Stripey Beach Dress - Burdastyle Anda 7969

Source: romwe.com via Kim on Pinterest

My inspiration was this stripey dress above that I saw on Pinterest. I needed a beach dress for my trip to Hawaii in October and happened to have some fabric in my collection already that was similar. What luck! Of course, I made it at the last minute, so I decided to buy Burdastyle's Anda 7969 pattern partly because it was a similar style to my other beach dress (no sleeves and an empire waist), but more importantly because I could download it immediately and print it from home.

Considering I ended up wearing this almost every day of the trip, I think I would call it my second most successful piece of clothing next to the cowl neck t-shirt.

Pattern adjustments: I omitted the neck facings and lowered the neckline a lot, probably a bit too much, but it is the beach, so who cares. I also used elastic at the waist instead of the front tie. It was just easier to pull on and off that way.

I've noticed that the need/urge for new clothes or accessories for an upcoming trip is my greatest sewing motivation apart from making gifts for other people. I wish I could channel that motivation throughout the year instead of being rushed before a trip.

Ch-ch-ch-changes

You know, I can't say the word changes without actually singing the word in my mind. I have the same problem whenever I meet an Allison. Anyway...

I'm back. The wedding is over and it was great, except for some minor changes along the way.

The biggest change was the dress. The one I ended up wearing is not the lovely, gold & teal handmade one I bought so long ago. I came to the point were the dress was just a little too tight and not comfortable. I couldn't take the pressure any longer of trying to make it work, so I opted for this light silver, summery number. It ended up working out so well, especially since the boy looks so cute in gray.

Then I ended up getting a cold a couple of days before the ceremony. It was as if the moment I checked off the final item from my to-do list that it happened. I remember sneezing in the store and that was the moment it hit me. (This is so typical. I had a sinus infection during the prom as well.)

Me, my mom, and my best friend went and bought about six different medicines trying to find one that would stop my nose for awhile. It was a lot of medicine, but my mom's a nurse, so I figured it was ok.

In the end, I just had to remind myself that if those girls on America's next top model can get up for a photo shoot when they are feeling like death, then I could do it too. Ha ha, as Tyra would say, "Just smile with your eyes."

And a huge THANKS goes out to my talented photographer (and boss), Donna Tine. Her pictures came out so beautifully as you can see here. It was so nice to not only have someone I knew taking the photographs, but also someone who directed everyone naturally and with ease. Thank you, Donna!

The Dress

I'm so sorry I have abandoned the blog for a bit. I've been doing some wedding planning. I'm getting married in July, so it's getting close, and lots of little things are coming together. The easiest part of this whole process, though, was the dress.

Here's a sneak peek:

The dress is cream colored cotton and gold silk with gold lotus blossoms printed down the front. And that added bit of teal at the bottom is one of my favorite parts.

I had seen this dress at Asha Veza, in Park Slope, last summer and loved it, but had no reason to buy it. Once I got engaged that fall I went back to see if they still had any left. Of course, they had two left, one in pink and this one in teal, but both in my size. It was a miracle. I called the two most important people to come over to the shop to verify that it was a good choice: my best friend and my boyfriend. Superstition be damned! (He had already seen the dress when I pointed it out in the summer.) They both loved it, so I bought it immediately.

The added bonus is that it's handmade and the money will go towards helping disadvantaged women in India and Bosnia...

"All the garments in the boutique are either sourced from emerging designers in Bosnia or India or handmade by disadvantaged women in India. The proceeds from the designer collection funds the training of women who are victims of trafficking or poverty; these women are then employed in the production of the house label. Founder and longtime human rights worker Shanti Crawford recruits a team of local seamstresses overseas to train the women in sewing techniques, to gorgeous effect." NY Magazine

Blueprints

I have always thought about how great it would be to wear cute dresses every day like girls in the 50s. I mean, it's ONE contained outfit. No thinking at all. 

I have such a hard time finding dresses that fit me properly, so now I can make these dresses myself because I can sew. I took the plunge and bought this dress pattern on etsy here. How hard can it be, right? I'm a smart person. I can read and follow instructions.

Ha! Look at this!! It looks like blueprints for a house or how to build a computer. This might take quite a bit of time. I might have to bring in my Mom, the big guns! The the craftiest lady I know. She's made elaborate gowns and things. She must pass on some of her knowledge. If only I can steal her away from some of her other activities.

I want this sooooo bad.

one.dress.finished, originally uploaded by annamariahorner.

This dress is gorgeous. I love it and I want it.

Anna Maria Horner designed the fabric and her daughter (the model, I believe) designed the dress. Maybe the 90 comments or so on her blog will convince her to sell the pattern to us all. The fabric, called Drawing Room, is not on sale yet, but I'll be sure to get some as soon as it's ready! Maybe I can find a pattern simple enough to test it out on. Although, with my record, it might take me 5 years or so to get up the courage to try it out.