One of my first projects during the pandemic was this black mini dress. I have a few other black dresses in my wardrobe, but they are very understated and suitable for business occasions and public ceremonies. I was dreaming about my next outing and planning outfits in my mind. That’s when I realized I needed a black mini dress that could be worn on more festive occasions. I was missing this one from my wardrobe!

I think making this dress was my way of dealing with confinement and hoping that everything will return to normal soon. Little did I know, even today when you can’t.

Back on the project, I decided that I wanted a fitted silhouette for this mini dress. It’s a skirt.

I followed the instructions in the book to master the imperial bust pattern Pattern Making in Fashion Design by Helen Joseph ArmstrongI used foundation dress blocks and modified the pattern to create a fitted look and empire bust design. I made some toiles and adaptations to the pattern until I was completely satisfied with the fit.

To make the slits on the front more durable, I decided to split the pattern on the front into two panels and incorporate the slits between the panels as shown in the photo below.

For this dress, I needed a fabric that was easy to shape, so I chose a crepe fabric with a moderate weight and drape. I finish all seams with a straight stitch and press each seam to ensure a proper fit.

We chose a silk lining for the lining, and hand-stitched the hem and armholes to create a silhouette of your choice.

Finally, I added black faux feathers to the neckline to lift the whole look and give the dress a festive look.

Final Appearance:

Enjoy your project!

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cheers,

all