
image: Elle Apparel
Let me begin by saying, I'm not a sewer. When I do decide to attempt to sew something, it takes both my husband and myself (and YouTube) to get the machine setup and threaded. I've really only made pillows and curtains, with crib bumpers being my most challenging project. So, perhaps a dress was a bit overly-ambitious, but I decided to dive into it anyway, and after a lot of literal blood, sweat and tears (and a few curses sprinkled in), I have my version of this slide-split maxi to show you!

I started off following the tutorial from Elle Apparel, but had to make modifications along the way due to of our differences in size and because I totally screwed up the skirt. Leanne recommends 3-yards of fabric, but since she's a lot smaller than me, I opted for 4-yards of this pretty challis fabric from Craftsy. (The cotton version of the print is still available on their website, or fabric.com has the rayon I used.) Glad I ordered extra, because I ended up using almost all 4-yards! I also decided to be a rebel and not to use paper/muslin to make a pattern, which proved to be a mistake later on.
I made the top exactly as Leanne did by folding the fabric in half and using a T-shirt as a guide. But because of our differences in size, I couldn't cut out the skirt as she recommended. I ended up not accounting for the fabric being flat instead of folded, so it was angled on one side and straight on the other. Opps. After a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth and dramatically lamenting that it was all ruined, RUINED, I figured out a way to fix it, so my skirt ended up being more straight than flared like the original. And don't even get me started on adding the elastic. (So much pricked fingers and blood involved.) Leanne also recommends adding eight inches in width to both the skirt and top, but I ended up with more like three-to-four inches thanks to the skirt screw-up. Which actually worked out better in the long-run, because the extra fabric probably would have been too much on my curvier frame.

So why go on about the struggles this project gave me? I want to be real here, and not just show a pretty dress and be all like "look what I made, it was so easy." 'Cause that would be lies. Don't get me wrong, I don't blame the tutorial, it's all operator-error.
The whole time I made this dress I was convinced it would be a pintrosity - so many mistakes along the way - I seriously questioned my sanity throughout the process. Because I didn't have a clue what I was doing, it took waaaaay longer to make than I thought it would - finishing of all the hems being the worst and most tedious. I'm not gonna lie, it wasn't fun to make. But, it ended up all coming together, and I actually really like the final result, despite all the grief it gave me! It's cool and comfortable, the fabric is light-weight and has a nice drape, and I love the color and pattern. I learned how to turn a hem and how to do a blind-stitch hem (thanks YouTube) and I finally figured how to thread that darn sewing machine by myself. And I got a pretty dress out of it.
Does that mean I'm ready to make another one anytime soon? Absolutely not, but I am dying to make this kimono, coincidentally also by Elle Apparel. I must be a glutton for punishment, but I'm convinced it's got to be easier than this dress, right?

Dress: made by me (solid blue option, patterned option)
Necklace: Kendra Scott (exact)
Clutch: J. Crew Factory (exact)
Sandals: J. Crew Factory (exact)
Earrings: Reeds (exact, inexpensive alternative)
Bracelets: Bourbon & Boweties (exact pearl wire), Loft (similar drusy) and Kreations (similar initial)
Necklace: Kendra Scott (exact)
Clutch: J. Crew Factory (exact)
Sandals: J. Crew Factory (exact)
Earrings: Reeds (exact, inexpensive alternative)
Bracelets: Bourbon & Boweties (exact pearl wire), Loft (similar drusy) and Kreations (similar initial)



I'm so excited to co-host Anne's Pin to Present linkup this month! Anne was also so nice to feature me today on her work-to-weekend guest series, where you can see how I styled this dress with a blazer for work an a fedora for the weekend, as well as learn a bit more about what exactly I do for a living.
Have you made anything fun lately? Share your DIYs, food, crafts, or anything Pinterest-inspired, for the linkup! (Please use good etiquette and link to my or Anne's post in yours and be sure to visit other pinspirations too.)
// Sharing on The Mix Summer Fashion linkup. //