About a year ago I saw this dress in a magazine and tore it out and pinned it to my sewing bulletin board. Along with the other 15 or so magazine photos I have pinned there. There it stayed until last spring when I went fabric shopping with my cousin Teri. 
She lives near several great fabric stores! So we went shopping and I found some navy blue cotton eyelet. I had never seen cotton eyelet in navy! It seemed like a great fabric for a dress; casual, easy to wear, and great color! So I used the magazine inspiration to design my navy, eyelet dress.
I lined the bottom with silk lining so it feels really comfortable and I lined the top part with silk organza in navy because I didn’t want it too sheer.
I used my dress form and created and changed the pattern a bit. When it came to the hem, I just left it trimmed to the eyelet. I used an invisible zipper and added a little vent at the bottom.
I am really pleased with my dress!
Then I though about wearing it and concluded that a jacket would make a finished outfit. I have made many jackets and I wanted something different and more current. About that time I watched a piece on TV on Michelle Obama and I saw her in that lemon grass colored coat. I remember watching her on Jan. 20th and thinking what a great outfit she wore. So…
I decided to make a coat for my navy dress. I wanted similar fabric with that comfortable, easy wear feeling. So I went back to the fabric store and found 100% linen in navy!
I made a linen coat in navy to wear with the eyelet dress. The dress had a low v-neck front and back. So the coat has a higher neck and four buttons. I found them at Britex in San Francisco!
I wanted to inject some color into this outfit so I added a lively lining.
I’m really pleased with this entire outfit. The coat can be worn with other outfits. The dress can be worn alone or with a colorful shawl. I can dress up the outfit for a more formal occasion. Or keep it simple for casual events.
This outfit took me all summer to make. But it wasn’t difficult sewing.
I entered this outfit into a sewing contest. Go to:
http://www.craftstylish.com/contest/fall-fashion-challenge-09
and check out my competition!
~Kathy
