6.20.2016

Simplicity 8014: The Not-So-Rambunctious Dress

oonaballoona | simplicity 8014 | a sewing blog by marcy harriell

This is the dress that makes people behave.

oonaballoona | simplicity 8014 | a sewing blog by marcy harriell

Richie. RICHIE. WE GOTTA LEAVE. WE GOTTA LEAVE RIGHT NOW, I GOTTA SEE THIS HAIR. LET'S GO RICHIE.

oonaballoona | simplicity 8014 | a sewing blog by marcy harriell

I smiled despite my New Yorker game face, and turned to acknowledge the pair of gentlemen suddenly following me.

oonaballoona | simplicity 8014 | a sewing blog by marcy harriell

Are you filmin' sumthin? My hair admirer asked. No, I'm shooting my dress, I made it.

oonaballoona | simplicity 8014 | a sewing blog by marcy harriell

YA MADE IT? WELL THAT'S BEEYOOTIFUL! Oh, beeyootiful! Wouldn'tcha liketa shoot it in front of our buliding? Come on, it's right here, hop up on there on that planter! Here, I'll do it for ya! HEY WHAT BUTTON DO I PUSH?!!!

Maybe it's something about the solid color, but this is the dress that makes people behave. And act wonderfully. Could it be that all this time, all I needed was a solid maxi dress to tame the beasts of New York? Right after meeting my artsy gentlemen (who did, indeed, take a picture of me in front of their artsy installation, and then led me back to their 4 building wide courtyard chock FULL of whimsical color, to take another--sadly, blurry--photo) wait, that was a really long parenthetical, lemme start again.

oonaballoona | simplicity 8014 | a sewing blog by marcy harriell

Right after meeting my artsy gentlemen, I walked through a throng of 50 teenagers covering the sidewalk, then a battalion of construction workers on break. Such exemplary behavior! Girls and boys stepped to the side! Hard hats gave nods of gentle appreciation! Only one whistle! On the way home, a man stopped me in the middle of the crosswalk to tell me how fabulous I looked!

oonaballoona | simplicity 8014 | a sewing blog by marcy harriell

I'm not saying this to toot-toot-hey-beep-beep my own horn, I'm saying this because YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT SOLID COLORS. I told Ruggy about the magical powers of this dress, and when he opened his mouth to say you should make another I literally cut him off by stomping my feet on the floor in resistance. Babe, he continued, you should make another in a print, I think the dramatic silhouette is what's hitting people.

oonaballoona | simplicity 8014 | a sewing blog by marcy harriell

WELL LAH DEE DAH TIM GUNN! 

By the way, this is Simplicity 8014, maxified. It almost looks like I need an FBA in this, TO WHICH I LAUGH HEARTILY. I actually have a teeny safety pin above the super low neck snap, for audition purposes (you know, you like them to look at your face when you sing, and not necessarily your left boob when you turn to the side). But normally, I'd wear this indecently open. The pockets gave me a bit of grief-- way too small for my paws! I went back in after the whole shebang was finished, and sewed them in to the side seams at 5/8ths-- they were making a weird curve at the hip with the suggested 3/8ths. 

I also took the back in a bit, adding a center pleat on the back bodice.I had a little instagram vote on sleeves, and once again went with the advice of my own personal Tim Gunn, who weighed in on the opinion of the Cut In Sleeves party. They say it'll be too Rambo. 

He raised an eyebrow. And that's a bad thing because....?

oonaballoona | simplicity 8014 | a sewing blog by marcy harriell

(Rambo at the ready, in front of the art installation! Perhaps when I make one in a print, I'll head back to the courtyard for a shoot...)

I do think I'll be making another. I feel elegant walking around in this! Do you have an ensemble that makes people behave differently than you'd expect?

58 comments:

  1. Smart dress with great shape! Totally worth making in several colours! :)

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  2. I feel honored to have seen the power of your hair. It really is captivating. Second, I see you and your parenthetical references. Third, I love the dress. I think dark and maxi really do show calm and control, no? And, finally, I fully support side boob. Maybe even for auditions too.

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    1. that parenthetical reference was TOTALLY FOR YOU. and if i had enough boob to give side, i'd give you that too.

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  3. This is very, very nice. The dress looks the backdrop for very colorful accessories you know. Lots & lots of bling. Just a very classy look all the way around.

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  4. Anything in a bright turquoise makes people sit up and listen to me. Don't know why that is.

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    1. i think turquoise is supposed to be a power/spiritual color, isn't it? a quick search brought this up, though i bet there's a lengthier article on the subject: http://www.indians.org/articles/turquoise.html

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    2. A 1980s shirtwaist dress in a big wallpaper stripe in black, vivid turquoise, royal blue, and deep fuschia brought me compliments from all sorts of people who were unknown to me, in the shy state of Wisconsin even. Even DH liked that dress. It was a Style pattern, still lurking somewhere in my stash ... will look it out and tell you the number later.

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    3. Style 4906, from 1986 -- view 3. Sans giant shoulder pads, this pattern would be right in fashion now. I should cut out a dress or two from it ... or from 4613, also from 1986. It's a Bruce Oldfield for Style. Now that I have old lady slim hips and no butt anymore, I could make the 1986 size 12 and get it to close in front.

      Although it looks more like you than like me. I should probably mail you 4613 to play with.

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  5. This is stunning! I love how full and swishy the skirt looks!

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  6. I love yours! You do look like a dramatic diva, worth of parting crowds on the sidewalk.

    I'm smitten with this pattern myself - I'm now working on version #3 and they each look totally different. I heartily think you need a second in a print too. :D

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    1. maybe a wax print!! now, if you'd had one of these on for the backyard redo, you could have parted the weeds with the power of your skirt :)))

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  7. I love yours! You do look like a dramatic diva, worth of parting crowds on the sidewalk.

    I'm smitten with this pattern myself - I'm now working on version #3 and they each look totally different. I heartily think you need a second in a print too. :D

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  8. Beautiful! I have this pattern as well. Pinned for inspiration!

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  9. Props to Ruggy for knowing the term "silhouette"! It's a lovely dress and I especially love the way you did white topstitching on the inside but not the outside. That's a really cool touch. Filing it away in my brain for later use. Or maybe I'll just pin since my brain is rather forgetful..

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    1. right?! he is constantly coming up with that kind of thing...

      i completely forgot to mention the inner topstitching! i was pretty pleased with that ;)

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  10. Lobe this! I have been looking at making a maxi length shirt dress in blue linen - seeing this pushes it up the list. Whenever I wear my colours blocked Moneta dress (its blue with black roll collar) I get treated like a lady , unlike the ususal which is being treated like a frazzled mum😂. Hila @saturdaynightstitch

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    1. frazzled mums should always be treated like a lady! a queen lady, even.

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  11. Lobe this! I have been looking at making a maxi length shirt dress in blue linen - seeing this pushes it up the list. Whenever I wear my colours blocked Moneta dress (its blue with black roll collar) I get treated like a lady , unlike the ususal which is being treated like a frazzled mum😂. Hila @saturdaynightstitch

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  12. �� I love this dress!! The length, the style, and yes, even the solid color are working together to make this dress badass. You should definitely make another! ��

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  13. Fabulous. I was just thinking my next project should be a shirt-dress, and this post tipped the needle in favor of this pattern (which is handily already in my stash)!

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    1. i've always admired shirt dresses on others, but i needed more length to get it on my bod ;)!

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  14. I think it's more about you in the dress than just the dress that makes 'em behave. Love the top stitching. Do we consider speckled fabric solid? For you I guess it's a solid. ;-)

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  15. bam! don't make one, make five! that dress is fucking fabulous, and you look stellar in it!
    i actually have made pretty similar dress few months ago, exept that mine is black&white print, and yup, it does make people behave, so it's deffinitely the dramatic silhouette that does the trick.. i'm so stealing your idea, and makind one in solid color, and with rambo version instead of short sleeves (and this time i might even sew enough buttons, as with the b&w version i got bored sewing them, installed only few, so they stop at the waist and i can not wear it without leggings or shorts underneath)

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    1. sis, it was all i could do to put 5 snaps in this thing, instead of throwing one in the waist and making it a leggings/shorts only dress ;)). i don't know, with a little pair of hotpants underneath, you would REALLY stop traffic!

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  16. OMG! It's like you took the Milky Way out of the sky and turned it into THIS DRESS! Eeep. I am dead. That is all.

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  17. Once I pick my jaw up off the floor, DAMN! You look smashing! :) love the silhouette. Now I want a maxi shirtdress. 😂

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  18. I really like the dress. I would like this dress pattern lol

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  19. This is a great dress! But I think I told you that when you showed it on IG.

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  20. I love it, there is a lot of drama in the solid colour and the shape. v impressed its having a positive effect on people!

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  21. Damn, that is one amazing dress!
    Serious worship though for getting past one ugly set of cover art on that pattern envelope - inspiring it aint but your version? Your version is every kind of inspiring!

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    1. I should add that I'm referring to the floral maxi drawing on the envelope as it really doesn't do justice to the pattern.

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    2. i know what you mena, somehow that floral view looks clunky--kind of like the print wasn't sized down for the drawing...

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  22. Wow, well this dress sure knows how to make a lasting impression!

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  23. I think there's something about a maxi that makes people straighten up and take notice. When I wear my navy By Hand London maxi Anna I get all sorts of recognition, and not just in the 'wow that's pretty' way.... I know you love your prints, but you're rocking that solid, woman!

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    1. solids, my nemesis! yet, there's the bonus of actually getting to wear this to "work." now you're making me want a solid anna....

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  24. Gorgeous!! The drama certainly comes from the cut of this dress and of course its stunning wearer!

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  25. YAY! Love your version BEST! The back is amazing and I just love the length and shape! I have some outfits that I have a similar reaction---and I need to remind myself to make more of them! hahahaha :-)

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  26. You look gorgeous. I've never actually finished anything before and this makes me want to give sewing another go. Love the solid colour.

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    1. thank you! ah, but you must finish something...once you get to say "thanks i made it" out loud, you'll be hooked!

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  27. Gorgeous! The dramatic shape is amazing! I'm not really a maxi person but I would so wear this!

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  28. Beautiful, you inspire me to make, I love long dresses makes you feel all elegant.

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  29. Beautiful. It's a nice simple, elegant shape. Maybe someday I will sew a solid color dress. :-)

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  30. Absolutely FABULOUS! Greetings from across the oceans! I want one too!

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  31. I just discovered your blog, and thank you for giving me a few hours of color and print happiness! I was just at the Philadelphia Art Museum, where I found an entire room wallpapered with giant swatches of African wax-print fabrics, with a center island filled with amazing modern garments made from these fabrics. I couldn't post any of my sub-par iPhone photos here, but if you can get to Philly, go see the Creative Africa exhibition! And let me know if you want me to send you photos.

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  32. I just discovered your blog, and thank you for giving me a few hours of color and print happiness! I was just at the Philadelphia Art Museum, where I found an entire room wallpapered with giant swatches of African wax-print fabrics, with a center island filled with amazing modern garments made from these fabrics. I couldn't post any of my sub-par iPhone photos here, but if you can get to Philly, go see the Creative Africa exhibition! And let me know if you want me to send you photos.

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  33. Love the dress and love the narrative. I agree with Ruggy, it's the drama! You definitley need one in a wacky print although this solid one is just perfect.

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  34. Love love love this dress!! It looks great on you!

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  35. Hey Oona...It's been so long. You dress is lovely! It has a sophistication about it that stops people in their tracks. Beautiful dress and beautiful person. Your coloured ensembles are wild and sassy but this plain one has muted beauty...hehe, Loved your post.

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  37. When I pair my wide-legged white pants (self-made) with my white, turquoise-embroidered Indian blouse, people look at me like I'm wearing designer.
    I think it's the combination of classy colour with the classy shape of the pants and the AWESOME embroidery which I'm totally not responsible for. Here go quiet public words of thanks to the anonymous person somewhere in India who made that awesome blouse. You'll probably never know it, but there's a girl in the Czech Republic the blouse you made WAS MADE FOR.

    I agree with Ruggy, it's the shape. It's like a female version of a Badass Longcoat.

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i thankya truly for taking the time to comment, i love a good conversation-- and hope you know my thanks are always implied, if not always written!