Today I am sharing with you one of my favorite recent makes - a cocoon dress from Vogue 1496. I have been seeing the cocoon shape popping up all over lately, so naturally, I became curious. I now want to make all the cocoon things.
This patterns appears from the envelope to have two views, but it does actually include three lengths - a top (no view letter given), above-knee length (A) and below-knee length (B). I made View A (above-knee length) without the optional inset.
The construction is very simple, but it's interesting enough to make it fun even for an experienced sewist. I love the way the pockets are sewn, and the armholes are also pretty neat. I would have completed this dress in one night had I not tried to figure out some way to raise the neckline. The sizing, drafting and instructions were all very good. There is no closure.
I made a size B which corresponds to my measurements almost exactly. I am 5'6" tall. I made no modifications to the pattern other than to use a slightly deeper hem which probably shortened the overall length by about an inch.
As you can see, this dress is VERY low-cut. It's almost indecently low-cut on me. Perhaps if someone has a larger chest, it wouldn't be so bad? Either way, I suggest making a muslin if you do not want the v-neck to dip below your bra band. I tried applying the optional inset after-the-fact, and I even considered sewing kind of an asymmetrical dart in the front to close it up a bit, but ultimately, I decided it looked better to leave it as-is and just push the entire dress back on my shoulders a bit. This gives the dress the tiniest high-low hem effect as well.
I can't decide if I like the rear-view. The arm openings just seem a little odd to me. My husband calls this my "Star Trek Bag" dress and kind of hates it. But overall, I love it. I think it's super modern and flattering in a Man-Repeller sort of way.
The fabric is black Tencel from the Nicole Miller line at Joann. I love this stuff and have since bought more to make flowy tanks. It's on the expensive side for Joann, so definitely take a coupon when you go.
When I showed some sewing friends this pattern, several of them commented that it looked super comfy and like something they would wear every day in the summer. Well, I wouldn't call it UNcomfortable, but without a neckline modification and perhaps some side slits, I wouldn't call it an everyday dress. You kind of have to stand up straight and keep your legs together to make this dress behave. The opening at the bottom hem is relatively small, but I like the really streamlined silhouette and opted to NOT create side slits.
I feel like a million bucks in this dress, however, and I definitely need to find an expensive restaurant to wear it to...and a babysitter.
What do you think? Are you into the cocoon shape?
