Nora sent me this, under the subject line “one much more midriff for you.” I love the email I get from A dress A Day readers; the subject line never reads “URGENT PROBLEM!!!” or “REPORT DUE TODAY.” In fact, there’s a amazing lack of shout-case all around, for which I thank you.
Anyway — this dress, by Jane Tise for Butterick. just as Nora suspected, I *adore* this midriff band. The shaping! Although I bet that point is hard to have come out exactly right. better make it in a busy print so any bobbles aren’t so obvious. I also like the pockets, and the collar. The sleeves … eh, not so much. but I have come to learn, with y’all’s help, that my disdain for puffed sleeves (or, in fact, of anything but a smooth and unobtrusive take on line) is a personal and idiosyncratic quirk and not a general guideline for humankind, sort of like my extreme dislike of bananas. (The instant and uncontrollable murderous rage I feel upon hearing someone pop their chewing gum, though? A universal constant.)
Had any of you heard of Jane Tise before? I hadn’t. but a couple quick Googles turned up that she was one of the founders of Esprit, back in the day! and that Esprit was called The plain Jane dress company first, which, while cute and having that fakey-homespun feel of the late sixties/early seventies, probably didn’t have the marketing ooomph that “Esprit de Corp” had. Or the little inherent pun.
And speaking of marketing, how did I never notice the Butterick tagline “The fashion One” on their patterns before? I am scared it doesn’t speak to me (of course, thirty years after the fact, what marketing catchphrase would?). It seems slightly off. “Which pattern company do you prefer?” “Oh, you know, Butterick — the fashion one.” because all the other pattern companies are strictly utilitarian, of course. only coveralls and aprons to be found there, my friend!
(Did anybody notice that the shoes on the red-dress version are a lot like the black ones I posted yesterday? Oh, and for the person who wanted the style name, they’re “Cloudey” by Steve Madden.)
Back to the pattern — this is up on eBay best now, but work fast, because the auction expires in less than 14 hours. Tick-tock!
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