The case for a girdle. Or, New Look 6071.

So you know that while I had my hair styled and makeup on yesterday, I took photos not just of the Cambie, but of all the other stuff I've finished in the last few weeks!  It's going to be a real FO spam-a-thon around here for a few days!

Here are two dresses I had very high hopes for.  Sadly, those hopes were deflated.  They're not terrible, they just don't look as fabulous as I wanted them to.

A couple weeks ago, Andrea posted about a dress she'd made over the summer. She looks so fantastic in hers.  I wanted to look fantastic too!  So the very next day I went out and bought the pattern, and the day after that I made the dress.

I don't look as fabulous as Andrea.  I know this for certain now, because I tried twice.

My first go with the pattern was with the same stretchy grey knit I used for my yoga skirt a few weeks back.  It's really not heavy enough for a dress I think, but hey - it was around and it was cheap, so why not just test the fit?  I chose the smallest size, size 8, knowing that this fabric tends to stretch.

I also had some fabric in red, which I discovered was basically the same thing.  I'd thought it was a little heavier until I actually cut it out and started working with it.  I'm starting to think it might not be such a good idea to continue buying these unmarked fabrics off the remnants table at Vogue . . .

When I started taking pictures yesterday, I put on the red dress first.  The fabric is so thin that this dress shows everything.  After I got all those pictures taken and put on the grey dress, I decided it might not be a bad idea to pop on a girdle at the same time.  And you know?  It made a big difference!  So here I've got a side-by-side picture for you of the back:

Ewww!  Lumpy!

I sort of can't believe I even just posted that picture.  But it's all in the name of helping out the next person who makes this pattern.  Let's move on to some relatively more flattering pictures of the front.

I'm glad to finally have something that goes with this cardi.  I've had it for years.

One of the big problems with both these dresses is that while the fabric is quite stretchy, it doesn't have great recovery.  And like I said, it's very thin, so it shows everything.  I feel slightly more comfortable with a cardi over it.

Trying to look like a glamorous model, like Rachel.  And trying to suck it all in.  This was before lunch, folks!  Be assured that if and when I wear this out of the house, I will be donning the girdle!  I do think the color is great.

OK, now that we've got the red dress out of the way, let's move on to the grey. 

I'm also glad to have something that goes with this cardi.  I've had it for years too!

Avec et sans cardi.  The pattern has two versions - the sleeveless dress I made, and a three quarter-sleeved tunic-length top.  Like Andrea, I lengthened the dress by two inches - and I'm only 5'4" folks!

Pouty face.  And ponder-y face.

Here's my other problem with the dress.  I think that having this mass of fabric under my bust only serves to accentuate how little bust there is.  Sadly, this is with a padded push-up.

I will say that this was my first time working with a New Look pattern - I really wasn't even aware of this line until Andrea posted about it.  The instructions were pretty clear, and you certainly can't beat the price ($3.99US).  The construction of this dress was fun too - you make a buttonhole in the right bodice and pass the left bodice through it to get that cross.

I would like to try this one more time, with a heavier fabric containing a goodly portion of lycra.  It would be nice if I could find such a fabric in chocolate brown.  Because I've got plenty more cardis I hardly ever wear.