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Banana Republic LBD Front AND Back interest
lakaribane Beginner HAITI Member since 7/23/07 Posts: 1751	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 7/21/12 10:25 AM Ok, I got a newsletter from Banana Republic* and it featured this lovely knotted back LBD: But the front has a cowl neckline: (Strangely enough, BR only shows the front of the dress when I click through). Bad Marketing Strategy if I ever saw one!!!) I am loving those knotted, wraped, twisted details though I worry this might be overkill. In addition, from the customer reviews on the site, this requires a strapless bra, another long quest of mine. I realize I have several patterns with these details: - The Sewaholic Lonsdale dress has a similar colar - I believe I have an older Butterick (that actress's line I forget her name, blond girl) with something like that - Maybe a Vintage Vogue too? The big bonus is that my Narrow Shoulders are not a problem so one less habitual alteration to do. What's the consensus on these strap shenanigans? *yes, my addiction extends far and wide, LOL! ------ Fashion Maté, where I blog about what I (eventually) sew : http://fashionmate.blogspot.com Addicted to Pinterest? Me too! : http://pinterest.com/lakaribane/
NhiHuynh   Advanced CA USA Member since 1/4/11 Posts: 593	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 7/21/12 1:11 PM I like the idea but I don't want that much bulk at my back. The hunchback look seems unflattering and maybe uncomfortable. If you use a much lighter fabric, it might work. Also a bra that crosses in the back could work so you may not need to go the strapless route.
marymary86 Intermediate GA USA Member since 7/20/08 Posts: 2204	Login to reply to this post In reply to lakaribane << 1 member likes this. Date: 7/21/12 2:07 PM I love your taste in clothing. I think the dress is stunning. I wear a 36E bra and found bras at My Intimacy in Atlanta that gave me great support even with the straps down (something the clerk did to show me that support should come from a properly fitted, well made bra - not from the straps). I'd go there for a strapless bra - they have shops across the US and may even sell online now. Their bras aren't cheap but they wear like iron. It's the first place I was ever able to buy a pretty, lacy bra with just two hooks in the back that did the job and wore for years. ------ Mary http://checkmatesystem.com
marymary86 Intermediate GA USA Member since 7/20/08 Posts: 2204	Login to reply to this post In reply to lakaribane << Like this post Date: 7/21/12 2:08 PM I wonder if there's a way to get Chloe from StyleArc to look at this dress???? I'd love to make it for my dd's. ------ Mary http://checkmatesystem.com
a7yrstitch   Intermediate TX USA Member since 4/1/08 Posts: 4402	Login to reply to this post In reply to lakaribane << 2 members like this. Date: 7/21/12 2:26 PM Opinion, don't forget you asked.... The dress confuses me and I am trying to figure out why. Looking at the pictures of the front and back, it is hard to relate to them being part of the same dress. I think it is because it appears that there is much more fullness in the back strap going down from the shoulder line than there is in the front strap going down from the shoulder line. I'm thinking that there should be more balance from front to back; or, more intentional disparity - does that make sense? If you agree about the front to back balance, that should be easy to fix. If not, no matter as the loop from one side of the back to the other that catches the loop from the shoulders is a nice detail. I wonder how it would look for the flirty little front collar to be formed from chiffon or one of the super light mesh fabrics and then gently expand into the shoulder and become the back loop that drops down to catch the loop at the center back of the dress. There would be less bulk as Nhyhuhn has suggested. It's a nice look for you, as is, or tinkered with. Always fun to play with our fabric, isn't it? (Friendly warning - the above comments have been posted by a sewing dinosaur. I think you probably knew that. I don't discredit my own fashion sense but realize that we would and should have a different perspective. Gee, as long as I brought that up, I'll blurt out that my only fashion regret was that I was not more adventurous when I was younger so I am an enthusiastic supporter of you trying whatever appeals to you and pushing the edges.) -- Edited on 7/21/12 2:31 PM -- ------ I have no idea what Apple thought I was saying so be a Peach and credit anything bizarre to auto correct.
mary in FL   Intermediate FL USA Member since 4/28/02 Posts: 971	Login to reply to this post In reply to a7yrstitch << Like this post Date: 7/21/12 5:16 PM Quote: a7yrstitch I'm thinking that there should be more balance from front to back; or, more intentional disparity - does that make sense? With so much going on with the back, I would have expect there to be less going on with the front. ------ from Daytona Beach, FL http://mary-sews.blogspot.com/
lakaribane Beginner HAITI Member since 7/23/07 Posts: 1751	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 7/25/12 1:15 PM Thank you all of your opinions, even the unsolicited ones *wink* I think I'll got with an "either or" option and forgo the front cowl neckline. I need to dig up all those patterns I listed. My mother is coming back next week so I'll get a closer look at the Lonsdale. Will update when I have something to show... ------ Fashion Maté, where I blog about what I (eventually) sew : http://fashionmate.blogspot.com Addicted to Pinterest? Me too! : http://pinterest.com/lakaribane/
nicegirl Intermediate DC USA Member since 5/10/06 Posts: 1614	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 7/25/12 1:25 PM The front of Burda Magazine 12-2007-109 has the same loop/twist as the back of the BR dress. You could probably adapt the pattern pretty easily to be the back--it's a knit and I don't remember it having much bust shaping. Note that the line drawing and magazine photo make this look like an off-the-shoulder or at least shoulder-covering dress, but the way it wears in real life is that the straps sit on the shoulders like, well, straps, as with the BR dress. ------ http://theslapdashsewist.blogspot.com ================= 2007: purchased 115+, sewed 105+ So close to parity, yet so far Trying again in 2008 Yards purchased: 133 Yards sewn: Somewhere around 95 2009? I give up
wenznz   Advanced Beginner NEW ZEALAND Member since 7/8/11 Posts: 235	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 7/25/12 9:25 PM That is a pretty dress. I wonder if the dress in your top picture is actually this one, that has a plainer scoop neck front, and also has the back twist detail. ------ Wendy Wellington, New Zealand
lakaribane Beginner HAITI Member since 7/23/07 Posts: 1751	Login to reply to this post In reply to wenznz << Like this post Date: 7/28/12 8:01 AM Actually, I think both feature the same back detail because here's the description of the cowl dress; Quote: overview Sleeveless. Cowl neckline. Knotted racerback. The plain front does make more "sense". And @Trena, thanks for that reminder. Proof, again, that Burda line drawing archives are necessary! ------ Fashion Maté, where I blog about what I (eventually) sew : http://fashionmate.blogspot.com Addicted to Pinterest? Me too! : http://pinterest.com/lakaribane/

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