Saturday, March 26, 2011

No Anthro Zone Review - Polka Dot Fun! Anthromollogies.com!

Do you miss ACC's Inspirational outfits? Want a 2nd and 3rd helping? Visit Molly of Anthromollogies.com HERE.

WARNING:  Be prepared to see the World from Molly's prospective.  This lady spins and weaves words like no other. She is a character! You will be amazed by the unique ways Molly and her Readers are getting INSPIRED.
  

Anthro's Great Dot Maxi Dress - by Moulinette Soeurs
with Outlook Belt, similar HERE, and Spectrum Phlox Necklace (soldout online)
In the above review photo I tucked the cowl into the bodice. Later I hand sewed the cowl at the edge to the inside of the liner.

Before I start this dress review, I want to honor a Blog Tag from Lisa Respect The Shoes.  She has tagged me with this handwriting exercise. In turn I am passing this little call of duty to Molly of Anthromollogies.  Why?  Because Molly Inspired Me!  Tee-Hee!

Hand write the following and share on your blog:

Name
Blog Name
URL
Write "A quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog"
Favourite Quote
Favourite Song
Favourite Band/Singer
Anything you like
Tag someone

Wait! This isn't handwriting.  This is printing.  Look Mom, no lines either. 
Maybe bullets would have kept me on the straight and narrow.

No Anthro Zone Review:  Anthro's Great Dot Maxi Dress - by Moulinette Soeurs - Orig $158 Sale $80 - Mar 2011


This dress is cut for Gals that are Curvy on Top, or not so Curvy, and have Low Hip/Waist Ratio. 8 inches or less. I wasn't impressed by the unruly short cowl.









 Great Dot Maxi Dress
by Moulinette Soeurs











SIZE: I ordered my normal SIZE 4 for M. Soeurs. I'm 5'6" Tall, 130 Lbs, 35-28-36, Narrow Shoulders, Low Waist. Normally 4 to 6 in Anthro Brands. 6 to 8 for other designers.


FIT: Spot on. Arm holes not too low. Perfect fit through waist, and hips with spare room to sit comfortably in non-stretch Silk and Rayon. For ref. my waist/hip ratio is 8" (36-28). This dress will fit most gals with waist/hip of 8" or less. Length is perfect for heels, a little long for flats.

Can be worn with or without Belt.

Did someone say something about a RED BELT?


FABRIC: The Sheer, Silk Bodice provides flattering drape if you don't take the cowl in consideration. Online, the Bodice appears White, but is actually Ivory. The Navy, Polka Dot Love Skirt is substantial Rayon that floats.  Needs pressing.

DETAILS:
1. Loads of POLKA DOT FUN!
2. Full Lining good! Polyester Bad!
3. Shell and Liner have their own Back Kick Pleat.
4. Bodice and Liner not connected at neckline.
5. Side Zip with hook.
6. Bra Strap Snaps
7. Quality materials
8. Excellent construction
9. No Pockets!

COWL: The short uncooperative cowl was unflattering on busty me. Every time I moved, the cowl changed position and shape. Sometimes morphing into a horn that appeared to grow from my chest when viewed from the side.  I loved the rest of the dress. But the cow-l had to hit the road.



Modified Cow-l - Anthro's Great Dot Maxi Dress


I pinned the cowl to the inside of the liner while wearing the dress inside out.  I didn't attempt to incorporate pleats.  Instead I allowed the fabric to float freely around the neckline. I then whip stitched along the edge of the cowl to the liner, careful not to catch the bodice shell in the stitching.  It was a little tricky, but I love the results.



This dress passed the "Style It Three Ways" test.

With that note, I'm about to leave you hanging and wondering what those three outfits might entail.  I'm not about to spoil my OOTD's!  I ordered a pair of shoes to complete one of the outfits.  Everything else I already have, or had ordered before I got the dress.

See Kim of Anthroholic Review The Great Dot Maxi Dress HERE.

Highly recommended, versatile Maxi Dress for Curvy On Top Gals, with LOW HIP/WAIST RATIO.

Shop the Great Dot Maxi Dress in all sizes HERE.

QUESTION OF THE DAY!

Would you spend hours working through an issue for a dress you really love?
An issue, that if un-solved, meant the return of the dress?
Would you risk making changes that would make the item non-returnable?
Have you actually made un-reversible alteration yourself? Was it a pass or fail?
Tell me please!
I need to know if anyone else does these crazy late night Clothing Projects.
For My Sanity!

 Anthro Sister Love with Polka Dot Sprinkles, Laura (lauramartinsemail@yahoo.com)

Comments (33)

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Oh wow. I will admit that I hadn't seen anybody else in this dress that really did it for me. I love that you added a belt (I think what bothered me was the sharp contrast from the white top to the navy bottom) and tamed that wicked cowl. This looks terrific on you. I've been on a spending spree too. Perhaps I should adopt your style three ways policy. Since I stink at styling, relying on copying all you fabulous girls, I'd probably shave down 2/3rds of my wardrobe! Seeing your review here and recommendations, I know this is def not for me, but you are rockin' it sister. Wonderful. :)
1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago
Katrina, you are far more observant than I. The sharp contrast between Ivory/Navy hadn't even caught my attention. Although I did find myself styling either a belt or a Short Cardi Into the picture. Perhaps I was subconsciously detracting from the contrast.

You can credit Kim of Anthroholic for the idea of using a Styling Three Ways Rule to determine if an item fits your closet. This is my first time using the rule. We shall see if I can stick to it.

I don't want to feel limited to staying inside the box. Without risk, there is no creativity or growth.

Ha-ha! I have no idea what I'm talking about. Just call me DR Laura!

Sent from Laura's iPhone
Oops, and to answer your question of the day - nope on all counts. Can't sew for beans.
1 reply · active 731 weeks ago
Well that puts you at low risk of FUBAR situation.

Sent from Laura's iPhone
You look so tall in this dress Laura! i also think it looks just as good (if not better) without the cowl neck. With regards to your questions, are you referring to DYI alterations, because I have never altered any of my purchases apart from sewing on buttons that came loose and stitching up torn pockets. I don't think i have the skill to DYI. Although i have taken a few things to the dress makers to alter - but it costs a lot of money, at times 1/3 of the price of the piece!
1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago
Not Tall. Must be the fabulous dress and the hours I spent pinning and impinging that cowl neck trying to get rid of it. I'm just happy it worked on the first round of sewing or the poor dress would be full of holes.

Sent from Laura's iPhone
oh before i forget, did you notice the Drinks on Me dress on Modcloth? It reminds me a little of the CLC butterfly dress http://www.modcloth.com/Womens/Dresses/-Drinks-on...
1 reply · active 731 weeks ago
I haven't looked at Modcloth for 5 days. But you know I will right now. Oh please let me hate the dress! I have been on a spending spree for 6 weeks. First my annual bonus, next my Tax Returns.

Sent from Laura's iPhone
This dress looks so great on you! I will buy it, but I'm surprised it hasn't sold out yet, so I think it might get a 2nd cut. I could easily picture so many ways to style it! I can't wait to see your other stylings.

I decided to order the D'Armee this week in navy and I spotted a popback of the Sidestepping--we'll see if those work. I just realized all those dresses are navy--oh well!
1 reply · active 731 weeks ago
You will have a Spring line-up in Navy. I'm actually waiting for a 2nd cut on the D'armee, then I will order the Navy.

Sent from Laura's iPhone
Oh my Laura, what a stunning maxi dress!! You look just so long and lean! I love how creative you are with your sewing skills ... I have minimal skills and can patch things up if need be, but I just don't have that creativity like you! It takes true guts to try those alterations - you're a gutsy gal! That's why you're so fab! :)
1 reply · active 731 weeks ago
More determination, then know how or guts.

Sent from Laura's iPhone
Love this! Very slimming look. And I especially like how the cowl turned out. I would've tried to hard to make it pleated or something but that wouldn't have worked. I LOVE the natural way it settled. I have a cowl neck blouse from J. Crew that does the same "horn" thing I just may try this! Thanks for the idea! Looking forward to seeing this styled more ways!
1 reply · active 731 weeks ago
Trying to incorporate the pleats was impossible. It could have worked if I had a bust form in my size. Or a friend to place the pins.

BTW, The review outfit does not count as one of the Three outfits I styled for this dress.

Sent from Laura's iPhone
Oh Laura, you look just beautiful in this dress. The polka dots make this maxi dress really special, and you look so long and lean. The belt and necklace you paired with the dress are perfect accessories! They add a really nice pop of colour. Hope you're having a great weekend :)
1 reply · active 731 weeks ago
I had a shop, blog, write reviews, and stay inside cause it's raining weekend. Your comment really made my day Carly. Thank you. It's all the dress, because I'm neither Tall nor Lean.

Sent from Laura's iPhone
Love this! I will definitely try it on next time I'm in a store...
4 replies · active 731 weeks ago
Did you return your Gunilla Dress? I picked up a Pop Back in size 8 on second cut from online. I thought the dress would be huge. It's perfect. I never would have ordered it if I hadn't seen you wearing it the day before. Thanks for the review. I adore the Gunilla.

Sent from Laura's iPhone
I saw that on your blog!! I'm glad you got it...it looks beautiful on you!

The dress was a bit tight around my arms so I had to let it pass me by :( I will resign myself to admiring it from afar.
Aww! You didn't try an 8? That's what I'm wearing. It's that awesome athletic bod of your's.

Sent from Laura's iPhone
haha, perhaps. I can't remember if I was wearing a six or an eight, but I remember that it fit perfectly elsewhere, so sizing up wasn't really an option. So it goes!
This dress looks great on you! I really love what you did with the top! Way to go:) It looks like it was made that way and it's super flattering. I have never made an alteration like that, just because I don't know how to sew (yet). If I had some sewing skills, I would definitely want to make alterations to make pieces work better. You took a chance and it paid off!
1 reply · active 731 weeks ago
The actual sewing is a simple whip stitch. What was hard was figuring out how to pin the cowl down. It finally dawned on me to wear the dress inside out to place the pins. Then it was a nightmare to sew because I had to be careful not to catch the shell in the stitching. Only the liner. I had to rip out stitches several times. It took at least 30 minutes just to stitch by hand. I was thinking, if it didn't work, I was in big trouble, because the Silk fabric was going to be full of pin holes. I was so happy when I put it on and saw the neckline was floating. No more fuss!

Sent from Laura's iPhone
This dress looks fabulous on you, and I like the pop of color with the red belt! Plus, I love polka dots, so you can do no wrong with this outfit!!!

I'm impressed with your alteration of the neck line. I don't trust my sewing skills enough to make these kind of changes!
1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago
Anthro's description for the Great Dots Maxi suggests.... a Red Belt. I could help but answer. I love Polkas too. But it seems all mine are Navy. I want a rainbow of them.

Sent from Laura's iPhone
I love what you did here with this polka-dotty number! You whip-stitched it into submission! Love it. And thank you for tagging me! I'll get on that. The answers to your questions of the day? Yes. I have. In fact I was talking with Rachel from Shoes and Sewing about posting what I did to my Night Blooming dress to make it permanently work for me. It's totally worth it to make something you love fit you the way your figure deserves it to. This dress is terrific on you. Like others have said, super lengthening and chic!
1 reply · active 731 weeks ago
--Apple-Mail-27-888722764 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/html; charset=utf-8

Your description of my whipping the cowl into submission is so true.

I know Rachel. She uses Anthro to inspire many of her creations.

Here are two alterations I'm pretty proud of....

Lynx and Leo Dress
Graphical Dress
Both dresses were too low cut. I used lace edged eyelet to make it look like I layered a slip under the dress that peeks out at the neckline.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_40Bmu13PFYk/TGmweJzI1mI/AAAAAAAAAyA/MQN531fUBWg/s1600/photo.JPG

Sent from Laura's iPhone
I love that dress on you! I also love what you did to the neckline! I would never guess it has been altered if I didn't stalk the site! That red belt is a cute touch to the dress!
1 reply · active 731 weeks ago
It seems one of my favorite alterations are the necklines of Anthro Dresses. Most are too low cut for comfort.

Sent from Laura's iPhone
You look great! I love your fix for the top. This dress and belt incorporate some of my favorite classic colors.

I'm answering your question from my blog here :) But I wasn't able to get the BOGO for the shoes since I only kept one pair. I hope you find a good grey pair tomorrow!

Lorispeak
1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago
My Target usually lacks all the cool stuff bloggers find.

Sent from Laura's iPhone
Laura, you did a fantastic job altering this dress to fix a finicky neckline. Anthro will be kicking themselves for not thinking of this originally! And this maxi shape really does look fantastic on you. I love the "ensemble" effect of the white tank and the patterned skirt. And you know I can't resist polkas!

I will definitely try to make alterations to clothing purchases, though I am usually too chicken to try alterning anything other than thrifted item. I'm also game for completely repurposing an item. On my list: handpainting a skirt to look like the Peppered and Striped (I'm about half done), removing shoulder pads from several blazers since I already have linebacker shoulders (not hard, but getting the lining right afterwards will be tricky), and turning a frumpy full skirt into a pencil skirt. But there never seems to be enough time!
1 reply · active 731 weeks ago
You must have something I don't. A sewing machine.

I remember a wool Sleeping On Snow Skirt with Paris handpainted around the skirt.

So are you painting the pattern of the Peppered and Striped Skirt onto this skirt? Sounds tedious. Can't wait to see the final results.

Sent from Laura's iPhone

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