Miss Celie

Pattern Review: Burda Magazine 2-2010-127

Considering I started this Burda 2-2010-127 dress well over two months ago, it feels like a joke that I’m *just* finishing it this morning! Yeah. So, here’s the thing. I traced it during the big snowstorm. Then, things got busy and I would work on it every so often. Then, the sleeves were too small and the collar lopsided. After I recut the sleeves and re-sewed the collar, it started warming up and I figured I wasn’t going to wear long-sleeved blue-grey wool dress in summer. I mean, it was 90 degrees last week! Well, today — barely 50 and it was 30 something overnight. So, this morning I got up and figured I could insert a zipper, hem the skirt and sleeves all before leaving for work and wear my wool shirtdress one time before the season was over.

I LOVE THIS DRESS!! But (yeah. There is always a “but”). I didn’t line it because I was lazy and wanted to finish up faster. That means it wrinkles much easier than something lined would. And, when I recut the seams, I caught some moth damage on both sleeves. I didn’t realize it until way too late. And, it’s on both sleeves. I’ll back it with some interfacing tonight and make this a dry clean only dress.

The dress has a side zipper, which I’m starting to love. I can’t tell you how often I get to work and someone tells me my dress isn’t zipped up.

Of course, there is my NOTCHED COLLAR. My FIRST. I’m shouting, because I’m tooting my own horn so loudly over a NOTCHED COLLAR that I can’t hear myself think.

I did my usual swayback adjustment. Which was perfect for this since it already had a CB seam. I also was lucky enough to use fabric from the Carol Collection. So, this dress was pretty much FREE!!

Here it is without the belt. I do think it needs the belt for shape (unless you are very slim / straight on the bottom. Which, we all know I’m not). I don’t have a skinny belt.

The pattern calls for elastene fabric. I did cut a 40 — which I think is pretty much my new mid-30s size. IT fits. It’s snug across my rear. But, well, everything is. Seriously, this summer I need to learn a better adjustment for my thighs. Again, I shaved the hip curve down. But, still need more depth at the thighs.

Whew. Two finished projects in one week! What is the world coming to? Now, seriously. I have to sew for some other people. At least that  boring duvet cover for a friend.

45 comments

  1. How weird is it that it’s so cold at the end of May-I expect it here in Dayton but Baltimore is supposed to be wallowing in gratuitous displays of spring right now!

    At least you got to wear something new for the last bit of cold weather-that’s the worst part of a long cold spring, you want new stuff but it’s too cold to wear anything but winter duds, and of course you’ve already worn all your winter stuff to death and are cordially sick of it.

    I really like that it’s a one piece outfit; it looks pulled together and suit like without being a suit. You don’t have to twitch and adjust it all day. Definitely love it with the belt, it emphasizes your small waist, and it’s not a regular suit color, it’s much more feminine.

  2. Love the new layout of the blog and your dress to boot. I never remember to accessorize and you reminded me it makes an outfit look so finished! Great dress.

  3. They do show it with a belt and it looks good that way on you too. Too bad about the moth holes. Don’t you just hate that? I have taken to putting lavender sachets in my sweater drawer and my woolen bins. I rejuvenate them every year with some lavender oil from the health food store. It seems to help.

  4. Pardon my language but “HOT DAMN”. I love love love this dress. It looks so amazing on you. You did a great job and I’m glad you got to enjoy your effort. This weather is crazy though.

  5. Great dress!! It looks fabulous! I’m glad you were able to wear it and finish it before you went to work!

  7. I think it looks really good with the wide belt. As you said, it’s too shapeless without a belt. Love that color on you. This weather is crazy! As long as we don’t have snow, I’m not complaining.

  12. Looks great! I’m in Richmond, VA and I’m finishing up a corduroy dress to wear tomorrow. And I thought I’d wouldn’t get to wear it until fall?

  13. That collar is magnificent! Don’t you just want to frame it? Great dress – it looks wonderful on you – much better than in the Burda picture (but they never show off the clothes the way they should)

  14. All right, you were right and I was wrong about this dress. Hated it in the magazine and thought it would be shapeless and gimmicky, but it is in fact professional yet fabulous.

  15. I love it on you. I have some brown stretch wool that I think would work really well in this style. I’m keen to see how you fit your thighs as that is my problem area, too. I was originally just going up a size at the hips, but I end up with too much fabric at the waist. I must buy a fitting book!

    I think this will become a staple in your wardrobe. You can wear so many colours with this. I love it with the belt. About the laziness – today I am wearing a skirt I made last weekend. I didn’t line it because I was lazy and I’m sick of cutting out and making two skirts to get one. It’s 8am and my skirt is wrinkled like crazy.

    • This looks lovely on you and very professional. I think this pattern has oodles of potential made up in different fabrics. You go holler about your notched collar all you want – (I have yet to do my first) – it looks great! That you were able to set sleeves, zipper and then hem before work? Amazing!

  16. Lovely! I think that’s such a fabulous dress, and it looks terrific on you!

  17. Oh I love your dress! After I finish typing I’m digging out this issue.

  19. Looks great with the belt. And good for you to get up early to finish it!

  21. This dress really does show off your sewing superpowers. The collar looks superb. And I like the new blog look too.

  22. I love this dress! I think I will have to make it one day. I think this is the first issue of Burda I bought!

  27. Great dress! I’m relieved to know that even Burda, with their love of super plunging necklines, expect you to wear something underneath it!

  30. That is so chic – love it!!!! BTW, if you need a new soup recipe email me, my sister gave me a recipe for Creamy White Chili and it’s TDF!

  31. Hi,

    long time lurker here. I just wanted to say, Beautiful. That dress was worth all the trauma, in my opinion. You look better in it that the model.

  32. Holy cow!! I think you did a great job with this. It looks really great. And those inserted notched plackets are really hard to do. This looks fab with the belt. Buy I have to tell ya this is not my fav thing to wear. I think I’ve had too many years in separates which allow me to move. You realize that you are well along the way to creating monster. Before you know it you won’t want to wear any RTW ever again!

  33. I love this suit-dress design, though I didn’t care for it in the magazine. I’m not sure I’m so keen on the colour on you, though… :/ Maybe the flash is doing funny things to the colour because it looks better in the detail photos.

    • Yep. There was no sun and this camera (I have two) does not light dark skin well :/ Kind of flat with no undertones to my skin. Funny you noticed because I complain about this to Trena all the time!

  36. Great dress – it is one of the items I really liked in that issue.
    I know what you mean about the weather. I am in VA — today was cool again and tomorrow is supposed to be in the 90’s!! Then it is going back down to the 70’s over the weekend.
    I think the weather is going through menopause.

  37. I love the dress and I love the new look of your blog! Congrats on your first notched collar as well. I can’t believe you did all that sewing before going to work — such a machine!

  39. I’m so glad you made this. Its on my ‘maybe’ list, but it looks great on you, which makes me think I can pull it off too. It would be my first foray into ‘intermediate’ 3-dot Burda patterns, I usually stick to 2 – 2 1/2 dots.

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