For quite a while I’d admired the style lines of the Style Arc Elley knit dress, but I was wary.  It seemed much too fitted through the body to work well on my shape.  But I saw a gorgeous version of it on Anna, and decided that I’d give it a go after all.

The pattern is described as follows: PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: Designer styling, Slip on, Asymmetrical hemline, Fitted bodice with bust darts, Slightly extended shoulder line, Midi length. FABRIC SUGGESTION: Ponte or any dress weight knit.

Right off the bat I need to point out that the issues that you can see with this dress are entirely fitting issues, not pattern issues. I made some alterations, but not enough of the right ones.

I sewed size 12, and did both a forward shoulder alteration and shortened the dress two inches at the hemline before cutting out. I also shortened it through the body to better account for my short torso; I think that alteration removed an inch from both the front and back bodice below the bust.  I’m still on the fence as to whether I shouldn’t have done that alteration.

In these photos the bust looks to be pulling dreadfully. It wasn’t as bad in the mirror, and I suspect that if I didn’t have the thickness of another top underneath that pulling might vanish, although it would still be quite fitted. An underwired bra instead of a ‘lockdown’ bra might assist in fit as well! But when I look at the back, I cringe a little.

Jeepers, all those folds and wrinkles! Two possibilities, probably both contributing – it’s just too small and I should go up a size through the body so that the front isn’t attempting to pull fabric toward it, or it needs much more of the back waist length removed. Essentially the same technique as a sway back alteration. I might put it on this weekend and get Clare to pin out the excess – there is a back waist seam there so I might be able to tweak things. Not wearing it with another top underneath might also help.

I do need to point out the gorgeous fabric. It’s a ponte, but the check side is brushed! It’s extremely soft and was gorgeous to sew with. I bought the last of the roll from The Cloth Shop. The neckline and armholes are faced with bias binding (as always, I made my own). That skirt is delightfully swishy. I’m glad that I removed length before cutting out; it wouldn’t want to be any longer where it dips down at the front!

I really need to give this another go without a top underneath and with a more supportive bra and see how it looks then. I love the overall style and silhouette and want to make this work, and despite it looking too small through the torso, it doesn’t feel it. Generally when my makes aren’t quite right I send them to the op shop for someone else to enjoy rather than reworking them (lots of my garments are a learning experience for me) but this one is worth some tweaks. In the meantime I can wear it as a skirt with other items layered over it.