Vogue 1173

I bought this Sandra Betzina pattern a while ago as I liked the yellow version.  The pattern is for knits or wovens and includes a lining if required.

Now I've tried this pattern before, and failed miserably.   It was in a cotton voile and ended up looking like a very unattractive 60s house frock, but would have looked ok as a blouse had I not got distracted by the TV and cut off so much it was a crop top. 

I had a wedding to go to yesterday and decided to give it another try.  I'm not good at dressing for weddings, I don't wear dresses much and start worrying about the combination of need for appropriate dress, weather factors, need for high shoes etc etc.   

So the challenge for this wedding was - summer (hot), late morning to late afternoon, outside, and at a winery (so outside, plus on grass so stilettos are out plus likely effects of sun plus wine).

The fabric for the latest attempt is this light but horribly slippery to sew silk.  It has colours. It has python print. It has animal print. And pretty much everything else. It is OTT - but hopefully in a good way.   

I'm ho hum about the end result though.  I don't think this style suits me.  I know I'm hypercritical but the photo is far more flattering than in real life, or in particular, from a side view - eck.  Maybe this isn't good for anyone with a chest as it sticks out in front like a beach ball.

My major problem however, was the hemline - a problem of my own doing.  The dress is frumpy at knee length.  I cut it a bit shorter but in a try-on the slippery fabric was dipping everywhere.   I mustn't have cut the dress out very well.  

By the time the hem was straight(ish) - oh dear!  It is uncomfortably short and sitting or bending over is perilous, plus I'm definitely past the age for this hemline with bare legs.

So Plan B - the opaque tights.  That doesn't work either.  And tights on a summer day... nooo.  Frumpy. 

Maybe design wise the neck is too high? Sleeves too long? Just not me?  It still reminds me of a house frock.  I love the fabric but the style... maybe not.  You have to battle to make it not look frumpy.

This pattern might work best in a knit.  There are some interesting features such as darts all around the neck - you can have them on the inside like traditional darts or on the outside as a feature.

Given how busy this fabric is, the darts are on the inside.  The fabric pattern is somewhat wavy which was highlighted by the darts so I did tucks instead of darts for the middle front.

I don't think I'll ever wear it as a dress.  But as a top it could be nice.  It is lined but with the lining taken out so it is a bit lighter, and the length shortened to tunic length and the sleeves shortened a tad it may look nice over a pair of narrow leg trousers.  What do you think?

I have a feeling that this pattern came out at the same time as the wonderful DKNY pattern 1179 which is somewhat similar and is as simple as anything and yet looks hip and supremely flattering on everyone.

After trying both, I much prefer the DKNY pattern. 

And for the wedding, I ended up wearing this DKNY knit dress (without the tights) which I made a while ago. Phew.  Not quite so glam but lots more comfortable.  And it was a lovely wedding.