"I'll Have What She's Having" - Vogue 8900

I never thought one way or another about Vogue 8900 until I saw Krystal Bick, blogger at "This Time Tomorrow" wearing the designer dress.  How cute is that?! Something about the texture, the volume, the drape, the richness of  color and the seam lines - which seem to have dimension all their own - ALL grabbed my attention.

Photo source:  This Time Tomorrow Blog

The French fashion label, House of Carven, did this dress in the colors poppy and moss - both in rafia tweed fabric - as well as a safari print that closely resembles voile.  Excuse me?..rafia tweed?  What is it and where can I get some?  Sounds (and looks) FABULOUS!

As much as I would love my own version to be in the same fabric (not to mention the sheer thought of working with said fabric) the reality is that I must rely on what's already in my stash especially since I am trying to exhaust it these days.

This Dutch wax print is one of two cuts that I received this past Mother's Day (uh huh...tell 'em what you want!).  I fell in love with the boldness of the print and it's color combination!  It's fairly lightweight and highly woven.

Like the designer version I wanted to add both an exposed zipper and a lining.  I decided against the exposed zipper since I hadn't prepared the back opening for such but I did make a lining.  The fabric?  Some type of HOT charmeuse satin the same color green as in the dress.  It coordinated so well but was HOT...TOO HOT...as in I'm sweating as I try it on (could have been the timing but I'll never know) so I removed it.  

 
 I contemplated the longer version - since I have nothing against a midi length - but felt as though the boldness of the fabric would swallow me up with so little leg showing so I went with the shorter version instead.  Then there was the question of the cut outs. Hmmm...to do or not to do?  I DO!  

Speaking of cut-outs, they were a little tricky i.e. getting them to lay flat (which they still don't) and they are a little big as in most of these pics you can see the bottom of my favorite bra!  However, I feel very comfortable wearing this dress and may search for a "friendly" bra at a later date.  I will definitely add an outer covering to make it work-church appropriate.    

Finally, in my attempt to give the seam lines a little depth, I....are you ready for this?......did not iron ONE seam open.  NOT ONE, with the exception of the back seam which I pressed the length of the zipper. That's it!  I broke what use to be the "cardinal rule" of sewing and didn't mind it one bit!  Many years ago this would have never entered my mind.  Thank God for evolution!  

Until next time.....PEACE AND BLESSINGS!!!