Fitted Flared Coat Dress with Rounded Collar

Fitted Flared Coat Dress

A knee-length women's coat dress with front and back princess seams, a rounded flat collar and a nine-button front. Flared side panels are set into the lower sides, so the hem opens out at the sides while the centre panels stay straight.

When To Wear

• In spring and autumn as a dress or a light coat over a fine knit or blouse.
• For office days and daytime events, with tights and low-heeled shoes or boots.

Key Design Features

Silhouette: Fitted through the bust and waist by princess seams, straight over the hips, with flared inserts at the lower sides.

Length: To the knee.

Collar: Flat collar with rounded ends, cut as upper and under collar and interfaced, set into the neckline.

Sleeves: Long set-in sleeves with one underarm seam.

Front: Princess seams from the shoulder to the hem; single-breasted buttoned opening from neckline to hem, finished with interfaced front facings.

Back: Centre back seam and princess seams from the shoulder; a back neck facing joins the front facings.

Skirt: A separate lower side piece on each side, attached to the side panels with the seam allowance pressed upwards.

Finishing: Front edges, neckline and hem corners stitched with the facing; hems of the dress and sleeves turned up and topstitched.

Level Of Difficulty

Intermediate. Princess seams front and back, set-in flared side panels, a collar set into the neckline under the facing, set-in sleeves and a row of buttonholes.

Fabric Recommendations

Medium-weight wovens that hold the shape of the princess seams and let the side panels flare: wool and wool-blend dress fabrics, gabardine, crepe, light tweed.

Additional Supplies

• Fusible interfacing (collar, front facings, back neck facing)
• Buttons for the front opening