Releasing my inner hussy

So here we are folks, me all dressed up for a change!

This has been my big project for the last week - the 'Haltertop Hussy' by Savage Coco Patterns. 

And I love it!

This is the second dress I have made with a Savage Coco pattern, the first was the gorgeous 'Elegant Escape dress', and both times I have been lucky enough to receive a free pattern for testing. Somehow the sample patterns have been exactly in my size and I made this very fitted dress with no muslin or alterations at all - lucky or what?

All the Savage Coco patterns are based on va va voom dresses from old movies. The wearer of the dress is 'the heroine' and Coco makes suggestions of glamorous plots and gorgeous accessories to complete the look and the story. I love this concept as, in my head, I am the heroine (don't tell anyone, how embarrassing!), which makes me feel fabulous wearing them. This 'hussy' dress is based on the one worn by Grace Kelly in 'Rear Window'.

 I made my dress from white linen bought in Bali and some light, stretchy denim from Homecraft Textiles.

I really enjoyed making this dress and the process proved to me something that I have suspected for some time - that I'm evolving in my sewing from a bit of a slap-dash-get-the-job-done-quick sewist to more of a enjoy-the-ride-and-get-it-right creator. I learnt a lot making this and loved the step-by-step process (many, many steps) of putting this together and making it as perfect as I could.

Fortunately, Coco has a very detailed tutorial for this dress on her blog and I followed it to the letter. There were a few times when I doubted what I was doing, but I swallowed my doubts and fears and gradually it came together. It was an interesting process as there was nothing to try on at all until quite far along in the construction of this dress. This was difficult for me as I had no idea if it was going to fit or work out until I had already put in a lot of work. I was desperate to have something to try on! I was also extremely keen to complete step 13, so keen in fact that I completely messed up step 12 and had to redo it. Step 13 then ended up being so rewarding that I repeated it a few more times between the remaining steps of the dress!

The dress is fitted and fully lined in white cotton fabric. It has an invisible zip at the back and a waist stay to keep the dress in place on the body (a new concept for casual old moi) and I even made the belt!!

 Look at that belt - so proud!

The design is very clever in that the two folded flaps at the back, follow the curve under the arms...

...up and around to the back where the fold inverts itself and hides the seam and pleats at the back of the halterneck. Very neat.

The pleats at the waist are very flattering too. Coco says that this design is bust enhancing. I don't need to be any more busty so I was a bit worried about this, but I think the top is perfect. In these pictures I am wearing a strapless bra, which sits nicely under the curve of the top at the back. 

My inner hussy has been released and I couldn't be happier. Now I need the perfect event to which I can flaunt wear this gorgeous, and surprisingly comfortable, dress.

Thank you so much to Savage Coco Patterns for the opportunity to test this fabulous pattern.