dress: self-made, pattern here // shoes: Minnetonka // glasses: Bonlook
I had this dress in mind when I first bought the Belladone pattern but I never had the right fabric for it. When I was home recently, I went to my favorite discount fabric shop and found this gorgeously simple floral rayon challis (I think?) and I knew it had to come home with me and become this dress.
I’m *mostly* happy with how it turned out, but there are definitely some things I would tweak next time I make one.
I made the bodice according to the pattern, except the two bottom back pieces, which I basically slashed off a bunch of. I wanted the lovely diagonal lines meeting toward the middle, but I wanted this to be an easy dress to slip on so I opted for an elastic waistband just in the very back. This meant the bottom back pieces had to meet the waistband a little farther out than I had originally planned. For the skirt, I just drafted a circle skirt with a little extra circumference than the actual waist in order to accommodate the gathering.
I think that next time I’m going to include the original waistband in the back only, and then have the skirt come out of there. It’ll be easy to attach some sort of short back zipper closure (or buttons!) and I can have the bottom back pieces meet in the middle and not gape so much at the sides.
Anyway, this dress is super comfy and super easy to throw on. Plus, backless dresses are just tons of fun to wear!
In other news, I just realized my post title sounds like a weird and possibly skanky murder mystery.
Cute! I don’t have the nerve to try a backless dress, but you are killin’ it in this thing! Nice job!
Aww thanks! I bet you would look adorbs in one 🙂
It is a really pretty dress. I really like the fabric. So nice!
Isn’t it cute?? I saw it and made a beeline. *mine*
Lovely dress! Great find on the fabric!
I love that dress! I love the twist detail on the back! Oh.. to be young again! You rock this!
Thanks! It’s a little scandalous but so much fun to wear 🙂
This fabric is perfect and I love the dramaticness (yes I’ve made that a word) of the back! x
Hehe I definitely think that should be a work. 🙂
Oh ! It’s a cute dress ♥ ! And I’m totally fan of your blog too 🙂
Aww thank you! <3
I think you have the golden touch when it comes to dresses. Everything you make is amazing and adorable! Great idea on the backless Belladone, and I like the addition of a circle skirt.
Aww Shona you’re so sweet! <3 Yeah, I've tried the original skirt, a pleated one, and a circle skirt and I can't decide which one I like best!
Adoration! Very smart cookie u are 🙂
Oh, beautiful! I just bought the Belladone pattern and can’t wait to make it. I’m going to make the strapped back, but your backless version is just lovely!
Ooh you’ll love it! Can’t wait to see what you make!
What a delightful version of the dress. I love your backless adaptation of the pattern which has real drama (as mentioned by some other fans on your comments page).
Amazing photography on your blog; you style the shoots beautifully and the colours and composition of your photos are lovely.
I’m looking forward to what you are going to make next!
Thank you so much! I only picked up photography in the last year so I’m still learning but it’s been really fun 🙂
Gorgeous dress! You look beautiful. Great job adapting the pattern!
I love this variation! Very daring, but it looks perfect on you 😀
Both the fabric and the pattern are AMAZING!