I haven’t bought new clothes in a while because every time I see something I like in a store I find a detail or something that isn’t quite right and convince myself to make it instead. This would be fine if I actually made the thing.
I finished my wool Hollyburn skirt just in time for … spring. As the weather warmed up, wearing a full wool skirt felt silly. And hot. So I tried to think a season ahead when choosing my next sewing project. Enter the Elisalex dress in Nani iro blue waltz.
Tokyo’s summers are really hot and linen dresses are ideal. A lot of Nani iro fabric comes in this linen-cotton blend or double gauze cotton, which are great for sweaty Japanese summers. Coincidence? I think not.
I love the way this dress fits. The bodice is lined and just the right amount of snug.
I made a muslin for this dress which helped me decide to lengthen the bodice an inch. The muslin is still wearable though I’m not in love with the fabric, so I have designated it as my clean-the-house dress. Scrubbing floors in a dress = much more fun than scrubbing floors in sweatpants.
I went with an exposed zipper using this tutorial by Gretchen Hirsch and after seeing this tip by Closet Case Files added a very thin interfacing to give the skirt a little more poof. I don’t have a full-length mirror and now that I see these photos I might shorten the hem to the knees. I purchased the Nani iro from Miss Matatabi and lined the bodice in an orange and red cotton voile from my stash.
Summer, bring it on.
Saké Puppets 
I wish I could get away with wearing dresses that pretty. But my body just isn’t built for it.
But that dress, and the idea of the double-gauze (Canadian summers don’t get as hot as Japanese ones, but they get hot enough) do really make me wish I could!
I like it. Very pretty fabric.
I love your version! That fabric is perfect and I adore the zip.
I love your version of this dress. I definitely would not relegate this to only cleaning the house! 🙂
Love the fabric and the dress pattern. And it fits you perfectly! Makes me want to try sewing this dress.
Yay! It was pretty easy to put together, I recommend giving it a shot!
beautiful!
Gorgeous! I love the length you kept in the skirt, and the exposed zipper. It fits you beautifully and I love the fabric!
Thanks Elise! I wasn’t sure about the length. I just might have to make another in a shorter style. 😉
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I just love your style! From the hollyburn skirt to this dress, wow!
I love your dress! I smiled when I read about your clean-the-house dress (the muslin version)… lol!
I’m so glad I discovered you from Feeling Stitchy blog.
Oops sorry I sent my comments without finishing my sentence! Thanks for the crafty inspirations from Tokyo… Wishing you folks the best from California, Amy
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I love your dress, the fabric is just divine 🙂 excellent work !! 🙂
That`s a lovely dress – nice job : ) I love the macaron zip pouch and the look of the washi-deco iphone covers too.
Thank you! 🙂