Clearly my sewing has been more regular than my blogging lately. With the summer nearly over, I am well overdue a review of my latest makes. So let’s get started with a dress I am so proud of: my Dolce&Gabbana-inspired dress.

This dress is directly inspired from a dress by Dolce&Gabbana, which I first spotted on the amazing Instagram account WhatPeopleAreWearing…

… and also screen-shot from the D&G website at the time.

So clearly when the perfect fabric turned up at SelvedgeAndBolts, I immediately ordered as much as possible (4m I think), to allow room for pattern placement.

Pattern placement was indeed the big challenge of this dress. I pondered for ages on how to tackle this… until I got a lightbulb moment: just do what the designer did! And then everything became much easier.

Pattern Used: for the bodice, Simplicity 8645 (S8645), which is a 1950’s vintage re-edited top pattern. There are 4 different top versions (a bargain for a single pattern), I made version A but replaced the Peter Pan collar by a neck scarf. For the skirt I simply used two gathered rectangles (fabric width x length required, around 90cm here). I much prefer circle skirts to gathered one, but the gathered option in the only one that works with patterned fabric like this one.

Sizing: size 10 for my UK 8/ FR 36/ US 2, this is my standard size for Vogue/Butterick/ McCall’s/ Simplicity patterns, despite the size chart telling me I should be a 12/14. I am an E cup and did not need an FBA, but this is often the case when the bust ease comes from gathers, they are simply more forgiving than darts on princess seams.

Level of difficulty: easy but a bit of patience required as the bodice is entirely lined.

Fabric used: a lightweight cotton in the most perfect Dolce&Gabbana-like print, with gorgeous vivid colours.

Changes to the pattern: for the bodice I replaced the Peter Pan collar by a self-drafted scarf collar. I should have raised the collar line and decreased the bodice length by a few cm but did not and it is not the end of the word – next time. The skirt is self drafted but frankly no rocket science here. I placed an invisible zip on the side, not to interrupt the fabric pattern.

Love rating: I am extremely pleased with this dress, it is very elegant yet comfy to wear on summer evenings.

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• Sewing silk shirts using a vintage pattern: B7396