Some garments have a very distinctive journey when I’m sewing them…this one was a road trip from hell…I continually had to tell the little kid in my head who repeatedly chanted… are we there yet ? are we there yet?…. To SHUT UP!!
I have expressed my love for rayon…it’s perfect…except when it’s a plaid and you’ve decided to make a long button front dress! For many of you, you have the patience to tackle this kind of project and love it. I don’t. I want easy. Well you don’t always get what you want….except all the hair pulling moments with this dress did pay off because…look at this dress…. I love it!
I got all trendy and paired it with my jeans underneath too. And I got all bold and pulled my best Angelina Jolie leg pose for ya! Finishing this dress gave me all kinds of misdirected confidence…..
Ok, let’s get to the nitty gritty. The pattern is Vogue 8903 in a plaid rayon from Fabricville. I choose view E with the length of view F. I thought that I might wear this with jeans or boots and that the longer length would work.
I interfaced the pockets and cut them on the bias which helped them keep their shape when I topstitched them on. I wish now that I had cut the back yoke on the bias as well but at the time I was short on fabric and didn’t want to go get more… I did do my best to match the plaid so I’ll be content with that.
I love the tabs on the sleeves and I opted for the mandarin collar for something different.
So…tell me. What are you thoughts on the “dress over pants” trend? I think that it could be practical for winter months which is a nice change for fashion…
Long time reader coming out of lurking to comment-I love your plaid! You did a super job!
I would have said ‘meh’ for the winter dresses over pants trend – but your outfit works well on you.
I suspect the layering – especially a heavy cloth like jeans-might not work well for those of us with a pear shaped silhouette. 🙁 Ah well! Celebrating what looks good, I’ll probably stick with a dress over smooth leggings and boots, and the visual lengthening pendants and long scarves.
I enjoy reading your blog.
Thanks for commenting Sylvia!! You have a good point, this rayon is light so guess it works ok over the jeans.
Great look Margo!
Thank you Faye!!
Great topper! and I agree – rayon is trying, but it’s so worth it!
Always worth it! Thank you Coco!
I love the look!! I love the plaid which is very NW where I live. We have a lot of plaid flannel up here in Washington but using rayon would work well over pants and not grab at them like flannel. Great choice and you did a fantastic job!
Thank you Paula! Yes, flannel would stick to pants quite a bit.
This is gorgeous! Working with the rayon and it’s challenges was so worth it, IMHO. Love how you styled it and can see you adding a turtleneck under this when it gets colder to winterize it.
Adding a layer would work great for winter. Thanks Carolyn!
I can’t say I generally like the dress over pants thing BUT I really like your styling here. I think keeping the bottom open makes it look more like a floaty outer layer than a dress. It’s very striking! And it’s a beautifully finished piece — no small feat with a tricky print and fabric!
Thank you Helene!
Nice dress! I also love the “dress over pants”
Thanks Jill!
Love it, well done!
Thank you Tany!
um. GIMMIE!!!! rayon plaid?! this is perfection! i love this look, especially because it’s a shirtdress over pants.
Thank you Marcy!
As always I’m inspired!
Awww thanks Brenna1
This gave me a flashback to sometime around 1973-74 when I wore a sundress over a turtle neck and flared trousers. I loved that outfit and wore it to death. Am glad to see it’s return and especially your rendition of it.
That sounds like an awesome outfit! Thanks Mary!
VERY nice.
Thank you Peg!
Great job! And I love how you’ve paired this dress with jeans. I would never have thought to do that but I think it feels very modern and chic. I’m in the middle of a dress project right now that I’m anxious to be finished with already. I think as your sewing skills grow, the longer it takes to finish a project because you’re not willing to ignore mistakes.
Very true Carmen. Thanks!
Beautiful, I love this shirt dress!
I’m so in love with this outfit, I don’t know what to say! That plaid is beautiful and you can totally pull it off over jeans! And it will be great on it’s own. Gorgeous!
It’s fun and a little different for me. Thanks Heather!
Hey Margo. Just found this on Pintrest and realized that I never told you how much I love this dress. (I didn’t know there was a trend towards dresses over pants, but I suppose this works. It would probably be good over leggings too.
I have to agree with you about that rayon plaid, beautiful stuff, pain in the ass to work with! Slipping & twisting & stretching on the bias. Frustrating!
Beautiful! I love this look too, it looks great on you Margo. You did a great work 🙂
Great results and how you have it styled is just fabulous. Love the jeans, belt and heels. I think it would work well with knee high boots as well. Beautiful!!
What a stylish Fall outfit!!! I can predict you will wear this dress many different ways. Fabulous job with the matching. You look gorgeous as always! 🙂
All of your hard work certainly paid off! It’s a beautiful dress. Love the way you styled it.
That is a lovely autumnal dress. I am not convinced about dresses over pants but with time will probably get used to the idea. It would be practical for winter.
I like how you styled it. The way you left it open at the bottom made me think at first it was a long cardigan. I’ve seen some other dress over jeans styling on Pinterest that were pretty iffy. Yours works though. I love the plaid.
Beautifully styled! Your plaid dress turned out great. It was worth all of the hair pulling.
I’m with you on projects that are quick and minimal fuss, but I have a love for plaid that just won’t quit. This dress? Shirt? Is awesome, and I love it over the jeans (which I would never have thought to do and am not trendy enough to have discovered on my own, HA!) Great job!
I LOVE this outfit! I have been sewing for the past year and am realizing how adventurous it makes us in trying out new styles we never thought to buy before. Super cute and thanks for the wonderful inspiration 🙂