Giving it a whirl...

Ok, so when my sister told me that they were having a design contest over at Shabby Apple, I thought it would be fun. And it was! Ever since I was a little girl I've liked to draw pretty girls in pretty dresses. So here's my Dress design for Shabby Apple dresses:
And here are the specs: First of all, I wish I knew what to call the ruffle the comes down either side of the bodice--for lack of better name, I'll call it the PollyAnna ruffle. So anyway, the bodice, PollyAnna ruffle, the waist, the skirt, it's all in a uniform color. Because of the interest up top, I think one color makes it more cohesive. The bodice is drapey like a tucked-in-shirt would be, and the sleeves are half-circle sleeves that give them a lovely flowy look. The PollyAnna ruffle that goes down the front of either side of the bust and then around the back is meant to fall over the sleeves, giving them a tiered look. There's a lace applique (in white or perhaps a lighter hue of the overall color) with buttons, on a circular boatneck. The waist begins slightly higher than the natural waistline, and continues down to the abdomen arc (about 3 inches below the waist). It's subtly ruched (not too much!) and again has a lace applique with buttons on the waist. The buttons look dark in my drawing, but I've been imagining small pearly ones. It would definitely have a side zipper.

As far as colors go, I imagined it in a nice soft buttery yellow because that's one of my favorite colors. The design kind of lends itself to those soft vintage colors, so I think it would be stunning in a pale pink and slate gray. But I also think that bolder colors like blue and purple and even turquoise would make it especially fresh and youthful.

A word on fabric. This dress would be beautiful in silk of course, but a good silk/cotton blend would be lovely, and even a light drapey cotton by itself would be okay I think. but it has to be good and drapey.

My inspiration was PollyAnna herself. Josie has been watching it a lot lately, and the other day I noticed the dress she arrives to Harrington in. Aunt Polly says "WHERE in the WORLD did you get that dress?!" To which PollyAnna innocently replies "It came in the missionary barrels." Aunt Polly does have a point in that it's not especially stunning, BUT I saw the potential in that ruffle! Love it!

So that's it. I would love to make this dress! I haven't seen anything like it, which would make it even funner to wear because it feels special and unique, yet in a flattering classic style.