Simplicity 2588: the V&A dress

My V&A reproduction fabric came in the mail on Friday, marking the first instance in a long time where I rushed home to do laundry so I could pre-wash the fabric and get cutting.

Things I did differently from the first time I made this dress:

• I put the dress together in a different order than specified in the instructions to make it easier to put in the zipper, which is quite possibly the most beautiful zipper I’ve ever put in anything. The only thing I forgot to consider was the neck band that gets added at the end, so the zipper stops about 1.5″ short from the top of the back. I had always planned on adding a hook at the top anyway, so this was fine.
• Piping! Piping is not typically my thing but I feel like the mod look this kind of contrast can add would work with the style of the dress, so I added it to the waist tabs as well as the neck band. I wasn’t sure about adding it at the neck at first but I’m glad I did.
• I went with the flat sleeve option so I wouldn’t have to buy another cardigan so I could wear this to work. The sleeves are kind of weird and gaping and I’m not super thrilled with them, but I think that’s part of the design and not necessarily poor construction on my part (she says modestly).

I suffered from a bit of sophomore cockiness and managed to completely forget to add the pockets, so I did a lot of seam ripping to add them back in on account of the fact that pockets are absolutely mandatory in all garments. The back also gaps a bit weirdly but until I get myself a proper dressmaker’s form (which is not soon), I’ll have to live with it.

Overall I’m happy with it, but I’m still trying to decide whether or not this has crossed the line between “okay to wear to work” and “fun occasions only.” (I work in an environment where the dress code is exceedingly casual.) I told my sister I would wear this dress when we eventually visit the V&A this spring and she said “Do I have to stand near you when you do?” Har har. London calling!