Back in September, my husband and I attend a benefit for our local schools with my sister, cousins, and some friends. This event featured a Bobby Flay style cooking showdown with some of our area’s best chefs (and lots of tasting, of course!). There was also a fashion show hosted by several local boutiques featuring their latest styles. During the fashion show, glam ladies passed around lip gloss minis from an awesome local makeup line, carrying them like cocktails on silver trays–so cute! It was this fashionable aspect of the event that inspired me to make my own dress for the evening. I wanted something cute and trendy, something maybe a bit different than everything else in my closet, so I chose Simplicity 2178. Plus, this would be my first time to wear a me-made garment into public.
The fabric is a synthetic woven from Hancock Fabrics that was not ideal for a new sewist because of its drapiness but it all worked out. I cut a straight 14 in this pattern, but in hindsight, I needed a full bust adjustment. Some of the instructions weren’t clear to me at the time, like understitching the facing and how to position the invisible zip. I also didn’t pay enough attention to the pattern markings on the seams where the waistband joins the bodice and skirt. I have made this dress again with much better technique and I will post pictures of that one soon.
I omitted the shoulder strap because I didn’t like it and the dress was fine without it. I used a little doublesided tape just to be safe:)
The best part of the evening was dancing the night away with my honey to eighties tunes covered by one of our best local bands. To top it all off, my dress got its picture in not one, but two, local magazines!
On the “pink” carpet. I think most, if not all, of the other ladies featured in this spread were wearing clothes from the fashion show.
I definitely recommend this pattern and may still make the two strap version with the longer skirt at some point.
More finished sewing projects to come soon as well as some Mardi Gras festivities so stay tuned!
Susie Homemaker, MD 
Katrina, you are so crafty…and inspiring. Great great job!
Thanks, Kristen. You still need to come sew with me! 🙂
Awesome!! You’re a local celeb 🙂 I totally have to see those magazine pics in person.
Thanks! Sure thing 🙂
Did you finish your skirt??
Hi Sis,
I like your Blog!
Thanks, Dad. Love you, too 🙂
Holy moly, you are talented beyond words!
Thanks. I’d say you’re pretty talented yourself after seeing your blog and seeing you finish a project before anyone else yesterday! 🙂
*Love* this dress! I think it looks great as a one-shoulder version. Makes me want a dress in this style. The print is really cool & very flattering on you! Oh, P.S. that’s really neat to have been featured in two magazines 🙂
Thanks! 🙂
Your dress is tooo cute! Looks great on you. I make a wrap skirt out of this fabric and I love it! You rock, Girl!
Thank you so much! Would love to see your wrap skirt — bet it’s beautiful!!