My rejected pr+p look
This picture says it all:
I was pretty sure of myself for most of my looks, but the party dress theme had me all over the place! I made these two dresses first. The took forever, and I eventually hated them. Seeing as I got kicked out for the alternate dress I made later, maybe I should have sent these in. Hah! But I hate them and I wouldn’t have felt comfortable sending it in. I like them a little more now that the heat of the competition is over, but it’s definitely not my best work.
This crazy blue dress was inspired by Oscar de la Renta’s Bridal 2012 collection. I mimicked the organza, at least a little. I hate this organza! It’s from Joann and like 7 bucks a yard. I ended up with 9 yards, which was so expensive, even with coupons! I hate spending money on things that don’t work out how I planned. But anyways, I figured out how to achieve the look, but it was difficult to make the overall shape look right. The top and bottom are choppy. It looked way better when it wasn’t on a model. It just drapes weird on such a small girl. Oh and get this, there’s a train in the back! You can puke now! Mullet dress.
As we were putting the pink and turquoise dress on the sleeve split open because of some old linen that was fraying and then the bow fell off and I had to re-sew it. Ugh. I was not happy with the quality to say the least, and so I trashed them! Well I still have them and I ripped the bow off of the polka dot and orange dress to use in the Neapolitan outfit.
My favorite part is the color pop sleeves (tutorial coming soon)! This actually worked exactly how I wanted it to! The color shows with movement, and since the seam detail is on the sleeves the color shows a lot! Even still, it wasn’t enough to make up for the rest.
So what do you think? Craziness?
love the sleeves, but I’m kinda with ya on the dresses….. but it sure looks like a lot of work went into them!
I think they would be pretty cool actually, especially the orange one, without the big bows. I know bows are your thing but they are way to big here. LOVE the color pop sleeve!
I actually think that the polkadot and orange one is really cool. (orange is the hot color for spring you know) lol and i actually love it paired with the polkadot. The pop of color on the sleeve is fabulous. I think maybe a bow at the waist… I don’t know i like it. Its fun! Your stuff is always amazing! Don’t be so hard on your self.
Hmmm…not a total fail. I love the volume of the organza skirt, but I think the proportions are off. If the top of the dress had been more fitted (like a tank top) and plain with a lower waist, then the ruffles and even the train would have worked, I think. Maybe there were just too many competing elements. The sleeves are great. Thanks for sharing – I learn a whole lot out of my own failures, and it’s nice to see how others process as well.
I really like the color pop sleeves. But I agree, Its a bit much on the skirts. We all have failed projects. I spent a whole week tediously making a raincoat for my son out of laminated canvas. I was pretty proud, but he hated it. Never wears it. bummer. sometimes the mojo is there, sometimes its not. But, I bet your next creation will be outta the park!
this is like when we made those weird dresses for that dance waaaaay back (summer 2007?) and that steve guy talked to the whole time.
Wow! Those are SO fun! I wouldn’t call it a ‘fail’, seeing as you tried and found out what you liked and didn’t like. I love the color pop sleeves!
i do love the polka dot and orange one….and maybe scaled down just a bit it would be more wearable for toddlers. (i might steal that color combo from you because the pink, orange and black and white look so cool together!) but i feel ya on spending time and money on something only to NOT love it – that sucks! p.s. i just discovered you blog recently and it is really inspiring me.
Regardless of how you feel about them, I’m sure the girls absolutely loved trying them on and modeling them! :) And even if you weren’t happy with them, the fact that you could create them in the first place sure shows how much talent you have! (Personally, I think the skirt of the blue dress is cute).
Those dresses are definetly not a fail. You created two dresses and even if you don’t like them, that alone makes this a win.
Anyway, I love the blue skirt. It’s great. I wouldn’t even know where to start to make it.
Greetings from Germany
Catrin
We are always our own worst critics. I think the organza skirt looks cute. But then i do the same thing all the time. I wish we had the ability to step back and see our creations through someone elses eyes.
The color pop sleeves are really fun though. :) I always love seeing what you make. I just sewed my first ever t-shirt for my daughter. If you have any tips or advice for me it would be much appreciated. :)
http://www.justenoughstyle.blogspot.com
I would have to agree that those two dresses are hideous (although I would totally consider making a blue skirt like that, shorter). BUT, hey, you tried something new and that’s what really counts! Even if the whole thing wasn’t great at least you got the color pop sleeves down right, so don’t consider it all a fail. Now what’s with the GINORMOUS bows? They’re kind of funny looking all around in my opinion. :)
i agree they don’t quite work as is, but i don’t think they’re that far from greatness! just a little tweaking on proportions of the shirts (i agree with prior post that a more fitted tank top would be great), and fix the shape of the puffball skirt and you would be there! holy cow, though, that’s so much work you put in! it’d be hard to scrap them! hopefully you can find a way to make them work somehow. i love the orangey skirt and the colorpop sleeves are fab, too. :)
Kate, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I TOTALLY LOVE YOU! And I loved this post…seriously I love the color combination and the over the top in your face girlyness—please don’t scrap them. Put them away and one day when you feel like it pull them out and play with them until they make YOU happy. (And then send me a picture because I’ll love them to.)
liZ
I think these styles work on a tall, thin haute couture model, but they are just a bit much on teeny adorable little girls. I love your creative style. keep working at it. Everything was just a bit too big. I do love the color pop sleeves. I’ll have to try that sometime.
I think these are great….sometimes I am not brave enough to play around with fabric that way. Your girls are so cute, they probably felt like princesses!!! I mean I love them both!
It’s still a pretty cool “mermaid” dress. Any Kate Blocher dress can’t really be a failure!
I love the blue skirted one! Adorable
Can you tell us how your really feel? :^)
Your colors are gorgeous
your original design thoughts seem to be sound
Not certain what else to say
love and hugs
Gerry
Gah! Those skirts are soooo cute!