A simple Slip Dress tunic

When I saw this photographic print of charms and chains, I immediately thought a simple slip dress would show it off to perfection.

I found the fabric in London’s Goldhawk Road, a street with a dozen or so fabric shops. The printed, lightweight silk panel measured 1m in length by 80cm wide, so long enough for a tunic or short dress once the print was strategically placed.

The Slip Dress pattern has a seam with darts below the bust. I knew this wouldn’t work with the print so I omitted these.

I placed the two front pieces on pattern paper and drew a new side seam with a curve as above. Due to the length of the panel I then shortened the pattern by folding up the paper by 10cm from the hem.

Instead of only doubling the layer for the top of the dress, I cut two layers for the whole dress, exactly the same. I used a plain lightweight silk for the back and second inner layer in cream, the same as the base cloth for the print.

I made up the dress following the same instruction for the bagging out around the armhole and neckline. I then allowed the dress to hang for a couple of days before turning up the hem of each layer and hand stitching the two at the hem.

This pattern variation works with fluid silky fabrics but for cottons and linens I would stick to the original pattern with the seam and darts for shape.