Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Under Consideration


Lanvin Resort 2012
Cotton/Poly Sheath Dress, $3730


I spied this dress on Amanda Seyfried in this month's InTouch magazine, and was really struck by it.  After some research, I found these additional images online.
 
PatternReview is having a "RTW Knock-off" contest next month, which gives me an additional reason to [attempt to] make it a reality.  It wouldn't be expensive to do, but creating all the stripes would take a little bit of time.
 
My hesitation? The double black stripes at center front along the waistline. Is it just me, or does it make her hips appear wider? Please weigh in...
 
In other news, I am photographing the vintage patterns I'd like to sell, and will post them up here in the next few days. Perhaps proceeds will go towards purchased some black and ecru "poly/cotton". $3730??? Seems really ridiculous for a black and white sheath dress...

15 comments:

debbie said...

To my eye that front panel appears to be pegged. Notice how the back stripes seem to wrap around to the front near the hem? If the panel was the same width top to bottom it wouldn't make the hips look wider IMHO.

SewOrange said...

She definitely looks like she has prominent hips, and I'm pretty sure she doesn't! Could you do a double black stripe on the back instead to get a similar effect but not have this problem?

Gail said...

I think horizontal stripes are more flattering than vertical ones. After all you can count the number of stripes needed to cover your girth. Not so with horizontal. Go for it!

Unknown said...

I little more research has uncovered that the skirt has narrow side panels of alternating blocks. Looks more complicated than first thought...

L said...

I'm not feeling the horizontal stripes at the hip. Something doesn't look balanced and the 'hands on the hips' pose isn't helping. I can't quite identify what it is that I don't like. If you watched episode 9 of Project Runway All-stars, Joanna Coles had on a white skirt with black vertical wedges at the waist. It was all kinds of wrong. It looked like her tummy popped the waist seam and split the skirt under stress. I'm not saying that this dress does that, but something's not settling with me.

L said...

Wow, that sounded harsher than I intended! You know I mean well. =)

Amy Bailes said...

I think that her hips appeared wider to your eye because with the double black panel at the waist - her waist appears to be about 3" wide. Just one of the hourglass illusions dresses that I've been seeing lately.

Rebecca said...

I love the dress. Even the black stripe at the hips. It does make her "hippy," but I think it was to create an exaggerated hourglass. This dress is definitely less RTW and more runway. I would totally make/wear the dress because I have absolutely no hips, but it may not work on all figures. I say you should give it a go! Try photoshopping stripes on a pic of you in a sheath dress and see how it looks before you decide to change the design.

Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic) said...

You know you can do whatever you like to make the dress work for you. Personally I would make the white stripe closest to your hips, the black stripes are what my eyes go to first. Maybe if you switched the order up you could change the effect.

AllisonC said...

It is a striking dress. I can't decide if the extra black stripe makes her hips look bigger or her waist look thinner, but either way it will probably emphasise the difference between the two! Of course you don't have to make it exactly as is if you aren't sure about it, just pick the bits you love.

Bunny said...

I immediately thought there were side panels as in back and front you can see how the center sections are pegged. I would eliminate the the side panels completely. I think that would really add to the girth if seen from the side. Maybe that's why we don't see a side photo! I would also keep the stripes in sequence with the black at the waist and a white at the upper hip.

This would look great on your with your beautiful figure.

Jean said...

I think the panel gives an exaggerated hourglass shape, as others have commented. I love the dress and I definitely think you should go for it! Perhaps you can adjust the stripes/panels to find a pattern that you feel suits you?

Alison Esther said...

I feel like the whole point of the dress is to make your waist look teeny tiny and make your hips look bigger. Like an overemphasized hourglass shape. It's kind of fun and avant garde but if it's going to make you feel self-conscious about your hips being emphasized, you'll never wear it. I think it's a fabulous dress!

velosews said...

I like this design, stripes and all. If you have the fabric, you should make it.

Gabrielle said...

I have to agree with Gail that horizontal stripes are generally flattering. I read somewhere that the brain adjusts inwards when estimating their width but I can't remember why! I also suspect that the model's hips look prominent because of the black side panels on the bodice that make her torso look narrower.