Sunday, June 10, 2012

The Moonrise Kingdom Dress (finally)

Yes, I'm wearing my saddle shoes because Suzy is wearing a pair in the movie trailer.
 I've been pretty busy studying for my exams next week so I haven't had much of a chance to blog lately. I finally managed to take a picture of my finished Moonrise Kingdom inspired dress. It was taken inside and it's pretty lopsided but it had snowed outside.

See?

The pattern I used for the dress was Butterick 5317 from the late 60s. I made quite a few changes. I redrafted the collar, and the sleeves, drafted some cuffs, shortened it a lot, put the zip in the back and left off the faux pockets.


In the trailer for Moonrise Kingdom Suzy looks like she's wearing a rope or something tied around her waist. I tried my dress with a belt but it went all bunchy so I decided it looked better without it.


I quite like the finished product but the fabric is a pain. If you look at it wrong it creases. For some reason it was fine when I was sewing it, but then as soon as I put it on it it started wrinkling like crazy. I ironed it just before I took the photo and you can see it's already pretty wrinkled. 

43 comments:

  1. Great dress! You're so clever!
    I've got loads of old cool patterns but trying to suss them out is like a foreign language to me! Too mathematical or something. Doh!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I actually find old patterns easier than new ones. Once you sort of all the symbols they aren't so bad. I find the instructions a bit tough though.

      Delete
  2. Niiice! And I much prefer your mango sorbet shade over the original..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! It was the only orange fabric I could find.

      Delete
  3. You are really clever making this dress. Love the colour.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

    ReplyDelete
  4. Perfect! Love the sleeves and cuffs. You sure know how to "fix" a vintage pattern. And you must be one heck of a fast sewer! Is that nearly a dress a week???? (I'm envious)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks. I actually finished this dress a few weeks ago but I didn't get around to taking a picture until the other day. I can usually do about a dress a week if I do half an hour of sewing each day.

      Delete
  5. This dress is fantastic. I love it. You're so talented. I can't wait to see this film.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love that dress. The colour is way up my street.

    ReplyDelete
  7. very cute, I love how dramatic the collar looks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks. I had to make the collar way bigger than the original pattern pieces but I like how dramatic it looks too.

      Delete
  8. I love it, the colour, the style everything. It suits you so well. You really are a sewing powerhouse and you put me and my still half naked mannequin to shame! Must finish my latest frock! Xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! You have had lots going on lately though, so no wonder you haven't had much time for sewing.

      Delete
  9. Oh my god you made it! And it looks AMAZING and wonderful and fab and very W. Anderson... Who cares if it wrinkles because it's rockin'.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I have you to thank because I saw the trailer on your (now gone?) blog first. Anyway, it's good to hear from you. I hope you're good.

      Delete
    2. Alright! Yes, I know it got hacked and deleted! I could have got it back (apparently) but it was a bunch of hoops and I was in the midst of my honours thesis course work, so... Priorities. However now that that's over (last week! Woohoo!) I want to have another one, although all of that other writing is gone! Hope you're at least getting some snow-ball fights over there :)

      Delete
    3. That's terrible. Damn hackers! Fair enough. I hope your Honours stuff went well. If you start another one you know I'll read. Not me. I learnt my lesson last time. Snow ball fights are fun for five minutes and then you just get cold, soggy and miserable, and it takes ages to warm up again.

      Delete
    4. Just letting you know I have re-started the blog! Although there's no sewing business on there... Yet :) www.reanalouise.blogspot.com x

      Delete
  10. Well it's a lovely color on your, shame the fabric is being so evil!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Fab frock........love the colour, the length & that collar. Xx

    ReplyDelete
  12. It's fantastic, better than the inspiration! You rock it!
    Hope that snow goes soon, it makes me shiver just looking at it! x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Vix. I don't mind the snow that much. We don't get it often.

      Delete
  13. Oh it really is marvellous, and a lovely colour on you. Nice work! x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I didn't think the colour would suit me to be honest, but I wanted an orange dress anyway.

      Delete
  14. Cute dress! I love the bright orange fabric.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wow, what a cool dress! I like the collar and the colour!

    Christel

    ReplyDelete
  16. So good so good! I actually don't think your color at all off hers...it's the film filter making everything look frostier and less vivid, really.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks. Yes, I thought that too. I saw a picture somewhere that hadn't had anything done to it and the colours were quite different.

      Delete
  17. Ooh, looking very cute and very 60's :D I got a challenge for you in my blog!

    Rhia from
    http://www.evildressmaker.com/

    ReplyDelete
  18. grr how annoying, I've had a dress like that. But it's so lovely, you've done a great job, teaming it with those shoes is genius

    ReplyDelete
  19. This dress is PERFECT and your pattern-altering skills are pretty dazzling. You should make one in every colour and wear them as a uniform like a cartoon character.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Precioso color de vestido, y fantásticas fotos, me gusta tu espacio de blog y te sigo,un beso ana.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Oh I think it turned out lovely! Leaving out the big stripe down the middle was a good call, it's very chic! Oh and I totally know how you feel about making dress's too short for you, been there too, it sucks! Take care, Khrystyna

    http://littlerubyrobin.blogspot.ie

    ReplyDelete
  22. I immediately wanted to see the movie after viewing the trailer - and like you, I loved the dress. Your version is WONDERFUL and your alterations very clever!

    The movie was one of my all-time favorites. Back to the dress though: I loved that Suzy had the same dress in various colors. Now that you've got a prototype, maybe you can do the same. Oh yes, great photo - with the saddle oxfords and all... right on target!

    ReplyDelete