!
I really like that pattern – I made a version of that dress last year using a lightweight wool that's mostly for winter but is pretty versatile. It's such an easy and easily adapted pattern.
This is how this sewing thing is supposed to work. So nice that you documented it's life with you.
And speaking of Red Dress (THE 80's Seattle band) w3.youtube.com/watch?v=8VobPDOjXvM
Poor, poor red dress! So pretty. I love it paired with the blue cardi and scarf. I know you´ll soon find a replacement for it, but still I understand.
I hate it when favourite clothing item 'dies'. It is a major loss (how shallow is that?). It is sad that it didn't last more than a couple of years, but then you did wear it a LOT! So will you make that dress again in another colour? Or find another pattern to make in a tomato red?