Green snakeskin dress and top

I started to write this blog post back in September 2019. Then I never got round to taking the photos because I did not really like the dress and just forgot it existed.

At that time I thought that I chose the wrong fabric for this snakeskin print dress. The dress turned out huge. The fabric is just too lightweight and stretchy (or so I thought then) and I ended up taking this in loads.
 

I must have taken it in about 4-5cm in total front and back so at least a full dress size and probably a bit more. The same with the cropped top under the dress which is the same cotton lycra T shirt type of fabric.

My conclusion then was that this pattern which is Burda Style 102 04/201 was just not right for the fabric and I had wasted this snakeskin print which I saved for a nice project all last summer so it was a bit upsetting at that time. But that was with winter approaching. I made this back in September 2019 just before my hip replacement.

How things have changed since then!

I got the dress out to have a look at what it is like, put it on and wow I do like this dress after all.

Maybe its the time of year?

Maybe its the weather?

Or maybe I just feel good now that I am able to walk and no longer feel like an old lady? 

Whatever it is I like both versions of this dress very much this year.

Loads of pics below!

And the all green snakeskin version................

I made 3 tops back in September from this pattern. A black, a white and a coral. The photos of these tops were taken just before my hip replacement hence the stick. Perhaps really that was the problem. I thought at the time I made this that this dress was a disaster. But this dress feels young and summery. I was feeling very old when I made these. I was in pain and winter was coming so it was the wrong time for a bright, lime green, snakeskin dress. Now I feel young again, at least until the other hip goes anyway 😀



The tops are, I have to say a success. The one shoulder layered look really works for me though I have yet to wear any of them on their own. They feel surprisingly OK with tracksuit bottoms. I have worn these loads in winter though, despite the size being a bit big because I have worn a vest under them for warmth and because they are a little big they were still comfortable. You cannot really see in the pictures above but I made the coral top a hem length shorter than the white which gives a nice intentional layered look.

So the three 3 tops are a success despite them being too large for me. When I make more I will make smaller. I never took in the coral or white tops but they work Ok layered especially in winter and spring. I took the plain black and the snakeskin top and dress in loads. They are at least two sizes smaller and maybe more. Burda sizing for you!

 I will be making more of this style because its been really fun to wear. And that is right through the seasons.

Its not a "usual" style with layering of one shouldered tops but I love the look. Its made me adventurous in what I make now rather than sticking with basics. Though perhaps next time I will just make the longer version because I rarely wear the short black undertop.   I wear two opposite long top layers so one for each side. I may next time though try making these with no darts because o be honest I do not think my size needs them. Its stretch fabric after all.

 

The black top which I made back then works really nicely with this dress. Its more clingy than the other two. I actually though prefer the snakeskin top which gives it a proper "dress" look. You can see the black and snakeskin layers better in the photos though. Mind you I expect in reality I will wear it both ways. Ring the changes and all that.

My posture is better now which probably helps to make this dress wearable - and look good. Having a dodgy leg really makes you stand weird. When I made this dress I really could not stand up straight because of the pain in my hip. Now I am all fixed😀

I am just so amazed at how looking at something a few months later can mean you like what previously you thought a disaster!

I have worn this dress twice in the last two weeks and its very much a nice dress. Perfect for the slightly colder days of June.

Soooo glad I did not chuck this one out!

Bracken

One sleeve tops for layering - Burda Style 102 04/2015

 I have fancied making this one sleeved top since the Burda magazine first landed in my inbox back in April 2015. Or it probably actually arrived in March. Anyway this is 101/102 04/2015.

The top is 101 A & B: and there is also a dress version which is 102. The top is actually in two lengths because the uder top is shorter. I am not so sure thats the way for me to go though and maye two tops the same length works better for my own style. You can see the shorter version top lower down this post.

These two tops - orange and cream are in a double knit fabric which I think is good for this pattern because its not too stretchy and has lots of body, but both are slightly too big for me. I would not feel comfortable wearing either alone which of course you are meant to be able to do. I think they would just slip off and expose my boobs if worn alone. I will have to try making a smaller size next time - there will be several next times for this pattern I am sure because I am very inspired by the possibilities here.

 

Just think of the colour combinatons as well as plain options and each one also a seperate one shoulder top as well!

As it happens since I am after a two layered look at the moment, it being winter,  so its fine in this size and these turn out to be wearable muslins really, but next time I will be making the next size down. I am also going to make some of these with full length sleeves because I prefer my sleeves very long as in over my hands rather than three quarters like these are. Though at least these are all the same so wearable together.


You are really meant to make a shorter version of these as in the black top

 and the longer top goes over it. You should be able to also wera the black short top as a cropped top but to be honest at the age of 55 I really do not feel comfortable wearing this outside the house. I suppose maybe at pilates or on a beach but not to Sainsbury's or Aldi or the like. I am simply too old.

However, for younger women / girls this pattern has the cropped top as well, so giving various looks because why not mke two cropped tops? or lots in different colours.

The black top is in dancewear/ fitness grade fabric and seems to fit better. Maybe then its not a sizing problem but rather my fabric choice with the slightly too big orange and white tops?

I decided after making a plain black shorter top, why not just make the longer tops? I will be making more black (long) tops in the future so I can have a black two sleeved layered top but right now I just have this one short version.

It does though give me two more "looks" with my orange and cream tops.Here is my black top with the cream:

Defo a bit large I think!

Possibly this is all my own fault - the size of the tops.

A couple of days ago I wanted to look up italian sizes since it seems they are different to the EU sizing I am used to, and I own several italian sewing pattern magazines.

In the process of looking up international size charts, I realised that in fact German sizing - ie Burda - is a smaller size to eg New Look, H&M, Pimark, Next and also to French sizing which is the same as the UK versions of EU sizes so I have been making Burda size 36 when I am probably really Burda 34.

I am H&M, Next and New Look 36 - and this goes along with French sizing but not German. Its all very confusing but does expain why Burda is usually a bit big for me.

So now I know!

 

Its does not matter for these tops anyway. I will probably not be wearing them singly. I made because I like the multi - layered idea.  Being a little large will not matter then.

Its does explain the problems with a dress I made using this pattern though - more on that later if I ever get it to fit me!

Interesting also how my hair colour has faded over a few weeks. The orange and cream tops were photgraphed a couple of weeks ago. I did not realise how much the colour had faded until now. Of course all the tops were made prior to my operation. I still have not sewed since then but am inteding to try to see if I can control the sewing machine this week.

Wishing you well,

Bracken