I have been having some fun with my camisole-skirts.
The pattern calls for a zip at the CB. However when trying on my green one during construction I found it was loose enough to be pulled on over the head. Then at my gym I witnessed a young woman put a dress-mascarading-as-a-skirt’n’blouse in this way – within a few minutes she appeared fully dressed. (I so wanted to take a photograph, but the circumstances prevented it). The skirt part was black, with an elasticated waist, and the cream blouse part was arranged as a wrap around, surplice top. Within moments she added a belt, and instantaneiously looked pulled together and smart.
It was a young look and the fabrics and colours were unsophisticated. I don’t like an elasticated waist. But it got me thinking about how I might like to make a skirt and blouse “ensemble”. The idea of a great fit, top and bottom, and a waist seam in exactly the right place so it rides neither up or down, in nice coorindating fabrics, is an idea that appeals to me. I couldn’t find many images on the internet to show what I mean. But this dress from Hobbs is quite a nice version.
I like the following features:
- streamlined elegant outfit
- the overall neatness of the dress avoids any tucking in, riding up or lunch time discomfort associated with a skirt and blouse
- blouse has interesting front detail, benefiting from CB fastening
- unusual dart treatment
- silk crepe de chine blouse (the skirt, unfortunately, is polyester)
- nice colour combination
I don’t want to copy this dress exactly, but I think for women (like me) who find it hard to buy an all in one dress – due to being different “high street sizes” top and bottom – a version of this dress might be a boon. Mixing two complementary fabrics, in terms of both fabric composition and colour palette, and possibly including a grosgrain belt in a third shade, gives the home dressmaker a good basis for creating a number of very workable dresses that look professional and pulled together for work. In addition one could add a jacket in the same fabric as the skirt and have what looks like a suit but feels like a dress. Some of the vintage Chanel suits appear to have a silk blouse stitched to the skirt.
I bought a vintage pattern some time ago (stamped 15 April 1950 – although it has a 1940s look) as it was described as a “one piece dress”. As you can see from the drawing.
![Vogue 6571 One Piece Dress](https://i0.wp.com/fabrickated.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2015-03-28-09-35-35.jpg?resize=611%2C815)
Looking at the construction notes it was soon evident that the “Easy to Make” dress is actually quite hard work, involving bound buttonholes, home-made shoulder pads and belt, and a regulation placket or “slide fastener” (ie zip) at the side seam.
- The pattern assumes that the dress was made from the same fabric (unspecified) throughout, which could be a plaid, rather than contrasting fabrics.
- Effectively this is a blouse and a six-gored waistband-less skirt joined together at the waist
- The side opening allows it to be put on, but it is not a very elegant fix.
As soon as I have the SWAP out of the way (end of April) I am going to work on this pattern.
Idea 1: a princess seam dress where the dress is in just three pieces with the main shaping in the CB seam and the two shoulder/underbust/front waist panels. The skirt would be slightly flared. Then it is sliced in two around the waist seam, but with the possibly of it being shaped.
Idea 2: A sleeveless cowl top with a pencil skirt
Idea 3: A wrap round blouse, with a wrap round skirt
Idea 4: A close-fitting dress with sleeves that looks like a blouse and skirt
I have signed up for a draping class at Morley (you may remember I intended to do advanced pattern cutting last term, but I decided it was too advanced for me). This idea may be developed there.
Esme
A blirt. Or maybe a sklouse.
maryfunt
Great idea. Chanel often attached the blouse to the skirt; prevented the blouse from becoming untucked and messy.
Stephanie
Intriguing… after you have perfected a pattern I will have to copy you. 🙂 I really like that Hobbs dress, but I could definitely see this in a wrap or faux-wrap style. Very exciting re. the draping class!!