Sewing: Retro Shift Dress for Paris When it Sizzles

Well hello there...

Kelly of Sewing in No Mans Land contacted me about sewing for her "Paris in the Summer When it Sizzles" series right about the time I was feeling a wardrobe crisis and thinking about sewing for myself again. So I was vulnerable. And, of course hugely inspired by her incredible photos of life in Paris. But what to sew...?

A dress of course. But what kind of dress? A little black dress? I could use one of those. I had been thinking about something floral.... So many options.

I decided to turn to the classic Audrey Hepburn movie, Paris When it Sizzles. It's not my favorite of her movies but she is as stylish as usual in classic clothes designed for her by Givenchy. Her wardrobe is demure and tailored and feminine and a bit restrained in solid colors. I found a vintage mid-60s pattern that would be just the thing. Bought some rosy coral fabric I thought would work great, but then I remembered a dress I'd started years ago.

So I pulled this out of the drawer. It was all cut out and ready to go in this funky voile I purchased at Fabric.com years ago. It was begging to be finished. And I thought, honestly, on a sizzling hot Parisian day I would put on something lightweight and feminine like this. And then I would go find a park with big shady trees (perhaps Jardin du Luxembourg). And I would hide out. Or read a book. Or eat ice cream. Wouldn't that be nice?

This dress is sewn from Vogue Pattern 8468, a loose-fitting shift dress with bell three-quarter sleeves and a slightly gathered square yoke, which is out of print. 

After I finished the dress I realized it's very similar to Rae's Ruby Dress pattern. So if you like it, there you go! It's fun to wear in this mod green and white print. Especially with a retro updo (which I need to work on a bit before wearing it out "live").

Thanks, Kelly, for inviting me and motivating me to sew! I needed a new dress! And I think I'll keep at it--maybe that Givenchy-inspired suit is next.