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Hello! I'm Suzannah, a serious DIYer and mom of two little ones. Follow along with my DIY fixer upper house renovations, sewing and crafty projects, real food recipes, and de-stressing goals.
I believe you can love your home just the way it is, AND have the power to design and make big changes to make it better.
I'm also the author of DIY Wardrobe Makeovers!

Sunshine yellow seersucker

It's finally looking like summer here in Oregon (my favorite time of year and favorite place to enjoy it in!).  The sun is out, not a cloud in the sky, temperature in the 80's.  I'm predicting another couple cold, rainy days before the consistent sunshine and hot, dry weather of July, August, and September, but for today it's sunny and beautiful out and I hope everyone is enjoying an equally lovely Sunday!
In the spirit of sunshine, I thought I'd share with you a summery dress I made the other day out of a cute yellow seersucker I found at Goodwill in the fabric section--a couple yards, I think, for $1.99 for the piece!  Sometimes you get lucky there.

I thought about what to make out of it and thought about something sweet with puffed sleeves, like this ModCloth number:
But in the end I thought it might look too sweet and youthful in the thin striped yellow and white seersucker.  So I went for simplicity and thought about the classic J.Crew strapless dress with skirt pleated into the waist.  I wasn't sure if it would be too simple in that style, though, so I thought about embellishment.  I remember the embroidered strapless dress from Anthropologie last season, the Airplane Wright Dress by Moulinette Soeurs:
And I had some leftover multi-color, including yellow and white, cotton crocheted granny squares from an old pillow project.  I thought about putting them, or some applique contrast fabric in flower shapes, at the hem.  But I wasn't sure.

Here are some other simple dresses with dressed-up skirts, this one from Anthro:

This from ModCloth:

And then there's the beautiful basics of J.Crew, this one in a textured fabric for interest with the super plain style.

I ended up making the dress in a simple style (I used this pattern (McCall's M5849, again--I use it a lot!)

But I pleated the skirt rather than gather it.  I thought I'd put the dress together and finish it, and decide later if it needed embellishment.  Here it is plain:

I like it, and I think it does have a simple J.Crew-ey feel, but if I wanted it to go more toward the Anthro side, maybe I should decorate the skirt.  What do you think??

I'd love to hear your thoughts, but don't spend too much time on it unless you're on the deck with a laptop--if your early summer weather is as nice as ours is!

29 comments

  1. Really cute. I love the yellow, it's so summer-y. Maybe you could add some lace?

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  2. Add some flower applique.

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  3. I'd put just a little black on it to give it an edge.

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  4. Its lovely! and i too think it would look great with some flower applique.

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  5. I think you should add halter straps!

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  6. So pretty. If you didn't want to change the dress, you could always add a wide belt and a chunky Anthro type necklace with some killer wedges. Great job

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  7. yeah or a little cardigan with some embellishment.

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  8. I would give so much to have your talent! so pretty!!! I love the simplicity! I wouldn't change it, love love it!

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  9. I'd put a crochet trim on the hem in an ecru...

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  10. it is lovely as is! it is simple but pretty... you can always anthro-it-up with accessories!

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  11. Not sure about doing anything to the skirt, since the pleats are large. The top could use a little something, perhaps a crochet doily-style embellishment?

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  12. Anonymous6/27/2010

    It's lovely. Great job.

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  13. I'm not sure if it's OK to post a link to an Etsy listing (not my own), but there is a listing for a color progression of 40 small crochet flowers. I saw that listing the other day and thought, "wow, that would look so cute around the bottom of a plain skirt".

    Awesome job on the dress! I just finished sewing a dress for a birthday gift to give tomorrow--I hope she likes it (fingers crossed) :o)

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  14. This is a very cute dress! I do love the puff sleeves though. :)

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  15. I think a little trim or embellishment on the top of the bodice would be great. Great work -- looks like it's a nice fit!

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  16. I love that dress and it looks good on you. I think a bit of something on the bodice...I like the idea of something white and not too much. Simplicity is better. On the ones you showed, I loved the blue gingham one with the white contrast bands.

    I, too, am so glad that summer has finally arrived here too. I actually hopped in the sewing room this weekend myself and made a couple of summer skirts.

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  17. I would add something to the bust, anything to break it up a little.

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  18. lovely as is. perhaps a white blossom pin would add buti wouldnt so anything permanent.

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  19. I think it needs something around the waist or at the top. Perhaps a thick belt. Everyone else's ideas sound great as well! I can't wait to see what you decide!

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  20. Anonymous6/28/2010

    I agree with Jessica. Some black would make it edgier. Either a belt, ribbon on the bottom of the skirt or an embellishment (maybe brooch style) on the bust

    Moira

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  21. I love seersucker. Just make a pin or something you can put on so you have the choice of decorating it or not.

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  22. I love it! You are so talented and inspiring.

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  23. Anonymous6/28/2010

    did you put boning in the bodice? the dress you made is awesome. If you didn't put boning in, would you be able to do a tutorial on it? Love your site, it's really insipiring!!

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  24. Anonymous6/28/2010

    Sweetheart neckline would be BEAUTIFUL. I know that may not be what you're after, but just my opinion.

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  25. I love this dress. how complicated was this dress to make? im a novice/intermediate sewer. any tips?

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  26. Anonymous6/29/2010

    I love the dress. I would just add some great ethnic or chunky jewelry.

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  27. I love this dress... its simple and pretty! I will definitely try it out!! thanks

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  28. Thanks for all your ideas!
    It's so cool to see the variety of things you all see the dress working with... still not sure what I will do! I should definitely pair it with a cute belt and accessories, so right about that. Not sure if I want to do some trim on the hem... hm. Maybe I'll wear it once and see if I feel plain =)
    Thanks again!

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  29. I like it the way it is. Very classy. If you did want to dress it up, add a white vintagey cardigan or jacket.

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