A few months ago, I chanced upon some pictures of the Melissa plaid shirtdress by Milly, and I wanted it. I wanted it the way a toddler wants a gummi bear. I wanted it the way that annoying guy in your office wants the new iPhone and won’t shut up about it. I wanted it the way Dan wants out of the domestic prison in which I have ensnared him (just kidding, Dan’s not allowed to want things.) Basically, I wanted it the way that only the Selfish Seamstress could want something – violently and aggressively. After all, just look how cute:
So after seeing it, I trolled the web hunting for any plaid fabric with a similar feel and colorway to make my own shirtdress and found nothing. I’m fond of plaid in general, but once I had this particular plaid in mind, every other plaid just looked comparatively dorky. I did have a moment of hope when I discovered Cidell’s plaid silk knit tunic, which was in the right plaid flavor category, and super cute on its own merit. But of course, the fabric was already sold out, which leads me to think that she planned the whole thing to get a rise out of me. It wouldn’t be the first time she’s bested poor Selfish.
So I did what any rational person would do in a state of despair – I threw myself down on the floor and pounded at it with fists and feet, screaming at a high pitch, “I hate you I hate you I hate you” at no one in particular. As usual, it worked. My efforts were rewarded when a few yards of the exact Milly silk (a plain woven with nice body to it, and minimal sheen and slipperiness – perfect!) appeared magically on Gorgeous Fabrics, almost certainly because of my temper tantrum.* I immediately snapped up three yards of it to make sure that none of you would get to it first, backstabbing vultures that you are.
Next up was finding the right shirtdress pattern. Given the huge scale of the plaid, I wanted to avoid piecing to the extent possible. None of the current Big 4 patterns, nor anything in my stash of Burdas had quite what I was going for, so it was off to Etsy, where I found a vintage Simplicity 8294:
(This actually isn’t my copy- mine is a size 6P with a *sigh* 30.5″ bust, but I forgot to take a photo of it.) The pattern was missing the sleeve (and it wasn’t really the kind of sleeve I wanted anyway) so I drafted my own. No princess seams or waist seam on this pattern. The only places I had to worry about matching were at the side seams, across the chest and onto the sleeve, and the center front, so my three yards was more than enough. A bit of taking in through the torso and waist and ta-da! Once again, Selfish gets everything she wanted. (Excuse the photos- the light was fading outside and it was freeeeezing.)
I realize that the navy of my shoes is not the same as the navy of my dress, but I still have every intention of wearing the two together.
Hmm. There seems to be a little wrinkling across the bust near the bottom of the armscye that I didn’t notice during fitting. I’m going to have to check that out. Also, I think I need to wear the sash a little looser (the way the Milly model is wearing it) so as to give it less of an Urkel-y effect.
The dress isn’t an exact copy of the Milly version, as I made mine a more work-wearable slightly-above-the-knee length, and it’s got a different placket and sleeve. Incidentally, I wasn’t too impressed with the RTW version’s placket stitching (you can learn a lot from the zoomable views on department store websites!):
Fortunately it’s not my problem now that I’ve got my own. By the way, you may be wondering more generally how it is that Selfish always gets exactly what she wants, despite being a person with no redeeming qualities, one who contributes little to the world while simultaneously exploiting it and everything in it for her own purposes. Is there a trick or magical secret, you might ask, to continually evading the karma police while managing to end up with everything one desires and never giving anyone anything? The answer is yes. Yes, there is. Have a good day, y’all.
*Okay, perhaps I should acknowledge the the amazing Ann of Gorgeous Fabrics for having procured this wonderful fabric, rather than attributing it solely to my impressive and highly effective tantrums. But you know how I am loath to give credit where it is due unless it’s to myself.
56 comments
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October 24, 2011 at 9:44 am
prttynpnk
You nailed it- now I am full of envy- envy like a little girl with glasses for the popular girl in the front row who just got hello kitty legwarmers……
October 24, 2011 at 9:48 am
Jessi
Oh my goodness! This dress is amazing!
Great job. My temper tantrums never amount to anything other than a headache- yours seem to be more productive…
October 24, 2011 at 10:06 am
selfishseamstress
Ah, the tantrum headache, a common problem. The trick is to start small and build up over time. Try a small tantrum today, perhaps 30 seconds right before bed. Increase this incrementally. By next week, you should be able to throw a four- to five-minute tantrum in a public place, like a restaurant or store. Just keep working at it slowly, and within a year you won’t even think twice about multi-hour hissyfits in the office.
October 24, 2011 at 10:02 am
Claire (aka Seemane)
Plaid-tastic dress :)!
October 24, 2011 at 10:17 am
THAT Peter
Oooh, I’m glad I read carefully before trashing your topstitching! (I normally just skim — for typos.)
October 24, 2011 at 12:34 pm
selfishseamstress
Oh geez, Peester. Obviously my topstitching is always immaculate. IMMACULATE. Also, I make my bed every day without fail. And even if I were to engage in sloppy topstitching activities (like on a dare or to prove to myself that I could if I tried hard enough) I certainly wouldn’t be posting macro photos of such nonsense on my blog. Please. I curate this thing. I don’t just hack together bedsheet scraps, illogical stream of consciousness ramblings, and pilfered “retro” images and call it a post, unlike some male pattern bloggers I know :D
October 24, 2011 at 10:17 am
Erica B
Love this! And the booties look great!
October 24, 2011 at 10:48 am
Annie
Ooooh you are amazing. I love the dress!
October 24, 2011 at 10:48 am
Gorgeous Things
You and your dress (and shoes too) look fabulous!!!!
October 24, 2011 at 12:17 pm
selfishseamstress
I’ve got you to thank for it! My first Gorgeous Fabrics purchase, and I’ll be back for more! By the way, if you are able to get ahold of any more of this plaid, I think there are some commenters below who’d be happy to take it off your hands… :)
October 24, 2011 at 11:24 am
Miss Celie
That’s pretty awesome. I always get excited when I see a print I own in a RTW garment. I have not been so lucky as to track down the exact plaid print I originally wanted. Your dress is great!
October 24, 2011 at 12:20 pm
selfishseamstress
I know what you mean about recognizing the print. The problem is that I’m often tempted to buy a fabric simply because I recognize it from a designer or RTW collection, and I have to remind myself that just because I recognize it doesn’t mean I actually like it :)
I like your version of the dress better than the BCBG one, actually, and same for your plaid fabric. The BCBG plaid is cool but when I look at the model and squint, I feel like she’s got a bandeau bikini printed on her dress :)
October 24, 2011 at 11:39 am
Crystal
GORGEOUS! I didn’t notice the wrinkling until you pointed it out. Love that fabric, you are so selfishly lucky!
October 24, 2011 at 11:42 am
Toby Wollin
Gorgeous dress but clever how you did the pre-emptive strike on the fabric which is, ahem, all gone now (or at least I can’t find it on Ann’s site). But it is ok – because YOU, oh Selfish One, look terrific in it and I know that I would not. So in this case, your tantrum worked out really well.
October 24, 2011 at 12:22 pm
selfishseamstress
I had co-conspirators in the Great Plaid Buyout. By the time I got there, there were only 6 yards available, and (get out your calculator!) after I left there were 3 left. I did keep an eye on the remaining three, which stuck around for a surprising number of days, toying with the idea of buying the remainder as I loved it so much, but I figure one can only have so much giant orange and blue plaid in one’s wardrobe…
October 24, 2011 at 11:42 am
saadia20sa
I need that fabric please please please !!
October 24, 2011 at 12:25 pm
selfishseamstress
Keep an eye on Gorgeous Fabrics- sometimes Ann restocks sold out fabrics! In the meantime, here’s another great Milly silk print that I’ve been flirting with:
http://www.gorgeousfabrics.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=13636
(No, she’s not paying me to say that. I just think it’s nice fabric and I haven’t decided that I absolutely need it, so I see no benefit to depriving you of it :)
October 24, 2011 at 11:54 am
Debi
I’m extremely jealous and am throwing a tantrum right now!
October 24, 2011 at 12:31 pm
karen
It really looks great, thanks for sharing! Also have you been teaching my daughter how to throw these tantrums, because I would appreciate it if you would stop, I am kind of sick of them they take away from my sewing time.
October 24, 2011 at 12:39 pm
selfishseamstress
On the contrary, I often observe children in the wild so that I can learn from their tantrum-throwing behaviors and use that knowledge to refine my own practices. As adults, we often become so accustomed to thinking of ourselves as the stewards of society that we lose sight of the wisdom of children, and forget how much we can glean from their artless ways. Why, just this weekend, my little nephew said to me, with guileless brilliance, “NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!” I’m definitely going to use that soon.
October 24, 2011 at 12:35 pm
Lisa
What a great knockoff , I love it.
October 24, 2011 at 1:23 pm
T. Sedai
Nice. Dress is fabulous. And I must learn how to throw tantrums so when I order fabric it doesn’t not show up and instead all I get is a packing slip saying “sold out.”
October 24, 2011 at 1:33 pm
June
Love it! Did you actually save any money by making it yourself?
I have daughters who are 3, 1, and 1 – and I swear that the older one is teaching the younger ones to throw tantrums. Why, just today, one of the 1-year-olds said to me, “No! I doanwanna!” as she yanked her little pudgy hand out of mine and tried to push me away. I definitely will not let them see your Web site, lest they start believing that tantrums could actually help them GET WHAT THEY WANT.
October 24, 2011 at 6:17 pm
selfishseamstress
Oh dear… you are most definitely outnumbered. And yes, keep them away from my blog. It’s definitely not child-friendly. It’s not even grownup-friendly.
I think the retail price for the Milly dress is $370, and I don’t remember exactly how much the fabric cost, but I think it was either $20 or $22 per yard. So it wasn’t the world’s greatest sewing bargain, but not bad either. And of course, the fact that it fits is priceless :)
October 24, 2011 at 1:47 pm
Victoria
Gorgeous dress! What a great re-make. You look FAB!
October 24, 2011 at 1:57 pm
Crystal
Beautiful dress. It is a really fashionable plaid, and I could see nothing else comparing once it was in your head. You know, everyone is going to be asking you about your shoes, too!
October 24, 2011 at 3:16 pm
selfishseamstress
Ooh, that’s a tricky one. I got the shoes over a year ago, so they’re going to be tough to get ahold of. They’re Nine West and the model is “Verbenia.” I see they’re available in very limited quantities in black (http://www.amazon.com/Nine-West-Womens-Verbenia-Pump/dp/B0035FZ3LI) and a super awesome taupe (http://www.amazon.com/Nine-West-Verbenia-Platform-Taupe/dp/B004SPEXP6/ref=sr_1_1?s=shoes&ie=UTF8&qid=1319483750&sr=1-1)
October 24, 2011 at 2:19 pm
lladybird
i honestly like your version better than the milly one. and i marvel at your fabric-hunting skills – whenever i see some kind of beautiful fabric on ready-to-wear, i just assume it’s unavailable off the bolt & i spent the rest of the week sulking in a corner.
October 24, 2011 at 2:25 pm
Ruth Eveleigh
I want that pattern, I want that fabric, I want that dress. I NEED it – NOW!
October 24, 2011 at 2:53 pm
Elizabeth
OMG, I love your version. It’s two words: Gor! Geous!
October 24, 2011 at 3:31 pm
Reethi
I’m so envious – your dress looks great.
October 24, 2011 at 3:43 pm
Jane
lovely – great shoes as well!
October 24, 2011 at 4:21 pm
Rebecca Howard
So funny Selfish but sounds so familiar to me. However you seem to get what you want so much more than me. I’ll have to work on my tantrum technique.
October 24, 2011 at 5:10 pm
cjgal
It looks soooo good! Wow! I find it really humorous that you literally found the exact fabric of the Milly dress (which no doubt cost over $200) on a discount fabric website. Makes me happy that I am a sewer, however on the other hand shopping is totally ruined for me especially seeing posts like this!
October 24, 2011 at 9:53 pm
PammieandthePs
Super cute dress! And, I can’t believe you found the fabric (you and Gorgeous Fabrics) are both amazing! Seriously, perfect work – I wouldn’t expect anything else of you, Selfish:)
October 25, 2011 at 12:09 am
Anne
Gooooorgeous!! Biiiiiiiiiiiiii??tch > Jealousy +++
BTW I have thrown many a tantrum in my search for Burda 02/08 119 ie Your top . Alas it hasnt appeared so I clearly need more instruction on my tanty technique
But really – great work and keep up the wonderful posts ;-)
October 25, 2011 at 12:31 am
Nadia
I LOVE your shoes!!
Nice dress as well (of course) :P
October 25, 2011 at 3:05 am
jenibrown
This is absolutely gorgeous – you did an incredible job and it looks fab.
October 25, 2011 at 4:09 am
MushyWear
That was definitely a tantrum worthy plaid. Your dress is fantastic. Glad it all worked out!
October 25, 2011 at 10:58 am
Amanda S.
Ooh, love the entire outfit – the navy booties are a perfect partner! I wasn’t aware of the Milly label, but had a lot of fun looking through their website and drooling over all the clothing. Incidentally, I saw that some cotton lace I purchased from GF was included in one of their spring shows, which just made me love it all the more. It is so fun to have fabric that was part of a designer’s fashion show!
October 25, 2011 at 1:13 pm
Liesl
Thanks for the laughs. I love your posts–they’re always so amusing. And your dress is fantastic!
October 25, 2011 at 9:12 pm
Amy L
The dress is amazing! Love the fabric!
October 25, 2011 at 11:42 pm
Stacie
As it should be, Ms. Selfish. :) Glad you got what you wanted.
October 26, 2011 at 3:27 am
senaSews
Wow, fantastic dress! Amazing how you always get what you want!
October 26, 2011 at 11:19 pm
Rachel Kate
Just found your site and I love it! You are a fabulous writer :) (and seamstress of course). Looking forward to reading more…
October 28, 2011 at 5:54 am
More Milly lust and the Selfish Seamstress learns to “share” « The Selfish Seamstress
[…] for those of you who drooled over the amazing Milly plaid fabric I was able to procure from Gorgeous Fabrics, I’d like to point out that a very limited […]
October 28, 2011 at 6:36 am
Gaylene
I got some of that fabric a couple of months ago – I could auction it off at a ridiculously inflated priceto desperate sewers, mwah hah hah….or stick to the original plan of making an outrageously gorgeous garment. BTW, if you want to take the not so very noble art of tantrumming (yes, it deserves verb status), my 5 yr old could take you to a PhD level.
October 28, 2011 at 7:50 am
Dori Cheslock
I know what you mean, when I recognize a piece of fabric–whether I love it or not ..it’s in my shopping cart. Then it sits in my stash. But that’s not what happened to you..it looks fabulousis on you and your sewing skills are top notch. Keep on finding those great fabric pieces. I want to hear the temper tantrums in upstate NY!
Dori
October 28, 2011 at 8:50 pm
Carolyn
What a perfect interpretation…especially since it’s so you! Love it!
November 1, 2011 at 4:03 pm
Amelia
Just found your blog via Ann’s blog @ Gorgeous Fabrics and I have to admire your tenacity. I am the same way….I want, what I want, when I want it and that’s the end of it, lol. I had found a fabric online, it was pricey so I wanted to think on it a bit since I am attempting to minimize my impulse purchases, it’s not going that well if you are wondering (though your probably not), I went back a couple hours later to the site…Quelle Horreur! It was nowhere to be found. WTF…it was a travesty of epic proportions. I’d already planned out the entire dress, styled it, walked through the streets of my mind in it and now it might not happen! Hell no, this dress was going to happen. I called up the company, requested they verify for certain it was no longer available and sat on hold for some time while they checked. In the end I got the fabric and it was better in person than online…the moral of the story, never take no for an answer.
November 19, 2011 at 11:08 am
Missy
Damn you, Selfish. This is THE fabric that I never knew I desperately needed until I saw this post. Then I saw the skirt made from this fabric on the Milly site and fell deeper in love. It jump started a frenzied Internet search for the stuff (I was convinced that there must be more of it SOMEWHERE) that turned up nothing. In the end, I was forced to buy this crosshatch rayon challis (simply because it kind of reminds me of this fabric): http://www.hartsfabric.com/crosshatch-rayon-challis-64567.html
December 28, 2011 at 6:22 am
NuJoi
Love it. Looks better on you.
January 11, 2012 at 9:48 am
Leigh Ann phillips
I love this dress and I love that you’re talented enough to draft your own sleeve. Sleeves scare me but I dream to be as talented as you someday. ;)
February 4, 2012 at 7:30 pm
ASUgirl
Just gorgeous! I love this dress….now to try to see if more of that fabric exists.
February 6, 2012 at 12:48 pm
Melina
Well done, great pattern!
March 20, 2012 at 9:38 pm
Stephanie/SwoodsonVintage
Ok, subscribed to feed. (thanks for making it convenient!) love this plaid, it is so modern!