About a year ago I solicited opinions via Instagram regarding possible dress designs for a wedding I was attending. I never posted about what I ended up deciding, but I did make the dress and even wore it to two weddings. Then I hit third trimester and was way too tired to think about sorting through pictures and blogging it.
Fast forward to last month and another wedding to attend, when I realized that even though I fit back into all my pre-pregnancy clothes, very few of them are nursing-friendly. And as it so happens, that maternity wedding dress has a crossover bodice that's perfect for boob access. So I guess that's bonus sewing points to me for accidentally making such a versatile dress!
I ended up using New Look 6936, but color-blocked and with a mullet hem. The hint of mint came in the form of an unattached long tie belt that can be switched out for other colors and styles of belts, as gray and navy blue go with a pretty wide spectrum. Here's what it looked like seven months into my pregnancy:
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| Generally I don't look much like my sister, at least according to popular opinion, but in this one picture I kind of do. |
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| Ah, that classic maternity pose with hands supporting the basketball belly. |
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| This seems so long ago! I've forgotten what it felt like to have a huge belly sticking out and little fluttery kicks keeping me up at night. |
And here's what it looked like seven months out of my pregnancy!
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| The tired look is a combination of bright sun + actually being tired, thanks to SHB waking up five million times a night. Yay teething. |
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| And yes, I dressed him in matching mint and navy blue :) |
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| "Check out my sock! It matches too!" |
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| It's so crazy that that basketball in my belly turned into this small human being! |
Summary:
Pattern: New Look 6936
Fabric: 2.5 yards of rayon jersey knit in gray and dark blue for the dress; the belt was made by butchering an old me-made dress from 2010
Notions: Elastic for the waist
Hours: Three? I made it last year, so I don't really remember.
Total cost: Less than $5, thanks to Michael Levine Loft's fabric by the pound and FIDM's $2/yd section. Wow, it's been ages since I went shopping in the LA fabric district!
Final thoughts: The pattern itself is kind of boring, but I do like the fluttery sleeves. I keep toying with the idea of cutting off the back mullet hem since it's kind of inconveniently long, but it's so fun and swooshy. I also didn't intend for this to be such a cleavage-y dress, but breastfeeding changes both one's boobs and one's need for low-cut tops. I guess I should take advantage of the one time in my life where SBAs aren't necessary?
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| Hey little man, my eyes are up here. That's better. |
Nice accidental versatility! It looks great both ways, and those sleeves are really fun!
ReplyDeleteFlutter sleeves are actually my favorite kind of sleeve...I really should make more garments featuring them!
DeleteLove it! It looks great and the versatility will come in handy :)
ReplyDeleteVersatile garments are just the best, aren't they? Especially when you didn't intend them to be, the sudden discovery is a fun surprise!
Deletebeautiful dress, love it. and that last photo with captions cracked me up !
ReplyDeleteHaha glad you enjoyed it...I couldn't resist when I saw those two in the series of fifteen photos we took in an attempt to make him smile at the camera!
DeleteThis dress is beautiful! And little man is adorable.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm quite smitten with him :)
DeleteOMG he is so cuuuuuute! I can't even.
ReplyDeleteAlso the dress is very pretty! :)
Aww, you're so sweet! I feel like that every day, but then I think that's just because I'm his mom.
DeleteWhile this pattern might seem boring, you look great. He's growing up so fast.
ReplyDeleteSigh, I know...I keep looking at his newborn photos and wondering what happened!
DeleteYou look stunning in both pregnancy and post-pregnancy pictures! gorgeous color combo too!
ReplyDelete(confession: still have one of the nursing dresses 14 years later: flattering, fits, what's not to like about that?)
ReplyDeleteI really love the color combo you used here. How nice that you can still wear it!
ReplyDeleteVery nice! I love the color blocking.
ReplyDeleteSuper cute and fascinating to see both ways. And yes, you absolutely must enjoy the breastfeeding cleavage as much as possible while it lasts! ;)
ReplyDeleteYou are hilarious and your SHB is adorable!
ReplyDeleteExcellent dress -- looks swishy and beautiful. The photos while pregnant, and with the cute son add to the understanding of how forgiving the style is. Color combination (and potential varieties) is a real plus. Enjoy!!!
ReplyDelete