Over the weekend, Laura made this beautiful dress out of our new exclusive Irma Meadow. Here’s Laura to tell us all about her amazing project:
“Hypothesis: Alice Caroline’s new exclusive Irma Meadow is just way too pretty not to make something with.ย
Conclusion: It is indeed too pretty not to make something with.”ย
“The proof: It was super hot last weekend (UK health-alert levels of hot), Iโd absolutely exhausted myself all of Saturday by hiring a Rug Doctor and cleaning every piece of upholstered furniture and carpet/rug in the cottage (yay for successful adulating!) and was very much looking forward to a restful Sunday of recovery. AND YET, come said Sunday morning I found myself imagining Irma Meadow, hypnotised by the image of the fabricโs delicately painted blooms in shades of blush and pale pink, the soft sage leaves and delicate line work. Suddenly, I absolutely had to make a dress. The image was so strong it got me up and out of bed at 7:30am, body still aching from the day before. I dragged myself to the AC studio, grabbed the Irma Meadow fabric and hobbled home like the zombie I was. I then spent the rest of the day sewing like a lady possessed and somehow by dinnertime I had a finished dress. Now, as I type this on Monday morning my body is, if anything, worse than it was on Saturday night and I am in desperate need of a weekend to recover from the weekend BUT I have 0 regrets because Irma Meadow makes a pretty dress. If that isnโt enough proof then I donโt know what is!”
“It probably isnโt recognisable, but the dress bodice is a modified Betty Dress (higher neckline, no open back, higher waistline) which is one of the most reliable patterns I have found. I highly recommend it, Iโve found the sizing is true and I use it all the time.”
“This Irma Meadow dress takes inspiration from two different dresses by Sister Jane, an amazing London label that creates pieces full of romance and nostalgia, they are endlessly inspiring I highly recommend checking them out. The second-hand pearl buttons are sewn onto a fake front placket (I knew hoarding loose pearl buttons would come in handy one day!), there is a sneaky invisible side zip closure instead. This is only my second time sewing a side zip and this time I attempted to insert a pocket into that same seam, with okay-ish results. Donโt look too close as it is a bit wonky, but I think (read: hope) it isnโt noticeable when worn. Liberty Tana Lawnยฎ is so lovely to sew with, I know I say that every time but it is true. It has all the silky smoothness as real silk but without any of the slippery sewing pain, win-win!”
“Clothes are amazing, they can make us feel so many different things like happy, masculine, or even empowered. One of my particularly strict and mean primary school teacherโs moods could predicted based solely on how pastel her outfits were day by day. Now, I donโt know if it is just the general silhouette of the dress itself or the Irma Meadow fabric or a combo of both, but this dress makes me feel like a minor royal and I am living for it. Iโve discovered that accessorising with thin black ribbons only increases this vibe which is a definite win! Just need to budget for a personal hair & makeup artist and I am set for all social events this summer season. Send me your invites (but like, only as long as nobody on the guest lists cross over so I can re-wear this dress to everyone guilt-free, of course ;). Iโd love to see what everyone makes out of Irma Meadow, it is too pretty to resist after all!”
