Navy Midi Dress + Birthday Recap

Thanks everyone for all your lovely comments on my Autumn Hemp Donna Karan Dress and for all the Birthday Wishes!  I had an amazing 40th Birthday and wanted to share more about what we did and what I wore!

worn here: Navy Midi Dress, Autumn Hemp Silk Donna Karan Wrap Dress/Jacket V1384, Navy Pumps, Tapestry Tote from AIC

I made this Navy Midi dress to wear with my gold dress (as a jacket) to keep my look a little more casual and daytime appropriate.  I wanted a slim silhouette for layering and thought Navy would be a good contrast to the gold.  I drafted this dress and whipped it up pretty quickly.  It’s nowhere as complicated as the gold dress/jacket.  It was sewn on my Serger with top stitching and hemming on the Coverstitch.  What a timesaver!  Love that machine!

I took my knit sloper, lengthened it to a dress and added curved seams from slightly off-center front curving down to the hem.  This was easy to do just drawing directly onto my tracing paper to the shape I wanted and then adding in my SA. I angled the shoulders straight across past the armhole for the sleeves.  I really like this silhouette. I kept a decent amount of ease for comfort and made sure not to make the hem too narrow so I can comfortably walk.

 All the Details:

Fabric–  Organic Cottons Plus, Midnight Stretch Jersey (this fabric has 10% Spandex so the recovery is awesome!)

Notions– Black and Navy Thread

Pattern– Self Drafted

For my birthday my Mom, daughter Amelie and I went to the Baker Museum in Naples to see Fashioning the 70’s-YVES SAINT LAURENT + HALSTON.  The exhibit focuses on how these two very different designers from different continents influenced the fashion of the era in remarkable similar ways.  It so interesting to see there works side by side and see the construction and detail in person.   An amazing exhibit-so inspiring!  I never was a huge fan of 70’s fashion but this exhibit changed my mind. I’ve already ordered a vintage Yves Saint Laurent Pattern-albeit from the 90’s-to try out. Here’s a little glimpse into the exhibit.  If you’re local it’s a must see!

My mom was in seventh heaven as this was the era of her youth.  She was telling me of similar looks she sewed up herself in the late 70’s to 80’s-when these designs filtered down to everyday wear.  We took a relatively quick tour since my 4 year old’s patience only goes so far.  One of the nicest parts of this museum is the lovely craft room for kids.  Ami had a blast coloring her fashion illustration!

After the exhibit we had a quick snack and then checked out all the sculptures and walked around the Philharmonic.  Ami’s favorite part was going up and down the fancy carpeted stairs and the elevators!  Then we headed out to join my sister for lunch at Season’s 52.  What a birthday treat! The food was Amazing-the dessert carousal to die for!!!! So nice to spend the day with just us girls.

Happy sewing!