This dress…. I love it…I don’t love it…I love it…. I don’t love it….and on it goes! I really like the fabric… it is a blue and white floral with very subtle polka dots in the blue background. Does it get any better!? All my favorite things in one fabric! The bodice of Vogue 8870 is great… it’s the hemline that I’m fighting with.
The silhouette is just feels “off” to me…..
I thought I would like a high-low hem but I wish that I had made it into a maxi. I would have worn and loved this as a maxi dress. I don’t want to go buy more fabric and take it apart so I think I will first try to trim the hemline like view A. Maybe the less severe high-low version will be more to my liking.
Pattern: Vogue 8870
Fabric used: A pretty textured voile.
Instructions: The instructions were great. This is rated as very easy and I found that to be true.
Changes I made: Absolutely none! Not one!
Repeat worthy? Yes! The bodice of this dress is perfect for a summer sundress and I like the twin straps. You could very easily change the straps into one single wide one for more bra strap coverage. Next time I make this I will cut the skirt into a maxi…which shouldn’t be too hard.
So…what’s your take on the high-low dress/skirt thing? Is it a high or a low for you?
I agree. I have a couple of high-low skirts that I do like. But neither have drastic change in length. And I hate the ones that are mini in the front and floor sweeper in the back.
I say try the less severe high-low first. Hopefully it will be more to your liking. Worst case trim it all one length and you'll still have a cute summer dress!
Hard to tell with high low dresses sometimes. If the hem difference isn't great enough it has no impact. This hem does have impact. Pia is right, trim back the length if it's not working for you.
Love this style on you.
Yes, I did make this dress last year and feared I wouldn't like the extreme high low so i used the view A length and it turned out really nice. Your dress is lovely though.
Thanks Pia! I will try changing it…hopefully I will like it more then.
Thanks Maria! I love the fabric and bodice so much that I think it is worth changing the hemline.
Thanks! Nice to know there is hope for my dress yet. I'll try that and see what I think then.
I can tell you that I am not a fan of the high low hems and never will be. Maxi is my thing. High low dresses and skirts make a weird statement in my opinion. Lovely print, you could easily alter it to the less dramatic version, or as others have suggested, a shorter sundress. Don't let this beautiful fabric and your great sewing ability go to waste!
High low hems are funny things. I don't suit them, so I don't bother. I used to make them when I made garments for other people, and I always used to shape the hem to suit the person concerned. High/lows can look fantastic on some people, but not on others. And then again, it may be that your tastes are more classic. I would play around with pinning up the hem first to see how you like it. If you don't like it, maybe get rid of it and add a band to the bottom of the dress. It's worth making this a dress you love. I'm also wondering if the feature of this dress is the pretty bodice shape and maybe the hem is fighting with this?
I do understand the way you feel about the high low hem but it is an absolutely gorgeous dress on you.
The bodice of this dress is gorgeous and it looks so good on you! I'm not a fan of high low hems to be honest and if you're not feeling it either I'd say try the less severe option, or just make it a short sundress – you've got the legs for it!
I agree. Pin it to the shorter view A length and see what you feel – sew it there if that gives you a better idea. Otherwise, make it all the same length. I rather like high low tops (on others – I don't actually have any) but I'm not keen on skirts. It does seem to be a balance issue. Lovely fabric. Don't waste it.
I agree. Pin it to the shorter view A length and see what you feel – sew it there if that gives you a better idea. Otherwise, make it all the same length. I rather like high low tops (on others – I don't actually have any) but I'm not keen on skirts. It does seem to be a balance issue. Lovely fabric. Don't waste it.
I can see you wearing this pattern as a maxi all summer long. Hope you can find some more fabric!
I too made this pattern last year. I love the top as you do. I did make the high low so I could be in fashion. I figured I could cut off the "low" later and make it into a nice dress. I've enjoyed wearing it as a high low but feel I have another option if needed.
I did a Google pattern search to see other people's versions of this dress. Taking a look at them might be of great help in making your decision. You can see all the combinations at a glance! My take from looking at them is overall the shorter versions were more successful than the longer ones.
Hi Margo,
Your blog is new to me (thanks to Goodbye Valentino) and I love your style! I am not a huge fan of overly trendy fashion, so high-low is not for me. Since a maxi is out of the question, I would either reduce the severity of the angle of your hem or just go for the classic sundress.
I'm going to try my best to salvage this one….on the hunt for some of this fabric!
A band is a great idea! Thanks Sarah Liz!
Thanks Faye! I'm just not feeling like myself in this dress though.
Thanks Kathryn! The shorter sundress is certainly an option if I can't find anymore of this fabric to change it into a maxi dress.
Thanks Anne! I agree with you that high low tops are better than dresses!
Me too!!! Fingers crossed!
These are the times that it is really nice to be able to sew! We can make changes to our garments to better suit our own style!
That was a good idea Anita! I have already chopped it off…decision made. 🙂 I think next time I should do that BEFORE I sew it up! lol
Maybe you could alter it by adding a sheer full length lining(so it shows and fills out the front) Very pretty.
Thanks for visiting Ruth!! Hope you come back often. It was so generous and nice of Sarah to share my blog with her readers. The high low is not for me either so I'm going to try to buy more of this fabric to make it into a maxi. Hopefully.
I hear you! I had the same experience with a high-low hem last summer – I want to love the dress, because I really loved the fabric, and I can't get any more. But it just feels wrong…. The view A with the less pronounced hemline sounds like a good compromise. Hope it works out for you!
I definitely think the less dramatic high-low would suit better if you still want to change it. I'm assuming you aren't super tall? That may be why it feels off to you
I definitely love it! But if you find it difficult to get used to that kind of hem, I think Jenny's idea is pretty good.
The title of your post reminded me of an A-Ha song, hunting high and low…I feel old now 🙂
Your dress turned out great and it suits your tall figure. But you know what you like 🙂
I love the fabric and the twin straps are so cute. I think you can just trim the back and make it as casual summer dress. Have a lovely day, dear xx
I must admit, the high low hem doesn't work for me either! In principle I like the idea but in reality it doesn't do it for me. I think I would just reduce the back a bit.
You would look beautiful in anything, even a sack!
I love this dress! Floral and polka dots, and navy to boot! I thing the high-low hem looks great on you, but I understand that it's different and might take some getting used to. I hope you find a way to love wearing it.