FOUNDATIONS REVEALED COMPETITION ENTRY

Divider_GoldMoth

Alice’s Summer Dress

stitch-1

SUBMITTED BY:

Melissa Menchaca

LINKS:

Outline the story …

Meet Alice. She's grown but she still loves adventure and fantasy. This is the first garment I've ever made. I took inspiration mostly from Sir John Tenniel's original illustrations from "Alice in Wonderland" and "Alice Through the Looking Glass". The pattern for the apron is essentially as is for a Victorian children's apron just sized up, but the dress is heavily modified from the pattern I'd chosen. I was also inspired by an 1864 children's dress from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I wanted something that I could use in my everyday life which is one of the reasons I went for Alice. I can't tell you how many times I've looked longingly at the little girls section of Target thinking why don't they make things like this for adults. It gets HOT in the summer so this dress will be a super comfy God sent. Finally the recent interest in "Cottagecore" aesthetic was a major influence on the final dress. I definitely think Alice would approve.

Outline the construction…

100% hand sewn. Made from homespun cotton, unlined. There is a "bone" going down the front, a standard sized zip tie cut to size. I have "mommy tummy" so I struggled to find a design for the bodice that didn't accentuate that. I'm also short wasted, so I decided to create a white "belt" that went around the small of my waist. The original pattern I used (from etsy and linked on the mood board) became a jumping off point rather than something I followed to the letter. I removed the flair below the waist which gave the final dress more of the shape I was looking for. The white belt is interfaced with an old blackout curtain, white side out, black side in. Same interfacing was used for the pockets on the apron. I aimed for a school girl length. The apron is an unbleached cotton, with stretch cotton flowers on the shoulders. Close up photo is of my first attempt at decorative stitching as well as some flat felling and buttons.

COMMENTS

Divider_GoldMoth

26 Comments

  1. Avatar Avery on March 11, 2021 at 6:36 pm

    So cute! I especially love your use of trim and your decorative stitching at the neckline, this is so fun!

    • Avatar Melissa on March 11, 2021 at 9:02 pm

      Thank you. It was certainly an adventure.

  2. Avatar Sadie on March 11, 2021 at 8:43 pm

    This is so lovely! I love the details like the lace trim and the adorable sleeves! It’s going to be the perfect dress for summer 🥰

    • Avatar Melissa on March 11, 2021 at 9:03 pm

      Thank you. I’m not a fan of summer so at least wearing this is something to look forward to. ☺️

  3. Avatar Phanuel Jagna Levinsen on March 11, 2021 at 10:55 pm

    Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was my favourite book as a kid and you did a great job creating the character! Good work!

    • Avatar Melissa on March 12, 2021 at 4:40 am

      Thank you! Seeing other’s interpretations of Alice from other skill levels there seems to be a whole lot of places you can go with her.

  4. Avatar Caroline on March 12, 2021 at 12:32 am

    I love your Alice outfit! The waist belt part is so well fitted! The trimming is all adorable! 🥰

    • Avatar Melissa on March 12, 2021 at 4:42 am

      Thank you! The trim is one of my favorite parts. I had second thoughts after submitting the entry form to admitting that the belt was “interfaced” with a black out curtain. *blush*

  5. Avatar Jocelyn Lofstrom on March 12, 2021 at 1:31 am

    LOVE LOVE LOVE! What a great idea. Also, I totally relate to when you wrote, “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked longingly at the little girls section of Target thinking why don’t they make things like this for adults.” Very creative and fun. Well done!

    • Avatar Melissa on March 12, 2021 at 4:39 am

      Now that Miss Cathy has pushed me to sew after thinking about it for 10+ years I guess I can take inspiration now instead of just drool.

  6. Avatar Wynne on March 12, 2021 at 2:16 am

    Well this is simply delightful. It looks super comfy and so pretty— I would be proud to have made this outfit!

    • Avatar Melissa on March 12, 2021 at 4:37 am

      Oh thank you so much! It was so cold out but I had a really hard time wanting to take it off.

  7. Kitty Mortensen Kitty Mortensen on March 12, 2021 at 7:54 am

    Very cute- loving the sleeves so much.

  8. Avatar Elowen Blackthorn on March 12, 2021 at 9:20 am

    What a cute little dress! Love that lace along the hem!

  9. Avatar Ame Blue on March 12, 2021 at 5:17 pm

    This is so cute! I love the lace trim and the white stripe at the waistline, it makes the dress so interesting!

  10. Avatar Esellie on March 12, 2021 at 6:54 pm

    I love all the luscious lace! Annd I love the waist and how you got it to smooth over your womanly belly. I too have a belly and am happy to see how you smoothed over yours Love the soft point of the waist, too! Great creation!

  11. Avatar Valerie Meachum on March 15, 2021 at 12:41 am

    A perfectly cottagecore grownup Alice!! Enjoy every summer day you wear this charming creation!

  12. Avatar Benigna on March 16, 2021 at 2:12 pm

    That dress looks so cute!
    I really like the white part at the waist and the lace.

  13. Avatar Joshua Graham on March 18, 2021 at 5:39 pm

    the trim at the bottom is perfect and just pulls everything together

  14. Avatar AnnaCatherine Sendgikoski on March 20, 2021 at 3:07 am

    Wow, very nice, I love that fabric. Alice’s innocence is conveyed in your simple design, I love it! Well done!

  15. Avatar Senta on March 21, 2021 at 2:56 am

    Thank you for all your support , an exceptional person who encouraged me to try too. You know I loved this costume from the moment I saw it and your stitching is so neat , It is a refection of it’s creator – beautiful. .

  16. Avatar Laura Ingalls Gunn on March 21, 2021 at 10:22 pm

    Your take on Alice is lovely. I adore the button accent on the bodice. Bravo!

  17. Avatar Abigail Wietecha on March 22, 2021 at 4:27 pm

    Absolutely beautiful! Congratulations on entering! Good luck!

  18. Avatar Carol Phillips on March 24, 2021 at 4:23 am

    Lovely! Well done!

  19. Avatar Bianca on March 29, 2021 at 1:11 am

    This is fantastic! I love the cottagecore inspo and agree, Alice would approve.

  20. Avatar Felicity on March 29, 2021 at 9:38 pm

    This came out so well! Good luck! @flissoire on insta

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.