Not very long ago, I was contacted by dp studio, a pattern company whose offerings I’ve always found super interesting and intriguing… I bought a few of their patterns last year but am still yet to find time to make them up… eek!! Anyway, they wanted to know if I would like to review one of their latest. Would I?! Omigosh, yes!! They have recently brought out a new thing… something called a “kit couture” that is a collaboration between dp studio and Hamon, a fabric and haberdashery store in Paris. The kit comes in a rather beautifully packed box, and includes the sewing pattern, fabric, and all notions and bits and bobs you needed to finish making it. Very luxe. I was so excited to try it out!! They didn’t have my first choice, but I did like the look of the kit they offered me quite a lot and I anxiously awaited its arrival.
Did not disappoint!! The kit I received was for Le 912, the Eve dress, described on the box as “Robe effect portefeuille a manches longues” Oh, how I wish I could speak French! everything sounds so much lovelier and more poetic than in English… the translation is “dress with wallet effect and long sleeves”
The fabric from Hamon is absolutely lovely; a 100% viscose with a beautifully soft and floaty hand to it, and a loose flowy, silk-like drape. Divine!! Even better, the print is super pretty; black flowers and leafy tendrils on a creamy background. I think this creamy ground suits me quite well, my “white”, so to speak; so I was very happy with this. The kit also contained a lightweight, fusible interfacing, a stable, fusible stay-tape for the bias cut opening edges and the shoulder seams; and length of perfectly colour-matched satin ribbon for the belt/tie. Oh! and a reel of perfectly colour-matched, cream coloured thread. This was actually overlocking thread rather than all-purpose thread, but I found it quite nice, not woolly; and to be absolutely fine for the purposes of sewing this very delicate fabric.
I really enjoyed making up my dress. Lately – well I mean, once I’d got my mad, rough knitting bag project out of my system; I’ve been more in the mood for careful, quietly lengthy and dedicated sewing projects; something that takes time and effort, and maybe even requires unpicking and re-doing things over and over until I get them right. I think it’s the process of making Kelly’s wedding dress that has brought this new mood for meticulous perfection upon me. Will this be the case from now on? possibly not! but it is right now so I’m contentedly riding that wave in serene and unhurried happiness.
I initially made long; bias cut ties, seen above; using the black/cream print for the waist tie, which is actually what the pattern instructions tell you to make. Ultimately though, I didn’t like these so substituted the included cream coloured ribbon tie instead, which is really much nicer in the end; prettier, softer, and easier and more comfortable to wear too.
Craig heartily approves of the dress which I found slightly surprising. After all, the dress is quite “covered up” and not figure hugging or the least bit “sexy”; and Craig usually prefers this sort of thing… #husbands However, he really likes this one; called it “classy” and “really nice”. Well OK then!!
One thing the kit did not include was a required button; but I’m perfectly ok with that since I have about a billion buttons and absolutely zero need to ever buy buttons again in my lifetime. I used a tiny, “pearl-with-a-shank” button for the closure.
Yesterday, we went to the city and my reluctant-photographer husband Craig kindly took a few pictures of me, for my blog. Well, that was an unusually nice surprise! Hurray!! Afterwards, I regretted a little that we hadn’d taken Clara, since she goes so nicely with the dress. #dressingtomatchyourdog #itsathing #promise
So I couldn’t resist another picture at home, this time including my very worthy little accessory, hehe
Details:
Dress: le 912, the “eve” dress by dp studio, cream/black viscose
Shoes; Vitullimoda, from Zomp shoes
I also wore my hand-knitted cardigan all day, because it was a COLD day! Jo Sharp Tweed Coat, shortened, in Jo Sharp Silkroad DK tweed yarn in colour Peppercorn (col 425), blogged here
Hello, well done for your lovely dress ! Just one comment on the translation. “Un portefeuille” is a wallet but a “robe portefeuille” is a wrap dress. So a “robe effet portefeuille” is a “mock wrap dress” . Which I guess it is ?
that’s interesting Sophie! It’s actually a true wrap dress, nothing “mock” about it! I did wonder what they meant by “wallet” 🙂
It is such a pretty dress.
Well that is a pretty darn useful dress AND it matches your dog! Enjoy wearing it, it looks very flattering. Jo x
That is a lovely dress, and very flattering on you. I’m glad to learn about dp studio.
Such a lovely dress, and it is always the best to see you wearing a hand knit from previous years. Everything you make inspires me to improve my wardrobe. Oh, and Clara is the most pish accessory.
Looks quite lovely and suits you to a T. Also, as you point out, you match Clara :). I like what I see very much, I’ll check them out. All the best from a sweltering Basel Anita
The correct translation was already provided above – I guess the company could probably afford a translator rather than use Google translation (seriously, a wallet dress?).
The fabric is lovely, so is the dress. Bravo (well done)!
Dp pattern was right to send you this kit couture, you made it up beautifully and it suits you so well; and you have the perfect accessory.
Looks lovely on you. That fabric looks heavenly to wear as well!
Thanks for your report on a pattern company with which I was not familiar. Lovely make! And thanks for maintaining your blog!! It helps other makers so (SEW) much! It seems many makers abandon their blogs for their IG accounts. Fun stuff, too, but a blog really shares the down and dirty in a way that is hard to do elsewhere. Just wanted you to know you are appreciated!!!
thank you so much for that kind comment, Celeste, I really appreciate that a lot. It’s absolute lovely to me to receive feedback like this so I’m grateful you took the time. Thank you 🙂
It looks really nice. What a treat to get a box with everything in! I have to say my husband is also called Craig and he doesn’t really like loose or covered up things either when I make them, it must be a thing. I will check out that company. x
Beautiful! Very chic! And I think maybe a lovely one for your DIL post partum as perfect for bf access and elastic waist good for varying waistline!
thanks! I have to mention though; it’s not an elastic waistband, but a true wrap dress with a ribbon tie 🙂
It is beautiful! And classy indeed… though the dress does not have matches longues, but manches longues, or long sleeves.
ah thank you; I’ve corrected it now. I think that might have been an autocorrect 🙂