The red twist dress-finished with questions

Here's the dress.  Better lighting, accurate colors, hemmed, etc.  And sorta styled.

- I tacked the neckline up to where it at least didn't show my bra when I look down.  Does it look unnaturally high?  (I can move it - it's just a little stitch)

- I unpicked and re-sewed the front seam so it's stretchy, and it still hangs funny.  I haven't tried steaming it yet...

- Sit-down test passed.

- Back view shows that I need to wear a slip so it doesn't stick to my undies and cause weird bunching.  The hem is actually straight, for the record.  :)

- Does this necklace work to fill in the neckline? 

- These are my two best shoe options - do either work?  If not, what type of shoes should I be looking for?

- Is this dressy enough to wear to a wedding?
 
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19 Comments

  • Joy replied 10 years ago
    Amiable, I forget where the wedding will be.  Is this for the beach wedding?
    To address your questions, I think the neckline looks fine for a wedding, especially if it is in a church.  You could lower it if you wear it out for a date night.  I love how the necklace fills in the neckline and echos the sequins on the fabric.
    For shoe options, i like the silver sandals and think they work well with the dress.
    Is the dress dressy enough for a wedding?  It depends on the wedding, time of day, the local typical dress, etc.  This may not be dressy enough for a formal wedding with an evening reception.  For a garden wedding or small day church wedding it should be great.  Do you need a wrap?
  • Suz replied 10 years ago
    It is such a pretty cranberry red! (Of course I am partial to cranberry...) 

    Re the neckline - I wouldn't say it looks unnaturally high, but I'm not sure that is the right necklace for it this high. Can you do it just a tad lower? 

    As to whether it is dressy enough for your event - I honestly don't know. Let's see it steamed, and remind us a bit about the nature of the wedding (i.e. daytime/ indoors or out, what type of venue and guests). At the moment it looks more casual than what I personally would wear to a wedding (despite the sparkles and the rich colour). I think it's because of the fabrication. But it's hard to tell when it's all wrinkled still. 

    I can't really get a good enough look at the shoes to say if they are okay or not. 
  • amiable replied 10 years ago
    Thanks Suz and Joy -

    It's a beach wedding (though I think the ceremony is indoors), on a Sunday afternoon.  The invitation says "attire: hawaiian casual".  I'm almost worried this is a bit too serious :)



  • Suz replied 10 years ago
    Yeah, I hear you! 

    Well, I think it will do just fine. 

    You might want some kind of wedge sandal, then? And will you need a topper? 
  • amiable replied 10 years ago
    I'm not sure on a topper - I hadn't thought of that, and I suspect I will - glad you both suggested it.  Would a scarf do?  Hmmm...

    And a wedge sandal is a brilliant idea.  Wish I'd picked up the pair I saw at a sale earlier today :)
  • lyn* replied 10 years ago
    Do you have any "beachy" jewelry? That could make your very pretty dress more "Hawaiian"!
  • Beth Ann replied 10 years ago
    This is a much better view, Ami, except I can't see the sole of the silver sandals.  They're lovely, but I have some metallic sandals that have a rubber sole --- love 'em, but I'd want something a little dressier, probably, even for a beach wedding.

    I'm still in favor of releasing the neckline and using fashion tape, or maybe putting the stitch half way between where you have it now and the original.  I think it gives a better proportion to the dress and neckline --- not looking for cleavage! 
  • Marley replied 10 years ago
    You made this???? Wow!  I'm impressed!  The deep cranberry color is beautiful on you - and I think the silver sandals look really nice.  To me, the neckline is tacked up too high and I think the necklace is just too much, since you've already got sequins on the dress.  I think I'd lower the neckline and if you want to wear a necklace I'd try just a simple pendant  rather than something that fills up the entire bare space.  You've got lovely collarbones - I would show them off!  Also, I'm assuming that you have not yet pressed it yet, right?  I ask, because, to me, it seems "puckery" at the seams and has a lot of wrinkles in it - but then maybe the material is supposed to be wrinkled?

    I think the dress is fine for a beach wedding - but, I think you should plan on wearing some type of wrap with it - there is always a breeze blowing off of the ocean - and many times (especially in June) it is quite cool.   We also have what they call "June gloom" which means that we get a thick marine layer and sometimes it doesn't burn off until late afternoon (if even then!) and so that makes it cooler!  June is really not a summer seasonal month for So. CAL!
  • Deborah replied 10 years ago

    Lovely dress. I think you can lower the neckline a little:). I think I prefer the lighter sandals. I also think a wrap would be nice on case it cools down. The necklace is lovely but I'm not sure it's the right one, do you have some other, options?

  • amiable replied 10 years ago
    Thanks all!  The fabric is naturally wrinkly (crinkly?), but the dress is also unpressed, which I know is affecting that middle seam.  I'll see what I can do toward pressing it without destroying the crinkliness of the fabric  :)

    I'll try out a couple of necklaces this week. 

    I released the neckline down another half inch.  I can't go lower than that with the bra I intended to wear (it's in the pics too), because the bra shows in the mirror in the center. 

    Now I want to sew myself a whole set of summer dresses and tops.  This one in a glue heather jersey for a super casual dress, and some big roomy breezy tops...  I'd forgotten that sewing can be easier and faster than shopping for the "right" thing.
  • Sona replied 10 years ago
    it looks fine. great job. I would prefer a lower neckline. The jewelry does not go with the neckline. how about just some long dangly earrings or hoops ( not sure if you have pierced ears) or arm candy. A white lace shawl would be perfect as a topper. I like a lighter shoe/sandal version.
  • Raisin replied 10 years ago
    Wow, I can't believe you made this!  

    I think it looks great, I love it with the silver sandal.  I think the neckline could work if you remove the necklace.  Because it's higher, a bit of bare neck there would look good.  I would probably go with no jewellery and if you want to make it a bit more beachy, add some flowers to your hair-do.
  • Angie replied 10 years ago
    Silver sandals! Super frock!

    I vote lower the neckline just a tad.

    I'm not sure whether this is dressy enough for the wedding in question. To my eye, this is a casual dress - crinkle cotton with sequins is casual fabrication. The way it's puckering on the hem makes it casual too. But this might be a very casual wedding! These days, wedding dress code is quite diverse.
  • bj1111 replied 10 years ago
    great lowering the neckline.  the necklace would still fill in the vee and the proportions of the dress would be a bit better.  is one of the pix the lowered neckline?

    perhaps a scarf would dress up the outfit for the ceremony and the dress would be relaxed enough for the hawaiian dress code


  • Sarah A replied 10 years ago
    Weddings in my family seem to be a more casual affair than they seem to be for most YLFers so I would see if you can get a read from the bride or mother of the bride as to what the expectation is. Id love to see a silver shawl and a collection of mother of pearl bracelets ... I seem to find lots of beach jewelry to cheap at thrift stores around here (not sure if you exp. the same there)...
  • texstyle replied 10 years ago

    Silver sandals and lower the neckline just an inch or so. You look great in this color and the style is very nice - well done!

  • texstyle replied 10 years ago

    If you can find one, a necklace with some mother of pearl would give even more beachy vibe. Or you could go without a necklace and just do ear rings...

  • rachylou replied 10 years ago
    I'm not sure what the lower neckline is, but I love this dress and love it styled with the necklace and silver sandals. It's got a dressy, boho feel to me. The colour is excellent, lively!
  • Jenava replied 10 years ago
    The silver sandals are the winners, here!  Since it's a beach wedding is it more on the casual side? 

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