Bea dress in black and white wool

Because I like to wear my harlequin dress so much I realised that I needed more casual dresses. I didn't want to use the same pattern again. For once I did buy enough fabric so I needed to take advantage of that. The fabric comes form the fabric sales in Rotselaar. You still can buy it online here. The fabric is absolutely gorgeous, so soft and warm and not itchy at all. I find most wool fabrics much to itchy to wear on my skin but this one is just fine. 

I made the bea dress form La maison victor, it is a casual fit designed to be made up in wool. For once I did as I was told. Only I was supposed to line the dress and I didn't. The wool was just so soft that I didn't feel like doing that. It is supposed to be a casual dress anyway. It was described as casual and oversized. I'm always a bit weary when I see the word oversized, I like the style but I often feel that they are way to big form my figure. I started by making the size 34 instead of my usual size 36. I also lengthened the dress with 8 cm. I had the feeling that the dress would be rather short on me, I'm 1m70. Those 8cm are just right for me. 

I love that the side seam of the dress is not at the side but slightly more to the front of the dress. And it has pockets, also a bonus in a casual dress. They are set in the side seams but because they are more to the front of the dress, they are very practical. I also like the wide sleeves. It does make the dress look a bit more shapeless. The look of the dress really relies on your posture, just look at the difference between the first and second foto. 

But because I didn't line the dress it does stick to my tights, and doesn't slide over my bum. Lesson learned I guess the lining must have been there for a reason. I'm going to solve this problem by making a slip dress to wear underneath. I have seen so many lovely vintage slips on pinterest. I guess they are just one of those things that we don't wear any more these days. 

The third version of the Lora dress

My third version of the Lora dress after the little black dress and the party dress here comes the cosy and warm wool version. It is the third one so I don't have a lot to say about the construction. I didn't add pockets because the fabric is rather stiff and because the dress is so fitted I never put anything in them anyway. 

The fabric is from the fabric sales in Rotselaar I went with my aunt, cousin and grandmother. I had never been before, but it was definitely worth it, al lot of gorgeous designer fabrics, mostly wool. Perfect because I need a lot more warm clothes, it is so cold at work. I loved the grey in to blue fadeout. My cousin and I both liked it so we bought 3.5 meters. For the two dresses. 

My cousin and I liked a lot of the same fabric. And we also like the same patterns... so we are going to have identical dresses! My grandmother and aunt used to sew identical clothes for my cousin, sister and me when we where little.  She tried on my Christmas party dress, and we concluded that we are the same size but because she is shorter then I am the bodice and skirt needed to be shortened. No need to trace the pattern in a different size for her! My aunt bribed me in to cutting out her dress as well. Who can say no to free fabric? 

What I learned by making this dress is how much of a difference fabric can make. I used the exact same pattern in the exact same size. But somehow  this dress is a lot smaller than my other dresses. I can get it on... but hardly move in it. It is just to constructing in the shoulder area ( you can see how tight it is in the last photograph). So that is to bad because I really love how it looks. I wore it once to the new years reception at work but I know that I will probably not wear it again.