Wardrobe Planning with Ann: Little White Dress

The Little White Dress (LWD) is a summer favorite.  And in linen, it’s also a very cool option.  With 3 kids plus a few nieces and nephews, Ann always has a busy summer.  A quick pull-on dress is a must-have in her wardrobe.  Ann is having a love affair with linen so a white linen dress was added to the plan!

 

Mood Board
This dress from Urban Zen (a Donna Karan Company) was the inspiration for the LWD.
The cut-in-armholes create a broad shoulder line that balances the hipline.  The Obi belt cinches in the waist.

Fabric
Simply White Linen is dress weight with the right amount of body for an A-line skirt.  To avoid any show-through, I choose Dove White Cotton Shirting for the lining.  The two layers work well together and maintain breathability.  The Eyes Have It-White was used for the front hidden placket, but a more stylish button was used, Silver Streak,  on the collar band.  (See all fabric/notions here.)

Pattern
Looking closely at the Urban Zen dress, it’s two classic silhouettes:  a cut-in sleeveless top and a button-front skirt.  Ann used two previous makes to create the pattern for this dress- The Chambray Blouse and the skirt from the Summer’s LBD.  The patterns were already fitted so a muslin wasn’t needed.

Construction
Ann chose thread tracing as the safest method to mark darts and the hidden placket/center front on the white linen.  Interfacing was used in the placket and collar.  Click here to view the tutorials for the hidden placket and collar.


Collar


Armhole
Bias binding finished the armhole with 3 rows of topstitching.

Pockets
Ann finished the seams and pockets with bias binding.
Click here to view a tutorial for this seam finish

Hem
Five rows of topstitching were used at the hem.  I thought this would add texture and visual interest.  Ann did samples for 1/4″ and 3/8″.  The 3/8″ spacing looked best!

However, the left side was pulling towards the center.
Date night with the seam ripper!
Ann fixed this by removing the topstitching, straightening the center front, and adding interfacing at the hem

Obi Belt


Finished!

And as Ann always says, “I hope you get inspired to create something EXTRAordinary.” 😉

Up next, linen shorts and a rib knit top!