Dress Journey: Rainbow Chevrons

A couple of weeks ago we were commissioned to make this amazing rainbow chevron dress, here is its dress journey...

This was the toile/mock-up of the design of the dress, a simple t-shirt shaped top and a gathered waist skirt. Please excuse the one sleeve! I was using up scrap fabric and to save on time I only needed to show one sleeve...

So from this our customer asked for some of the fullness in the skirt to be taken out as it was a tad too much, but other than that it was just right.

This was the fabric, I'd searched everywhere to find a suitable rainbow chevron fabric, which isn't easy to come by! This was a cotton poplin fabric and was lovely to work with, even if it did send my eyes funny at time!

Cutting out the patterns were a tad difficult to match the pattern but I soon found out the pattern would not match across the side seams. But as long as it matched the same colour rows going across, it was the only thing I could do. It did take me 2 hours to cut it all out but I knew it had to be right.

Here is the top sewn together and as you can see, the side seam pattern didn't match perfectly but the colour rows did, which was all I could do. I made sure that there was a perfect chevron line running straight down the centre front and centre back though to keep the balance of the garment.

The skirt had to be a large rectangle shape, it couldn't have been done in triangles to make the skirt swing out as the pattern would have just sloped off towards the side seams. So it was a rectangle and then the top was gathered in to create a bit of fullness and ripple.

This point was the top and skirt joined together, I was so eager to see what it was like! It still had the neck and hem to finish however.

The concealed zip and neck facing was next in, finishing off with my label put on and then hemming on the skirt was the last step!

It's finished! I think its such an impact statement dress! Plus any accessories can be matched to it as it has all the colours.

As a little extra, out of the scraps I made one of our cute rounded shirt collars to team up with any outfit because the fabric is just too cool!

And here is our lovely customer in her dress! Amazing! <3

An Evening Out With Joanna

On Monday evening I was invited out to a charity 6 course mystery meal in Leeds and of course I had to make myself a dress to wear. I chose the Joanna dress from our current collection, a classic pencil dress with a slash neck and waistband. Within my stashes of fabric, I had this beautiful blue and beiges floral abstract viscose fabric and instantly knew I had to make it!

I teamed it up with my beige faux leather Jacket from New Look, nude high back heels from Atmosphere and a black quilted circle bag, making sure it was my dress that stood out amongst the outfit.

Our Joanna dress can be purchased from our shop and made-to-measure in your size. Bespoke colours and fabrics can also be requested, contact us directly with your requirements. See it here http://www.hannahelizabethfashion.co.uk/product/joanna

Spring/Summer 2015 Collection

Our S/S 15 collection is based on vintage inspired garments with an up to date trends twist. They were photographed in the beautiful Canon Hall in South Yorkshire. All available to buy in our shop and made-to-measure.