When I saw this babyGAP tulip shift dress, I knew three things. One, I wanted just such a dress for Rosa. Two, there was no way I would spend $33 to acquire said dress from GAP. And three, the solution to my dilemma would be to create my own version!
So far, this is a close as I've gotten:
The difficulty with trying to recreate an exisiting garment that you really like is that it's a bit disappointing if your version isn't identical. But, I'm reconciling myself to "semi-failure," because I actually like how it turned out! It's not quite the chic, casual dress I was trying to recreate, but that's okay. Because Rosa looks sweet in it, anyway.
The fabric is from my stash (I don't buy new fabric for trial runs!). I love the tulip sleeves -- they look much better when filled with chubby toddler arms, by the by.
The back of the dress is a simple button-up-the-back kind of deal. No plackets, no fuss. Five pink buttons from my "button hoard," salvaged from an old shirt and just waiting for this project.
I'm still brainstorming ways to make my pattern a bit more like the original GAP dress (squarer, narrower yoke? A little less A-line? Longer, deeper armscye?), but for the time being, this works for me.
Does anyone have a quick-fix for "can't-stop-making-clothes-for-my-daughter" syndrome? 'Cause so far I haven't found any effective remedies...