Aug 25, 2014

Finished Project: Belated Oonapalooza Rainbow Floral Dress!

Do not adjust your monitors....


This dress, my much belated entry into the Ooonapalooza challenge, is really this bright — no Instagram filters needed to make it pop, thanks to this Michael Miller "Floralicious" printed cotton (available at Hart's Fabrics — you're welcome). It has, I believe, ALL the colors.




The deadline for this sewing challenge was actually the end of July, but like Oona, my lovely inspiration, I don't always play by the rules. Of course, that means I am also ineligible for prizes, which are long gone by now. 

But I am lucky because I live in New York City and Oona is my real life friend — a prize greater than any gift certificate. She's so nice (and twice as fun as she is sweet). Here she is showing her appreciation for my dress (I'd like to think the size of her mouth is directly proportional to how much she likes it — ergo HUGE): 


For those of you who don't know Oona, she's a talented seamstress renowned in our crafty little corner of the Internet for her love of mixing bright prints while rocking figure-flattering silhouettes. She's also a devil-may-care draper who will rock a drop-crotch onesie like nobody's business.  


She's also short like me, bless her heart. So in tribute to Oona's signature shot-from-below style, I made my husband get low in our photo shoot. Like, laying-on-the-ground low. (Dirty-New-York-City-ground low!) And the system works. I look 5'6" at least: 


I know you're wondering: the pattern is McCall's 6887, a flattering princess-seamed fit-and-flare dress with a cut-out back.


This is a well-drafted pattern with the back cut-out revealing just enough — but not too much. You can wear a bra (score!) plus the bodice wraps just enough around your sides so you don't feel muffin-topish.



The only changes I made were my usual fit alterations: reducing the back armscye and neckline. I also made a petite alteration through the upper bust. I muslined just the bodice and discovered after I had sewn up the skirt that I had to take out three inches from center back in order to make it fit. Though I had chosen the right size for my measurements, a couple inches extra ease meant major droop right at center back. As always, it pays to measure your pattern and adjust as necessary.


The major challenge in sewing with this fabric was the fact that the floral print strips were 15.5 inches wide with solid black on each side. I had to cut the skirt panels (there are seven in this pattern) in a way that made the best use of the floral while remaining on grain. The effect is a little like black godets to contrast the floral print:

Oona never has this problem
I really love this pattern, the print, and my new Oona-ish dress. 



29 comments:

  1. i spat out some coffee at "oona never has this problem."

    MY FRIEND. i adore this dress so much my mouth is STILL open. UGH. i just looked at that last shot again and I CAN'T SPEAK. it's glorious! i need a gif of will ferrel circa old school to properly express ALL THE FEELINGS!

    kudos as well to the photographer. maybe we should form a support group for our ground level men?

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    Replies
    1. My husband was NOT happy about laying on the ground. I had to be extra nice all day to make up for it.

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  2. Gorgeous! I think my favorite part is your shoulder, how the flowers shoot out from center back and fade to black. And the perfect-fitting princess seams. And the awesome skirt. Okay I love the WHOLE THING!

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  3. I really love all those colors together and the fit is great on you. Lucy's photobomb (and your caption) is perfect!

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  4. This dress is everything. It's so well done- your print placement is perfect and the fit is so amazing! The photos are fantastic, too!

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  5. It's beautiful! What a great use of the print. Tell your husband that lying on the ground was worth it, the photos look so professional.

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    Replies
    1. I will tell him! (But he won't like it). He had leaves stuck to his shirt all day after our shoot.

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  6. i love these photos for you! they look almost as great as the dress does in person :-)

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  7. This dress is a dazzler. I love it and I love the helpful hint that if the photo man lays on the ground us shorties can appear model-worthy.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, us shorties need all the help we can get....

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  8. Whoa, I got half way through the post and then you spring the peek-a-boo back on us!!! Ooooh la la!! This is GORGEOUS!!!

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  9. Fabulous use of a fabulous fabric!

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  10. Really beautiful on you! And I love your photo bomber - hilarious!

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  11. So so pretty. That is some seriously awesome fabric. I've never been a huge fan of back cut outs, but this is one that I really like. You look fantastic!

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  12. Suzanne! Oh my goodness! While you always create lovely things, this truly tops it all. You look positively stunning. The dress style is so attractive on you and very sexy, revealing a bit in back, yet not too much. Wow! And the colors! You chose a fabric that complements your coloring to perfection, too. Awesome, girl!

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    Replies
    1. I'm pretty sure this fabric would complement everyone's coloring...it has ALL the colors in it, so how couldn't it look great on everyone!

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  13. I know about husbands you can't crouch. I keep having to tell him to get down. I thought I had a solution to my problem by asking JrC to take the pictures, but now that he is my size, I have to start all over again.
    Anyhow, I am totally in love with your Oonatastic dress. It's a great great make.

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  14. This is such a pretty dress on you! I love the fabric & pattern choice...just awesome!

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  15. This dress is absolutely gorgeous and you look beautiful in it! I love the colors.

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  16. This dress is amazing. You look so lovely in it.
    Oh and Yay to us short ladies.

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  17. This is a total knockout frock! The cut out back is tres sassy!

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  18. This is such a beautiful dress! I think I need an exact copy! Seriously!

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  19. Ok, this dress is absolutely to die for. Love the fabric and especially that back cut out! Super jelly of this dress right now.

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