So, I popped on my original Perth dress today and I realised this post is way overdue and I’ve been owing it for some time… I’m sorry for being so slack!
I have to admit that a reasonable number of the requests/comments I have received vis-a-vis our Perth dress pattern is that people like my “bouffy” brown prototype, above; and wish to know exactly how this one was made as opposed to the more streamlined final pattern version … I’ve generally taken to just describing it on a request-by-request basis since it’s really quite a simple modification ; but obviously a visual is preferable.
- basically; you take the lowest point of the side seam of both front and back, and pivot it out from the armhole point, adding 8.5cm (3 1/4″) to width at the lowest point. Keep the pocket markings in the same place.
not to scale
2. the other thing about the prototype is that the collar is a little smaller, which I think visually is a good balance against the much more flared-out “skirt” part of the design. In the final version of the pattern, I thought a more dramatically pointed collar was a better look with the more streamlined silhouette. Collar stand stays the same.
again, zero scale considerations, sorry. About 1.2cm (1/2″) is taken off the collar point itself and the difference tapered off to meet up with the seams on each side…
3. finally, I decided to tame some of the bouffe in back by extending the box pleat down from the yoke and top-stitching it down at about my waist level.
All of these modifications are, of course, optional and open to even further alteration if desired. I love it when I see people adapting the design and making it their own! For example, just recently I saw @thesewingsociety had adapted the collar to be a club collar, which is super cute, oui?!
Anyway, I’d like to thank everyone who asked! I hope this helps a little, and maybe also gives everyone a few ideas for making a different version of the Perth for themselves!
It’s funny; because I personally didn’t like the brown version so much at first, thinking it just WAY too voluminous, to a fault; its only saving grace to me was the top half/neckline which of course I preserved exactly in my pattern. However over time my brown version has very much wormed its way into my heart after all. Yes, it is voluminous, but lots of volume in a summer dress has a certain charm of its own which I really really appreciate in very hot weather. I like being able to “flap” my dress about to create a bit of a cooling airflow as I’m walking. And of course the covered-up-edness of the top half is great for our full-on sun, meaning less of a need to slather on the suncream and less chance of getting sunburnt too. In short, I’m really appreciating all my Perth dresses all over again!
the full bouffe!
Honestly, you look full on like a catwalk model the way you’re swaggering forwards in that last photo. So chic!
YES! YES! YES!
The Perth dress is in my #2019makenine and I may just add some bouffy to it! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you very much for this. I will probably try this on my next Perth.
FYI, my most recent Perth has full length sleeves, borrowed from a Butterick blouse, and looks quite smart for the office. I’ll try and get a picture up on Instagram soon.
Wow , this is amazing ! I like the design of this dress specially the collar and the backside. And you look beautiful with this dress.