#epicdressproject: Minnie Mouse

Red polka dot is such a fun print for a dress–especially a retro-inspired one!–and so I couldn’t resist doing a Minnie Mouse ‘bound!  I wore this dress for our second day in Hollywood Studios (our 5th park day). 

I felt really glamorous in this dress! I think it fit in especially well with all the classic and glittery retro decorations around the main areas of the park.  I again wore my petticoat from Amazon (affiliate link) to add fullness, and reveled in every swish and swoosh!  I was also pleased with how comfortable the crossed straps were– I often have trouble with halter and cross-back necklines because they tend to pull on my neck, but I didn’t have any problems with this dress!

this is literally the only photo I have of the back of my dress!

All of these photos were taken by various PhotoPass photographers– somehow we completely forgot to take any of our own!  (We took plenty of candid photos, of course–so many!–just not posed ones of my dress.)  

I found the perfect scale of red polka dot in the fabric section of my local Walmart. This cotton woven is a really great weight for structure while still being light enough to drape well. The pattern is Simplicity 8051, view B, and as I’m finding to be typical with this brand on my body, I shortened the midriff pieces after grading out one size at the waist.  I also made a lot of changes to the bodice construction, and I’ve detailed them below.  

I decided to use the main fabric as the lining as well, so that, especially in the front bodice, the lining would “blend in” if it happened to peek out.

I really strongly dislike the as-written construction order of the bodice, specifically because it would make for a zipper installation that would be through several layers of thickness and leave raw edges exposed.  Bleh.  I spent a lot of time thinking about how I could have done it differently, and the best that I could come up with was this (be warned, it’s still clumsy, but it results in a bodice that attaches at the waist in a way that has a lining to stitch over the waist seam and zipper tape):

• After constructing the surplice section and front band/straps (including hand-stitching the curved edge on the inside, attach the midriff front main and lining pieces by sandwiching them over the overlapped upper bodice pieces, then press with seam allowances pointing down.
• Complete step 10 as written.
• Attach the midriff back pieces to the bodice back pieces along the horizontal seams,  pressing seam allowances open or down.
• Attach back sections at side seams as in steps 11 and 12, matching horizontal seams carefully.  Sew seam through all layers as far down as the notch on midriff pieces.
  
• From this point to the bottom, sew the front midriff seams and the lining midriff seams separately.
  
• Press side seams toward back.

I took the photo below in an attempt to show how the bodice will look; now the outer bodice can be sewn to the skirt with the lining loose.  It also allows for the straps to be adjusted AFTER the zipper is inserted!  I don’t know how you’d fit it properly otherwise!!

The invisible zipper can be inserted on the outer bodice and skirt; then the lining can be hand stitched over it for a tidy finish on the inside.