There has been a flurry of wrap dresses appearing on sewing blogs and Instagram posts the last couple of months. It happened ever since Simplicity announced the re-release of the vintage Diane Von Furstenberg (DVF) Vogue 1549 for the 50th anniversary. This re-issued DVF wrap dress pattern is now listed as Vogue 2000.
Most of the early Vogue 2000 wrap dress makers appear to have received complimentary patterns and made their beautiful iconic creations in knit fabrics. I already have a couple of DVF knit wrap dresses made with vintage Vogue 1610. I am quite happy with these DVF wrap dresses made with OOP and vintage Vogue 1610. I'm not sure I want another knit version of a DVF wrap dress.
I am, however, intrigued by the option of sewing an iconic DVF wrap dress in a woven fabric. It will certainly be a cooler option to wear in the summertime prairie heat.
The one thing that stalled this project and jumping on the DVF reissued pattern bandwagon was the cost of ordering it via Simplicity from outside of the United States. Pattern prices for Canadian residents went up 17% and the international shipping costs--oy! But then I discovered a copy was available on Amazon, bye-bye twenty U.S. dollar shipping costs, hello Vogue 2000. Sure, I could have waited until it became available in local stores after the spring release (it is available now). But Vogue patterns are even a pricey option here north of the Canada / United States border. Fabricland is the only retailer that carries Vogue patterns and their membership only discount on patterns have decreased to 25% off, while Vogue pattern prices increased to $42.00 Canadian. Again--oy! I was really thankful for finding this pattern through another source at a below Canadian and U.S. sewing retailer's listed price plus free shipping. I would not be celebrating the 50th anniversary and sewing this DVF design otherwise.
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So, now that hunting down and adjusting the pattern is done, it's down to finding a woven fabric for the project. This also proved to be a challenge, while I was searching through the stash for a suitable fabric I ended up re-organizing the stash. Ah, sweet, sweet procrastination. I finally found a soft, light-weight denim coloured Chambray, one of the suggested fabrics listed on the pattern envelope.
And then the project stalled again after I tried it on mid-completion to check the fit. Oy!
The neckline is too low, way too low to feel comfortable while wearing this dress. After the initial try-on it appears that dress is a must have a camisole or undershirt type of garment and that was not what I was looking for at all. So much for having a wrap dress in a cooler fabric to wear in the hot prairie summers. But I continue on despite my disappointment in the low neckline.
With just the cuffs and hem to finish, I decided to raise the white flag on Vogue 2000. It has more fit issues than a too-low-for-comfort neckline.
This project is cut in a size 14, the size I typically cut in Vogue patterns. I haven't had issues in the past sewing a garment in a size 14, even the vintage Vogue 1610, but this did not feel like it was a size 14 at all. It is snug. The bust dart could be lowered an inch. The opening for the ties found at the side felt like I had reach past the side into the back region. Yes, I did check to pattern to make sure I didn't cut a smaller size than a fourteen. As a matter of fact, I added a 1/4" to the side seams. Hmmm.
I can't figure it out why I had so many fitting issues other than maybe it's not really meant for a woven fabric. I would go up a size or two if the pattern had the larger sizes but it is the next size combination and I'm not that keen on spending more coins on this design.
There are many things that I do love about Vogue 2000. The interfacing attached to the dress pieces instead of the facing is something I would like to repeat on another project. I really liked how that came out. The seam binding technique in the interior seams were sweet. I didn't get to sewing the French cuffs but I do admire this design feature and even had cuff links picked out. The fit on the sleeves were nice. I wish it turned out but I did enjoy the process until I realized it wasn't going to fit.
I don't want to discourage anyone from sewing Vogue 2000, it just didn't work out for me. Now to decide if I should finish and donate it or harvest the fabric into another project?
Project details
Seams: 2.6 straight stitch
Seam finish: Serged
Fabric: 4 metres
Seam binding: 1 package
Interfacing: 1.5 metres
Pattern: Vogue 2000
Additional Tools & Supplies: Cutting table, fabric scissors, paper scissors, pins, pin cushions, tailor's chalk, hand sewing needle, Janome sewing machine, walking foot, new Universal sewing machine needle, Janome serger, screwdriver, seam ripper, threads, thread clippers, iron, ironing board, tailor's ham, sleeve ham and tea.
Happy Sewing!
Oh no. The dress looks lovely, I hope you can find a way to make it work.
ReplyDeleteI saw this reviewed on PR and your problems echo every reservation I have about wrap dresses. The DVF reissue is eye-wateringly expensive where I live, too, so I will only buy it in a heavily discounted sale - I have a sewing friend who lives States' side.
ReplyDeleteGoing up a size would give you more room with perhaps a firm knit, such as ponte, being more suitable, but the problem of the revealing bodice remains. Christine Jonson wrote a tutorial back in March 2016 called 'Raising the neckline on a wrap front top.' The weblink can be found here: https://www.cjpatterns.com/blog/2016/3/20/raising-the-neckline-on-a-wr?rq=wrap%20tops If the link is removed, you can find the tute just by typing in the name of the article.