Retro Chick Designs a Frock – An Update

by Retro Chick
July 29, 2011
14 Comments
1 minute read
87 Views
13 years ago

Squeeeee! Remember the frock you all voted on? Well, I thought you might like a little update.

This was the eventual winner was a nice slim fitting day dress with a contrast trim and puffed sleeves.

Well, Lady K Loves has been hard at work and we now have a very rough Muslin of the made up dress!

There’s still a few changes to make. The sleeves will be slightly shorter and with more “puff” and the neckline is being lowered very slightly. I’ve also asked Kessie if we can make the skirt slightly looser, so it’s less like a pencil skirt. You can also see that we added a bust seam that wasn’t in the original drawing to give it a nicer fit.

This is the fabric I think we’re going to make it up in. It’s a gorgeous striped fabric which will be perfect for that glorious summer that I KNOW is just around the corner, I’m thinking straw hat, crochet gloves, glass of Pimms. Bliss.

I think it could be worn into autumn as well with a thicker pair of stockings and some sturdy brown leather accessories! I do like to make sure my frocks do double duty!

Hopefully it shouldn’t be too long now before you can see a finished product. If you pop over to Andi B Goode you can see how her 50s wrap dress is coming along too!

What do you think so far?

14 Comments

Wednesday March July 29, 2011

Lovely! Can we have some for the shop, please?!
- Retro Chick July 29, 2011
  
  You’d need to talk to Lady K Loves about that!
  
  I believe it’s going to be very limited edition!
Perdita July 29, 2011

Like it! The striped fabric is SO English summertime, strolling along a prom to a Victorian hotel for a drink on their terrace.

Your styling of summer colours with tan accessories has been a revelation to me for making my summer faves last from spring to autumn. It’s so stylish- total genius!
- Retro Chick July 29, 2011
  
  Thank you! That’s not sarcastic is it? *narrows eyes*
  
  Yep, I’m thinking a nice smart jacket over it for autumn would work too, maybe a navy blazer.
Jessie at Fashion Limbo July 29, 2011

Looking VERY interesting right now, cannot wait to see the end product and seeing you wearing it 🙂
BurlyQLady July 29, 2011

OH wow, it’s beautiful! I’m excited about this. Could you pleasssseee start designing things for http://bit.ly/chicstarclothes ? I had a look at some of their new designs (I like to post about their cheap pinup dresses, etc.) but they were sooo awful and just not wearable! I think they could use your expertise. What do you think?
- Retro Chick July 29, 2011
  
  Oooh, I’ve never seen that site before, I’ll have a nosy!
LandGirl1980 July 29, 2011

Tan accessories IS stylish – well – I bloody hope so – or I look like a knobber most of the time!? (dont answer that!)

Love the fabric idea – but I think the cut on me would look awful. But I am very much looking forward to seeing it upon you!
Rach July 29, 2011

Oh wowzas, it looks gorgeous so very you
Lori Smith July 29, 2011

Gorgeous! That’ll look amazing on you 🙂

Can we buy them too?
Sarah July 29, 2011

It will be very pretty but I like the original design better I think. The bust seam may be quite unflattering for curvier ladies. Also I love the shade of midnight blue in the original drawing
Wendy July 29, 2011

I think its going to be very nice indeed, although I wish it didnt have a bust seam. Counts it out completely for a lot of larger chested ladies. I wouldnt even be able to think about it.
Suzy July 30, 2011

This dress is going to be stunning. I’m really looking forward to seeing the finished product and, perhaps, purchasing it, hehe! You must feel very proud right now, well done! 🙂
Lady K Loves August 7, 2011

Hello!
It’s coming along great and will be with you next week. I love the dress so far and hope you love it to when it arrives!
I just wanted to take the opportunity to say thank you for all the great feed back on here and answer some of the questions.
The haberdashery which everything is from (excluding zips and thread), for this project is called Wayward and is on the south coast and all of the fabric is vintage (pre-60’s and in some cases earlier). These are very limited, with 1 per size plus one for the blogger/designer, Andi & Gemma, so no wholesale sadly and a price of £90 each.
With regards to the cut and fabrics, Gemma and I had a conversation and she showed me pictures of the kind of thing she wanted. Many of them were quite boxy, which worked great on a 30’s style boyish figure (with taped down boobs and an enthusiasm for not eating very much), however they don’t always translate well on to a curvier more modern figure. There were conversations about cutting the skirt on the bias to provide some give, however due to fabric choices this isn’t possible.
There was a lovely midnight blue cotton in the shop, but this is what Gemma, as the designer wanted, so the trim is a milk/lavender grey ribbon with this lovely blue stripe. It will be slightly different but will keep the playful attitude of the original drawing.
There have been some alterations to the pattern from this original toile, Not included in this post (thankfully!) is a dreadful picture of me wearing it to help give a better idea of the cut and fit, as the tailors dummy pictured has an odd bust (small but very pert, making fitting things very difficult). In fact the hip/waist ratio is hour-glass friendly, the sleeves will be slightly shorter, puffier on the shoulder and have plenty of room in the circumference. Finally the under bust seam will be moved down about 2 inches (after trying on) and in fact, is cut for a larger bust, frankly there is too much fabric for someone with next to no boobs like myself. The bust seam decision was mine, as my experience with boxier tops, is that it can cut the body at the wrong point, drawing attention to the waist and robbing the wearer of their natural shape. Having an higher seam like that helps flatten the tummy, elongate the body and legs (by not making a clear distinction of where one ends and the other begins) and draw attention to the wearers natural strengths (bust, neck, face and smile!).
But of course the finished picture will tell it all so keep your eye’s peeled for the final thing.
Full hip, waist, bust and sleeve measurements will be on the items page on the web site to help inform buying, plus I’m always on hand to help.

LKL x