The Style Arc Naomi woven dress was a new release this month – and I’ve already sewn it!

One of the reasons why I was a sucker for this dress was because of the raised waistline. I’ve seen two versions modelled by the gorgeous pregnant Monica, and although I’m pretty much too old to be pregnant at 53, I have always had a belly that looks pregnant. So I knew that the dress would work on my shape!

The waistline is curved upwards at both the front at back, although it’s not as obvious at the back. I need someone to loosen the back drawstring a bit so that it sits better. Where were the teenagers when I got dresssed this morning (oh that’s right, still asleep)? The casing is formed from a wide seam allowance joining the bodice to the skirt; this is then pressed upward and stitched to the bodice, and drawstrings threaded through from openings in the bodice side seam.

The wide neckline facing adds detail and structure. I did a 1cm forward shoulder alteration before cutting out. I also removed 2 inches of length from the skirt at the shorten/lengthen line. I sewed size 12.

Although I chose to sew this dress in black (I know, not my usual colour) I figured that the lightweight cotton with white flocks would lighten the overall effect, especially with the side splits and the sleeves pushed up a bit. And yes, I included the side seam pockets. I have no memory of where I bought the fabric, other than it’s been in stash for a while and I suspect either Spotlight or Darn Cheap Fabrics.

From the Style Arc website: Slip on dress. Easy fit. Angled waist seam. Draw string waist with an opening at each side seam. “V” neck with top stitching. Side splits on skirt. 7/8th length sleeves with elastic opening. FABRIC SUGGESTION: Rayon, crepe, silk.

It’s a warm day here in Melbourne and this dress has been really nice to wear. I even sewed a matching mask. The necklace was bought in Borneo in January 2021, and the shoes are Django and Juliette.

Today is our first day out of lockdown. Melbourne has had a total of 263 days in lockdown since the pandemic began (which is the dubious honour of the highest number of days anywhere in the world – and of course, some people here have been locked down for even longer than that depending on quarantine etc). When we’ve exited previous lockdowns, it’s been because we’ve been able to get daily case numbers down to zero. This time, daily case numbers in Melbourne are over 2000.  What’s changed between then and now is that this time we have vaccines, with over 70% of the 16+ Victorian population already fully vaccinated and the numbers rapidly increasing (including the 12 to 15 year old age group who have been super keen to get vaccinated). We hope that in another month or so we’ll have 80% of the 12+ population fully vaccinated, and it looks like those numbers will get to well over 90%. By locking down when we did we’ve saved thousands and thousands of lives and bought some time until vaccines became readily available. To give some context for my overseas blog readers, the Australian population is just under 26 million. Across Australia since the pandemic began, there have been 154,490 total cases so far, and 1613 deaths. At the moment there are states with no virus; it’s New South Wales, the Australian Commonwealth Territory, and Victoria (where I am) where Delta has taken hold. However, borders are in the process of opening up, restrictions are easing, and many freedoms returning for those who are fully vaccinated. It’s a time of huge change here as Australians move into a new stage of the pandemic and get used to ‘living with covid’. Fingers crossed that our health system will be able to cope now that vaccines are reducing the potential impact of the disease.