Style Arc Eme
The time between Christmas and New Year is one of my favourites. Expectations have evaporated, there are leftovers in the fridge, most people are on leave, Melbourne has cleared out (which makes it great to be here) and I lose track of what day of the week it is. I’ve pottered around the house, getting lots of chores done in a relaxed pace according to my own timetable and no-one else’s. Actually, I’ve barely left the house! The first few days of last week were baking hot which made me very grateful for air-conditioning; fortunately Melbourne has done what it usually does and the last few days have been delightful with cool nights and days in the mid twenties.
Anyway, this is what I wore on Christmas Day. We hosted lunch for 18 people, it was hot outside, and this dress kept me comfortable throughout. It’s the Style Arc Eme dress.
From the Style Arc website: Eme is our new summer cocoon shaped dress that is perfect for the beginner sewer, with no fastenings or trim details required. The loose-fitting shape allows for cool fitting during those hot summer days and the lovely darts at the hem complete the cocoon look. With its simple design lines Eme is the perfect pattern for colour blocking. FABRIC SUGGESTION Linen, rayon, silk, cotton, fine wool.
First things first – that line drawing is VERY deceiving regarding the length of this dress. I know I’m short at 158cm, but in the illustration the dress ends above the knee. Mine ends well below it. Actually, most finished versions that I’ve seen definitely look longer rather than shorter. You might want to take that into account.
It is a simple dress that is straightforward to sew. If you left out the side seam pockets (I included them) you really could ‘whip it up’ in very little time at all! Like all simple things, it needs to be well drafted in order to look good – and in my opinion, this dress is great. The neckline is a great shape, and finishing it with a wide topstitched facing adds a lovely bit of detail. The sleeves can be left longer, or turned back to form a cuff, which is my preference.
The darts at the hemline – two on the front and two on the back – really do give that lovely cocoon shape. I know that it’s not a silhouette for everyone, but it’s definitely one that I like a great deal. No fit and flare in my wardrobe! The hemline also has a wide facing, which gives it body and a little more detail with topstitching.
The fabric came from Darn Cheap Fabrics. It’s current stock, and I’m pretty sure that it is linen/viscose blend. The colour is wonderful! It was great to sew with and to wear as it combined the best properties of both fibre types. The Eme is a great alternative to that other Style Arc staple, the Adeline.
Fabulous dress Lara. After all the patterns I’ve bought from having admired them being modelled by you (dozens!) for once…I’m ahead of you! I bought Eme about 6 weeks ago!
Love the dress and fabric and your new haircut
Lovely dress Lara and fabulous fabric. In terms of sizing it looks generous?
I forgot to include the size! Yes, this is size 12 – so roomy.
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Thanks Lara.
This is so cute – a lovely shape.
I absolutely love this dress Lara. It definitely says summer in Melbourne to me.
I wasn’t sure if the two-colour version would work on me – not sure if the seam is in the right place – but I LOVE your version!
Great style of dress – relaxed but stylish – you do it justice and your fabric is lovely – I’m partial to green.
Thanks for all your contributions and inspiration to sewing this year – already 2019 where you are? – and here’s to much more in 2019.
The dress looks great, and I want to thank you for all of your reviews. I’ve purchased a bunch of patterns because of them. Happy New Year.
great color on you, lovely. Happy New Year!
I agree that a single fabric works really well—that colour blocking wouldn’t flatter many shapes I think.
More importantly, this dress is simply GORGEOUS on you—the shape and especially the colour really make you shine. Happy new year, and thanks for your many reviews of patterns that aren’t for the fit-and-flare crowd!
Hi there! I’ve just started following your blog (late to the party I know) . I’m inspired by what you do especially as I’m a very similar shape as you. I know what shapes work on me but had given up on sewing clothes for myself at home as I had no idea I could find patterns in the right kind of styles. Time to dust off the sewing machine and get to work (I’m pretty sure it will need a service first!) Love this dress, I absolutely would wear it and the fabric is great.
I love your version of this dress! I love my Adeline’s, so can’t wait to make this up!
How did you do the sleeve facing? Pattern instructions very vague. It says to cut 2 and interface. So one for each sleeve. That would mean folding them in half lengthwise to hide interface so end up quite stiff and thick..and narrow. Does it really mean to cut 4 and interface just one side and stitch a pair together before fitting to sleeve edge? Do you sew it on like a waistband so seams hidden inside cuff or just sew rightsides together with overlocker seam? Similar issue with hem facing…
Hi there Helen,
The facings are wide. They’re sewn on right side of facing to right side of dress, then turned fully to the inside (the interfaced side of the facing will be next to the wrong side of the fabric) then topstitched down. Then you turn it up to give the cuff. Same process with the hem facing – stitch it to the dress right side of facing to right side of dress, turn fully to the inside, then stitch down. Hope that helps!