40s-Style Side Ruffle Dress

This may be the most difficult dress to photograph ever. The print, which I so love, makes it nearly impossible to make out any details! So let's start with the fabric. Here's a close-up:

Isn't it cute? I bought it online here. It's a drapey rayon/cotton blend, and the print reminded me of Mexican tourist garb from the 50s. The drape of the fabric just screams 40s, though, which is how I came to this design. Also, the patternmaking was a project I could easily take on the road with me. Just some paper, a ruler, and a hotel room floor!

I started by copying the bodice from a vintage dress I own that fits me perfectly, and then I drafted simple band sleeves to go with it. 

The asymmetrical ruffle skirt was inspired by this Trashy Diva dress.

Isn't it just so fabulous? I made my ruffles curve slightly downward from center front, though, since I thought the original looked a bit like a Western yoke at the top. I converted a straight skirt to a flared one without a dart (tutorial here!) and broke one side of the skirt front into three tiers. I made ruffles (with the aid of my narrow hemmer foot and ruffler foot) and inserted them into the seams between the tiers. That's it!

When I showed it to Jeff, he said "Are those frills only on one side of the dress?"

"Yes!" I replied, thinking how clever it was.

You know what he said, readers? He said: "Interesting."

Oh, the dreaded "interesting." I explained very patiently to him that asymmetry is a design principle that some people find quite pleasing. Readers, he still seemed unimpressed. Ah well.

The back is left simple.

I made a self-covered belt (from a kit that was a gift from dear Sunni!), not that you can even detect it in these pictures. It also somehow needed a brooch.

Now that I'm home again, I'll be back to working on my coat. I'll be doing the welt pockets this weekend, wish me luck!