Franken-dress
I'm working on a post about my wedding dress but in the meantime I'm obsessed this dress from Asos...
I'm a lover of maxi dresses and I think this could be a good option for fall. It looks a little dressy but I think with flats it could be casual enough for dinner with the husband or a not-too fancy party. I probably wouldn't wear it to Target or anything, but I could see it working for dinner out with friends.
Anyway, I'm wondering if I could Frankenstein it with the top of a pattern like Simplicity 1872,
I actually have a McCalls pattern that's similar in some ways to the Asos dress but it's made for knits and sort of looks a beach cover up, so I'm thinking the structure of the Anna skirt is needed to make this look more like a dress I would wear over a real bra with underwire instead of a bikini top.
But now for the real issue. The dress from Asos is $54, which isn't cheap but also isn't a horrible price considering the amount of fabric the dress uses. I already own the Simplicity pattern but I'd have to buy the Anna pattern (about $26) and fabric (I would imagine I would need 3 to 4 yards and I don't have enough of anything appropriate in my stash). Since this is just a fun dress to wear to dinner I probably wouldn't spend tons on the fabric, but even at 4-5 dollars a yard the Asos dress is probably a better deal. I know I would have fun making it but I have a million other projects I would have fun making too so entertainment is not my top priority. Also, I know the dress I made would probably be a little better quality, but since this isn't something that I'd wear all the time (like a pair of jeans or a coat) I'm not super concerned about it lasting forever. Finally, considering the dress is not supposed to be super tight, I don't think I would have a problem with fitting if I ordered it. So all of my normal reasons for sewing (fit, quality, price) are not as relevant as they usually are.
It's funny how much of a dilemma something like this is to me now. Before I knew how to sew I would have just ordered it, no questions asked. Now I almost feel like its a moral issue! So my question is, what would you do? Do you make things when you know you could buy them cheaper and the fit and quality would probably be similar?
My buying vs. sewing rules are:
I buy things that seem boring to make and I can buy cheaply (like white v-neck tshirts) or that I couldn't replicate at home (like if they are made of some incredible fabric and I don't think I could find something similar).
What are your rules? And if someone just wants to tell me to buy and and get over my sewer's guilt, that's ok too :)
and the bottom of the Anna Dress from By Hand London...
I actually have a McCalls pattern that's similar in some ways to the Asos dress but it's made for knits and sort of looks a beach cover up, so I'm thinking the structure of the Anna skirt is needed to make this look more like a dress I would wear over a real bra with underwire instead of a bikini top.
But now for the real issue. The dress from Asos is $54, which isn't cheap but also isn't a horrible price considering the amount of fabric the dress uses. I already own the Simplicity pattern but I'd have to buy the Anna pattern (about $26) and fabric (I would imagine I would need 3 to 4 yards and I don't have enough of anything appropriate in my stash). Since this is just a fun dress to wear to dinner I probably wouldn't spend tons on the fabric, but even at 4-5 dollars a yard the Asos dress is probably a better deal. I know I would have fun making it but I have a million other projects I would have fun making too so entertainment is not my top priority. Also, I know the dress I made would probably be a little better quality, but since this isn't something that I'd wear all the time (like a pair of jeans or a coat) I'm not super concerned about it lasting forever. Finally, considering the dress is not supposed to be super tight, I don't think I would have a problem with fitting if I ordered it. So all of my normal reasons for sewing (fit, quality, price) are not as relevant as they usually are.
It's funny how much of a dilemma something like this is to me now. Before I knew how to sew I would have just ordered it, no questions asked. Now I almost feel like its a moral issue! So my question is, what would you do? Do you make things when you know you could buy them cheaper and the fit and quality would probably be similar?
My buying vs. sewing rules are:
I buy things that seem boring to make and I can buy cheaply (like white v-neck tshirts) or that I couldn't replicate at home (like if they are made of some incredible fabric and I don't think I could find something similar).
What are your rules? And if someone just wants to tell me to buy and and get over my sewer's guilt, that's ok too :)
4 comments
Write commentsCongrats on your wedding! I just got married last weekend and I have disappeared from the blogging world the past several months and haven't quite gotten up the work ethic to dive back in, so an additional congrats on picking it back up again so quickly!
ReplyI buy things that I like and especially if they would be a pain to make. I also don't sew pants, they sound like a nightmare. I would rather spend an hour trying on 20 different pairs of jeans at the mall than pull out my hair trying to figure out my crotch depth. But expense v.s. savings factors in quite a bit too. Lots of people I know that don't sew think it is a huge money saver. Maybe it was back in our grandma's days, but now it is waaaayyy cheaper to pick up a $18 dress at Forever21 or Target than sew one. But I do like sewing my own dresses, I can use better quality, natural fabrics and also make them long enough to cover my whole butt! (I'm talking to you F21!!)
I don't know how tall you are, but the model in the photo is probably 5'10" and wearing high heels. I know I would resent spending $54 on a dress and then have to spend a couple of hours taking it up (I say a couple of hours because the first hour+ would be taken up by my obsessively measuring because I'd be scared to make the cut).
ReplyAnna is my fave pattern ever - just buy it. You'll use it again and again and again!
ReplyWedding is always an interesting event and party to me. It always special for the guests and specially for the couples. I love wedding foods and dresses. Specially the bridal dresses . The parties are so fabulous with the gorgeous look. The just like the wedding events and parties.
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