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The Poppy ESP Dress

Hey there, friends!

 

It sure feels like spring around these parts! Quite apropos for this dress, me thinks!

 

poppy 1

(Of course it was foggy when I took these photos and this doesn’t look too “spring” like, does it?)

This is one of the fabrics that came before the pattern. (You know — “what came first, the fabric or the pattern?”).  This large scale print needed a pattern as wonderful as it is to show off it’s bright floral amazing-ness.  In walked the Decades Everyday ESP dress!

[source: Decades of Style Patterns]

With simple lines and pattern pieces just waiting to be filled with bright, colorful fabric, the ESP dress was the perfect candidate.  After I made my first ESP in a novelty quilting cotton, I felt ready to cut into this beautiful silk linen.  This dress was cut and sewn in a day and gives somewhat immediate satisfaction.  I wanted something new to wear for a visit to San Francisco (including Britex’s President’s Day sale!) and this was it!

poppy 2

While the ESP pattern is the backbone of this dress, the fabric really is the star of the show.  This is a Nanette Lepore multi-color silk linen from Mood.  I had been eyeing it on the Mood site for a little while, but when I saw it on Sonja’s blog, it sealed the deal for me.  The Mood photo does not do this fabric justice and seeing it made into something as lovely as Sonja’s Scout top.  Yep, I had serious fabric lust.

poppy collage 1

I made this version of the ESP dress in much the same manner as my first one.  It’s graded up one size, has a sway back adjustment on the bodice, with the only other alteration being a smaller skirt as I was dealing with narrow fabric (44″) and limited yardage.  This is a voluminous gathered skirt, so it doesn’t do much to the sizing of this dress — it just makes it a bit less of the “cupcake” shape.

poppy collage 2

I don’t know why the neckline on the back looks askew in the photo, but it isn’t

I added a skirt lining with some pink cotton batiste from my stash as this fabric is very slightly see-through and I’m lazy about wearing slips.  It has the facings plus I [half-assed…] stitched one of my “sewn with Mood” tags in.

poppy back

poppy 3

I sure received a lot of compliments whilst wearing this dress.  Not only around fabric savvy folks in fabric stores (I went to three that day), but also from passersby on the street.  I was even photographed by tourists on a sightseeing bus while standing outside of Britex waiting for my husband to pick me up (Yes, thankfully he did NOT shop with me that day!).  This fabric is just so glorious and bright it deserves to go out on the town, doesn’t it?  I love this dress so much that I’ve had it hanging in my bedroom since I wore it so that I can revel in it’s loveliness.  I honestly can’t get enough of it.

poppy 4

clarion alley

And in Clarion Alley in the Mission, San Francisco

And I’ve already worn this dress again! 🙂

Happy Sewing!

signature

  • Dress:  Decades Everyday #101 ESP dress in Nanette Lepore silk linen, made by me
  • Shoes:  Swedish Hasbeens Peep Toe Super High
  • Belt:  Macy’s
  • Earrings:  Bauble Bar

Comments

  4. Everything about this dress is fantastic the fabric, the pattern placement, the fit. Swoon worthy! You really have the most amazing wardrobe. xx

  6. Silk linen and Nanette Lepore?! Absolutely beautiful fabric and you’ve shown it off so well with this dress. You look beautiful amid the fog.

  7. Beyond gorgeous! You (and Sonja!) carry this print off effortlessly, and I love the simple silhouette that you chose so that the fabric could really shine. No wonder you got compliments from strangers!

  8. I’m not going to thank you for linking to that fabric, which was in my shopping cart before finishing your post. I loved it and passed when Sonja made it, but ugh, may not be able to resist now. You look amazing in that dress! Especially in the fog, such a contrast 🙂

  13. You aren’t kidding that the Mood online swatch does NOT do that fabric justice! I go crazy for huge scale prints like that. This turned out SO fabulous! I have some ideas about the Americana novelty home decor linen cotton (it looks like a vintage print, but is not likely vintage- I bought it at Mill End in MN) now because of how well this is deployed. What would I do without you? You are such an inspiration!

    • Thanks, Laura! 🙂 Yes, I couldn’t even tell by the Mood photo that it was such a large print — which is something I love!! Although I really have to think before I use such a print as it doesn’t want to marred by too many pattern pieces! I can’t wait to see what you do with your fabric!

    • It actually wasn’t that day, but it has been raining for for the last two days. We had a week or so of very warm temps, so it’s great that the moisture has returned! 🙂

      The silk linen is marvelous! This is the first time I’ve sewed with it. I love how it doesn’t wrinkle as much as 100% linen and has a little bit of sheen to it. Really great to sew with as well!

    • Thanks, Qui!! 🙂 I’m so happy when an outfit comes together like that! i just need to get some more belts as I don’t think I’m lacking on shoes…. haha 🙂

    • Thanks, Nicole!!! 🙂 It is some really nice fabric that’s great to sew with. It doesn’t wrinkle as much as pure linen and is a little shinier. That’s probably the first I felt some, too, when it arrived on my doorstep!

  18. Gah! This is just perfection. I may have to copy you exactly, as I’ve already been convinced that I need this pattern in my life and now I can’t image making it with any better fabric! This biggest problem that I can find with this dress is how you are going to avoid wearing it every single day!

  20. Awww man, this fabric is my favorite!! I saw some more at the store when I went a few days ago and was seriously tempted! The colors look AMAZING on you! What a fabulous dress!

      • You are welcome.. I think this is one of the prettiest fabrics I have seen , in a long time. I agree the colors are great for lots of complexions.. Love your blog colors too.. perfect…

  22. This is such a pretty dress and the fabric colors are so nice! You look very good in it! (Your dogs are so good at photo bombing your photos! I love it!) Enjoy your creative day!

  25. Tanya, it is indeed a lovely dress. As a fabric novice, I am not familiar with silk linen, but just the name sounds absolutely yummy. You certainly have created a winner!

    • Thank you, Robin! 🙂 This is my first time sewing with silk linen. I prefer it to 100% linen and cotton linen and it’s super great to sew with. It also washed well in cold water and didn’t lose any of it’s color. 🙂

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Mrs. Hughes: A retro inspired, vintage garment sewing and plus-size dressmaking blog by Tanya Maile Hughes.