Friday, August 16, 2013

Inspiration: Girly Leather-Accent Dresses

I've been communing with my inner Rock Goddess lately, and she really wants a dress with leather accents. But my inner Girly Girl is demanding a feminine retro shape.


The dress above is from Alice + Olivia and I love how it mixes a full lace skirt with leather raglan sleeves.

The styling above is super classic from the prim bun down to the nude pumps. But then check out this shot for an alternative:

Yes! Love the versatility.

I also really dig this DVF frock. The leather hip yoke is glorious.


My "band" is playing a music festival on September 7th, so I've been gathering supplies to make a girly leather-accent dress like this. I bought some stretch (!) leather at Mood, and I have some cool embroidered lace leftover from a past project.

 I also picked up some leather glue at Mood to hold down the seam allowances.
I'm thinking of making the entire bodice in leather with the Sewaholic Cambie pattern (which I've made before so I know it fits well), and adding a short full skirt in the lace.

I will keep you updated as I go! In the mean time, if you're interested, I recommend this post from Mood on sewing leather.

24 comments:

  1. this is going to be interesting, I really like the third dress I might try to make something similar!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I didn't think I liked the whole leather-trim thing, but I just bought a dark blue/green tartan dress with leather trim around the neck/arms and it's amazing! (and also SO 90s, despite my previous comments about 90s fashion) So yeah... yay leather trim!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Looks great! I also love the new blog design. So classy!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I think I'm going to have to make something like the Alice + Olivia dress, I'm in love...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Leather is not as bad as I thought it would be. I made an all-leather with lambskin accents for a rodeo queen a few years ago. I used binder clips instead of pins, and it turned out beautifully!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I really look forward to see your new girly leather dress!

    ReplyDelete
  7. OH. MY. GEE!!!!


    I cannot WAIT!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. That is sooo awesome! I love the second dress with the leather raglan sleeves and waistband - SO COOL!!! I think the cambie bodice in leather would be a-ma-zing!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Can't wait to see your version!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I can't wait to see the outcome--I love how your style is developing!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I can't wait to see how it turns out. I love leather mixed with something girly!

    ReplyDelete
  12. What an awesome dress! I've been dipping my toes in the water, so to speak, with leather. I really want to make a leather jacket for myself.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Dear Gerthie,
    For what you say, I gather the stretch leather you got is not real leather but a faux. Let me warn you, you're gonna sweat liters under that! I know, because I made this for me:
    http://mertxeshomesewing.blogspot.com.es/2013/05/little-black-not-leather-dress.html
    In that post, i explain about my resolution never to make that mistake again. I suggest you use your faux "leather" for some areas of the dress only, like the one in the picture. Otherwise, you will suffer, belive me.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Daaang that first dress is gorgeous! I love the all lace back, too. How would you wash a dress with leather accents though? Can you pop it in the washing machine/hand wash it?

    ReplyDelete
  15. I was just admiring an Alexander McQueen LBD that Jennifer Aniston wore that has a leather corset belt. Love it.

    ReplyDelete
  16. http://www.fashiongonerogue.com/jennifer-aniston-wears-alexander-mcqueen-at-the-we-are-the-millers-premiere/

    ReplyDelete
  17. I love love love that combination of feminine lace and tough leather! I've been eyeing this Victorian-style leather jacket (complete with puff sleeves), http://www.burdastyle.com/pattern_store/patterns/puff-sleeve-jacket-082013?utm_source=burdastyle&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bsawblog081213-puffjckttxt

    ReplyDelete
  18. Very cool combo :) I could also see it in a dress with a pencil skirt bottom :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. What timing, I have a bunch of pvc remnants and I was just thinking some accents on dresses and tee shirts would be the way to go. That and maybe a fringe bra.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love this leather dress Emily Deschanel wore to talk about Bones at Comic Con. It's such a classic, conservative shape, but the leather makes it fun. http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/07/20/article-2371596-1AE6FCB7000005DC-356_634x986.jpg

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for your comments; I read each and every one! xo Gertie

© Gertie's Blog For Better Sewing. Powered by Cake