New Look 6429 - The Perfect Summer Dress June 3, 2007
Diva Ann inspired me to do this dress. Notice Ann’s version (scroll down a tad on her blog) has black-white-turquoise-orange zizag points going up on the center front panel, whereas mine are going down - does this mean anything? I have no clue. But that’s what I love about sewing; two sewists can use the same fabric, and the same pattern, and do two completely different things with it.
I know I’m really late to the party with this pattern - there are 25+ reviews on Pattern Review - but now that I’ve made it I really have to say that you should run right out and buy it; it’s a classic. The drafting is excellent and the style is universally flattering; my only quible (which I repeated on PR - Big 4, R U listening?) is that I wish pattern companies would mark the waist on every pattern piece - it’s SO annoying - changing the waist length is the most basic of all pattern alterations (especially for a petite like me) and I hated having to plot the waist on a style like this that has four bodice pattern pieces.
The fabric is a polyester knit from Gorgeous Fabrics, it’s light as a feather and skims the body perfectly. This is the black-white-brown-green-yellow colorway and I love it because it reminds me of mint chocolate chip ice cream (my favorite!) I’ll be taking this dress with me when we go on our vacation later this sumer - it doesn’t wrinkle, and the rolls up into a shape so small it fits in my hand.
The lines of this style provide a fun opportunity to play with the intersecting pattern pieces on a directional printed fabric such as this, but because of the way the pattern is designed, I knew I’d never get the pieces perfectly matched matched all the way around the dress.
So I had to make a decision to use the fabric design to either showcase the back or the front. I chose the back, and as for the front - all I did there was decide how I wanted the zigzag of the fabric to fall down the center panel from the waist down. I didn’t worry about the upper front bodice. As you can also see, the gathered side drape will cause the upper bodice to be off-grain, so the design emphasis was all in the back and the lower part of the front panel.
Tomorrow is supposed to be rainy and cold, but hopefully I can wear this to work sometime this week!
very nice dress…I really like the way it falls on the body and the zig zag pattern is most impressive!
I love your version! It looks just amazing on you.
PS - LOVE the shoes!
Phyllis, this is indeed the perfect dress! The way you matched the zigzag pattern on the back is fantastic and a great inspiration! Thank you so much for sharing your work with us!
Really gorgeous on you! Kudos!
Oh this is perfect! So very nice, well done.
Wow! I love how you used the print to your advantage!
I agree with you on your quibble - I also shorten the bodice length on just about everthing. It certainly would help!
Just stumbled upon your blog. Your dress looks wonderful. The back is fabulous.
[...] New Look 6429 - The Perfect Summer Dress Diva Ann inspired me to do this dress. Notice Ann’s version (scroll down a tad on her blog) […] [...]
I have had this pattern for sometime now. I have read all 25+ reviews of it at PR. But have still found it sitting and waiting for me. When you wrote “petite” it got more of my intention. I think I need to give it a try.
Wow, that is truly amazing. I love the points of focus you’ve chosen. The colors are wonderful. Have fun wearing it
-Melissa
Wow! Great dress! New Look patterns are the best. Hey, even WalMart has a fair selection for $3.44 and I find they are drafted better than the other Big 4 companies.
Your dress rocks!
Fantastic dress Phyllis and I love the way you used the stripes at the back.
Wow your dress realy impresed me!
Very nice! It has pizazz!
Just wanted to say I really love yr site………….just got back into sewing since high school and you have inspired me to make this dress……….just gotta be on the lookout for some gorgeous fabric. But a great new project for me. Thanks again
Sharon
Where in the heck was I when you made this dress? I think that was the week I had surgery last year and couldn’t get to my computer! It is absolutely gorgeous! I love the way you matched the pattern in back. I made this patten a couple of years ago - I should pull it out again.