Not a home-made dress

It was my son's seventh birthday today, and after a sunny birthday party in the park we headed off to our favourite curry house, Akbar's, for a celebratory dinner.

I decided to wear this dress, which I picked up a while ago in a Next sale for 25 quid.

Pockets!

I wasn't too sure about it to start with because it was quite tight around the hips and the pattern is a bit "Sofa". I have to do a kind of Victorian lady demure curtsey when I bend down but it doesn't seem quite as tight as it was at first. Maybe my jogs around the park are paying off.

This dress has Princess seams in the bodice which give it a really nice shape. The skirt has 2 darts on either side but they aren't pointed darts, they kind of turn into a pleat. This gives a little bit of a tulip shape but not very exaggerated. And it's got pockets! I have teamed it with Kate Middleton tribute nude wedges from Matalan. I think they were a tenner. I'm so high maintenance!

The curry was awesome but we left to an Indian monsoon-style downpour and everyone got drenched in the 10 feet from the curry house to the car. Wish I'd worn wellies instead of wedges!

So, although this dress is a little snug, I really like the shape and I think I may try to make something similar when I break my sewing machine ban (19th August is my essay deadline, I think, and then I am going to SEW SEW SEW). I think I've got a Burda magazine pattern or two with Princess seams. I shall have to have a rummage and maybe attempt another Frankenpattern.