SHIFT DRESS DEVELOPMENT_

SHIFT DRESS DEVELOPMENT_ 

The fashion construction support module was going very successfully. I had gained many skill from completing the samples, and further knowledge from continued research and development. The thing I like about construction is the fact there is a recipe- Once you have got that right, it’s easier to put a garment together.

The garment we create in the support module is a shift dress. After deciding on my design, I began to make the pattern. As I have already completed two completely different patterns, I was a lot more confident than when I had started out, and needed little assistance to create my desired design. The only part I became stuck on was the gathered section to my dress- I didn't know how much to add on. It turned out it needed to be chopped up and flared, so something new was learnt there.

Once my pattern had been completed and the fabric cut out it was tie to put the dress together. I was very confident at putting the front panels in- I seem to be one of those people who when something is shown to them, it clicks and I understand it. I quickly inserted my pockets on the middle section, and added the gathers. The gathers could have been distributed more evenly, but that can be for future development. 

I started to think that I was playing the design too safe- I really liked the idea of a sporty, racerback shift dress, but could I have added more to make it more visually stimulating? 

I decided to add small detail such as piping around the arm hole, which was a massive success. This was actually quite a difficult thing to do, purely because it was so fiddly. But the outcome was that it looked professional and had a finished effect, and just made it look that much more attractive. 

I am nearing the end of the module and am coming close to completing my dress. It is very exciting to be able to see my dress come to life from a once sketchy design, and that’s what I adore about construction. It is all a massive learning curve, so whatever happens when constructing a garment will eventually (hopefully) be really exciting, regardless if you intended it.