Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Vogue 1258 - Snake Print Jersey Dress!


Project Details:

Pattern: Vogue 1258 - Vena Cava

Pattern Sizing: 4-16, I cut the 14

Description: Close-fitting dress has side slant pockets.


This is the first Vena Cava pattern I've ever sewn so I did a little research on the designers since I wasn't familiar with their brand.
Vena Cava - Fall 2010

I decided to use a black/gray/white snake print ITY knit from Gorgeous Fabrics. When I saw the fabric, I knew it would be the perfect marriage of fabric and pattern!



Animal prints, especially snake print is so HAWT this season. It's everywhere from clothing to accessories. I doubt I would wear a leopard print dress, but it's something about this reptilian alternative that has the right amount of edge and sauciness that suited me.

The only alteration I made was lengthening the hem by right under 3 inches. Which brings me to an issue I have with some patterns. There is not a lengthening point. So if you're a tall girl and need to make adjustments at the waist or hem, you're own your own for figuring it out.

The instructions were pretty "AVERAGE" for a Vogue Pattern. If you're accustomed to sewing VPs and working with knits, you should have no problems with this. I didn't.

What I LOVE most about this dress is it is flattering both coming and going! And with the gathers in the front, you can actually eat while wearing it!
I decided to wrap my ties and tie them in back.

I like that the skirt tapers off to the hem. This creates a VERY body-conscious silhouette. And the pockets and pleating draws the eyes straight to the hips. So if you're not good with your hips, thighs and butt, walk away from this pattern.

Love my snake ring and my faux snakeskin clutch!

A platform sandal was the perfect touch!

This is a very sexy dress and I knew from the moment I saw it, it would be mine! This is also a great seasonal transition dress as well. It can go from sandals to layered on top of a turtleneck with tights and ankles booties! I'm in love with it already!

62 comments:

  1. You look fabulous. Great job.

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  2. Wow! this dress is superb. I love how chic and stylish it is.Looks like you have outdone yourself again. awesome job!

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  3. You look great, as always, and I am so impressed with your sewing skills. You have inspired me to start sewing again after a very long (15-year) break. So what a great surprise to open up the new Vogue Patterns yesterday and find you have a feature inside! Congratulations!

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  4. Another great one! I just bought this pattern last week.

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  5. Great dress, fabulously styled! Those shoes are killer.

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  6. You are sooooo sexy!!! Wow. It suits you so well.

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  7. Wow you look sexy in that number! Fabulous job Erica :)

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  8. Gorgeous and I adore the fabric too. Now I will be stalking my mailbox even more than usual waiting for my new Vogue patterns to arrive!

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  9. Anonymous8:02 PM

    Gawd, I'm in serious lust with this dress. I'm going to have to get this pattern.

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  10. You're right, it is the perfect combo of pattern and fabric.
    Nice work!

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  11. I think you need to add this one to your header photo collection. Simply smashing.

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  12. Great pattern, turned out fantastic with the fabric you used!

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  13. Great job! It looks like you changed the sleeves though, is that true?

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  14. I love the dress and the styling. I especially like the first two shots against the wall, those could be in a magazine!

    You are rocking the short hair, btw. I want to cut my hair short now!

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  15. Fabulous dress!! fantastic job:))

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  16. You look great... Very nicely put together outfit!

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  17. gorgeous fabric & gorgeous dress....love your shoes & jewels too!

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  18. Super-hot dress and I love the snakeskiin print fabric!

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  19. So cool! A super flattering dress, and your styling is great too. (oh, and I love your hair short too :)

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  20. Stunning! I can not WAIT to make this!!

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  21. From one Ericka to another Erica...I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!!! This is perfection from head to toe! I purchased the pattern over the weekend during the Joann sale, and now I can't wait to figure out which fabric to use for mine. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  22. Meow! You look awesome!

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  23. Wow! This looks SO much better then the Vogue envelope picture. I was really distracted with those front ties, but your solution to tie them in the back really makes this dress sexy. Love it!

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  24. Love it! Thank you so much for a close up of the shoes.

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  27. You wrote - The only alteration I made was lengthening the hem by right under 3 inches. Which brings me to an issue I have with some patterns. There is not a lengthening point. So if you're a tall girl and need to make adjustments at the waist or hem, you're own your own for figuring it out.

    I'm petite. I need to take an inch out of the armhole depth and an inch out of the hip depth. This is NEVER marked on the pattern and it can be quite tricky. I know I used to sew right out of the envelope when I was younger. I think in part that was because there were petite sized patterns.

    You look gorgeous in that dress. Lovely job.

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  28. I knew I'd like this dress! Awesome on you!

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  29. You look Fab!!! Dress is tha bizness!

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  30. Fabulous! Love the styling.

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  31. I love it! I put this one on my list last week to make. I might bump it up on the list, I need it after seeing yours.

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  32. Another great dress, Erica.

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  33. Anonymous2:29 PM

    That's Great!! I was just looking at my fabric last night and wondering how this dress would look in a print. I like it better than the solid. I love the whole look!!!

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  34. HOT! I really love your hair, you are working ITTTTTT.

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  35. Did you see the sale on the vogue patterns website? Almost everyone is $4.99! I bought several, your blog is inspiring me! :)

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  36. Wow, wow, wow! Awesome dress, awesome styling!

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  37. Wow! YOU have to be a model for Vogue magazine, not these skinny girls!! Very impressive! Gorgeouse woman in a gorgeous dress!

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  38. Animal prints are all the rage this season. I love the mix of dresses that you've made as well. Those shoes...simply fabulous.

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  39. Gorgeous dress. Having just discovered knit dresses I am in love with them. So easy to wear, although I have to wear the 'figure hugging' slip for best effect. I really love your fabric as well, sometime difficult to choose to avoid the tarty look that some produce.

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  40. You are looking fierce! Nice job--great dress.

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  41. Great dress. Your summer wardrobe has been amazing. Loving the hair too!

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  42. Okay.....just too sharp and the shoes are fierce!!!!!

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  43. Gorgeous! I like python print over other animal prints myself, too.

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  44. So you tied it at the back, makes all the difference, that knot at the front was the reason I passed this one by. Snake print is perfect not as cliche as the leopard.

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  45. Jaw dropping! You look terrific in this dress! It's both feminine and edgy, just perfect, imo!

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  46. Erica, you look sensational in this dress and with the forthcoming summer season approaching in Australia I coulod be tempted to make this dress.
    Lesley

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  47. Simply beautiful, Erica. Perfect for your sense of style.

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  48. Gorgeous dress! I like it so much more then the Vogue version. Great job!

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  49. You look so much better than the model on the pattern cover. Her dress does not seem to fit very well. For that reason, I never considered that pattern. Your dress looks and fits great!

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  50. I meant to comment when you first posted this but was reading your post on my phone... I love how this turned out! Fits you like a glove...

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  51. Outstanding! Love the way you styled this dress.

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  52. I'm late to the party, but I just had to add to the chorus of "beautiful dress". :)

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  53. I thought you have changed the sleeves too...

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  54. Wow! this dress is superb. I love how chic and stylish it is.Looks like you have outdone yourself again. awesome job!

    animal print dress

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  55. You absolutely know the rules of power-dressing hands down! Michelle Obama is that you?
    stockings australia

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