Sunday, December 9, 2012

Vogue 1177 Anna Sui Dress & Slip



This really is fun. When I finished my Loes Hinse duster, I realized I wanted more - more detail sewing that is!   It is so enjoyable to work with many pieces and finishes and to see a garment come together. Even better, to modify a pattern and see one's own ideas come forward. 

Anna Sui designs do not always suit me, sometimes they seem a little unpurposed (ok, young, clubby, girly...) but that is surely not a deterrent. I like the basics of some of her designs, and I'm perfectly happy to modify a bit. And her Vogue patterns work very very well.


This dress (or tunic as I made it) has sooo many elements. Reading the pattern is like shopping a candy store. And that is just the dress. I did not even unfold the included slip pattern (a classic slip, cut on the bias. Totally icing on the cake for me, as I did not have this pattern in my inventory).



My fabric is a 55/45 linen/rayon blend from Fashion Fabrics Club. In the online description, the picture, and actually the fabric itself when it arrived, it was dusty purple! After three prewashes of the fabric - definitely blue! But very nice, slubby, and soft, without any sheen from the rayon content.

Elements I modified:
  • The pattern uses 1/4" pleats to gather the fabric in the upper sleeve, and in the front and back bodice below the yoke. I pinned these pleats on one bodice front and formed a square with two rulers around my bust apex. Voila! A perfect cupping of my breast. Not. 


  • Simple fix. I replaced the pleats with gathers spread across a greater width. Here you can see the gathers on the bodice front and upper sleeve...

  • The waist casing and drawstring tie definitely would not work in my fabric, it would be too heavy. I made the casing into a waistband by working with my hip measurement plus some ease. And took 3" out of the back casing, and 1 1/2" out of each front casing.
  • The original skirt was too full for the reduced waistband. I narrowed the skirt pieces so that they were  about  1 1/2  times the width of the band. Just enough to achieve a soft gather that would not flounce out too much.

    Isn't this double fold detail above the hem beautiful?

  • Since I wanted a long tunic, not a dress, I shortened the skirt by 2". I am 5"7" - this dress was short before I lopped it :-)
  • And I made a simple closed band for the sleeve cuff. The pattern comes with a lapped and buttoned cuff.  


On Emile, the inside of the tunic. The pattern has really pretty construction details. And I had a bit of fun here. The waistband facing and hem binding are Tonga Batik City Abstract.




Curiosity led me to a search on the web for this dress in Anna Sui pret-a-porter. Found it, 2010, in silk for $571!!





Perfect Florida winter-wear. Loving this. 

Bye! Coco

20 comments:

  1. I love Anna Sui and you have made it even better! I have avoided this pattern becasue the drawstring waist is a bad look on these hips, but now I think I need to make up yours- and to spare Anna's feelings, I'll use a gaudy print from my fresh Anna Sui stash! YOu look too adorable!!!

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    1. Thank you! I saw your new stash...jealous. You will look fab in whatever you make with it. And BTW, I don't think the drawstring waist would be a good look on any hips!

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  2. That's a lot of work (i.e., I wouldn't do it!), but it turned out really great!

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  3. Your tunic is wonderful! It looks great on you, and your choice of the solid color fabric really highlights the pleats and seaming details that you executed beautifully.

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    1. Thanks so much, Audrey. I really enjoyed working with the pattern, and I agree, the solid really shows off the elements so much more than a print would do. I am such a picky sewist, I think the finish tells the story - this gave me lots of opportunity to practice!

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  4. wow this is a wonderful dress - so much detail. beautiful

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  5. That's just cute as can be! You have such a nice, slim figure to wear this type of garment. Wow--to be able to replicate something that is so expensive is an real accomplishment. Nice work.

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    1. Thank you, Gwen. It really was fun to find the dress online for so much! I'm just glad that designers share their patterns with us :-)

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  6. It can be do satisfying to make something with a lot of detail, and it's come out perfect!

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    1. Indeed! I know you speak from experience, love your blog and appreciate your attention to the details of fit and workmanship.

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  7. How cute is this! You're giving Ana Sui a run for the money. I truly love all of your careful and precise detailing and you look fabulous in it!

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  8. Hi Coco,

    I’ve nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blog/One Lovely Blogger Award http://goodbyevalentino.com/2012/12/12/thanks-cherry-pix/

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    1. Thank you so very much, Sarah. I am so complimented and appreciate your comments. BTW - my first blog award :-)

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  9. Superb craftsmanship. Thank you for sharing the details.

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  10. Valerie, thank you so much - I will have to stand up straight more often! Lovely compliment.

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  11. Great job! I have that pattern on my to sew list, maybe now I will get around to making it. You look lovely!

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I love it that you came by...and thank you for your comments! Coco