Collared Dress with Princess Seams
Introducing an elegant women's dress pattern featuring a sophisticated overlapping V-neck collar, shaping princess seams, and a graceful high-low hemline.
When To Wear
This dress offers a refined silhouette suitable for various upscale events, making it an excellent choice for:
- Semi-Formal Gatherings: Perfect for cocktail parties, dinner events, or upscale celebrations where a polished look is desired.
- Wedding Guest Attire: An appropriate and stylish option for attending weddings, offering comfort and sophistication.
- Day-to-Evening Transitions: Versatile enough for professional settings that transition to evening events, maintaining an elegant appeal.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: Fitted through the bust and waist with defining princess seams, gently flaring into an a-line skirt.
Neckline & Collar: a distinctive overlapping V-neckline framed by a broad, architectural collar that drapes elegantly over the shoulders.
Closure: Features a hidden zipper at the center back seam, complemented by a small keyhole opening with a loop and button closure at the top of the back neckline.
Sleeves: Short, cap-like extensions formed by the collar, gracefully covering the shoulders.
Back: Clean back with princess seams for shaping, a center back seam incorporating the keyhole and hidden zipper.
Hem: a chic high-low hemline, shorter in the front and gradually lengthening towards the back, providing elegant movement and drape.
Waist: Defined by the fitted bodice and princess seams, creating a flattering, natural waistline without a separate band.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Requires skills in constructing princess seams, inserting a hidden zipper, and assembling an overlapping collar with bias binding finish for the armholes.
Fabric Recommendations
Select dress fabrics that drape well and hold structure for the collar details:
- Dress fabrics made from natural or blended fibers
Additional Supplies
- Hidden zipper
- Fusible interfacing
Cutter's Must
- From main fabric:
- Center back - 2 pieces
- Side back - 2 pieces
- Center front - 1 piece
- Side front - 2 pieces
- Upper center front – 1 piece
- Right collar – 2 pieces
- Left collar – 2 pieces
- From fusible interfacing:
- Right collar – 1 piece
- Left collar – 1 piece
Sewing Instructions
When stitching pieces, pay attention to the notches - they must match! Attention! Markings on the patterns are made on the right side.
- Interface the collars with fusible interfacing.
- Stitch the back princess seams. Overlock the allowances and press them towards the center.
- Overlock the center back edges separately on each piece. Stitch the center back seam from the mark to the bottom, press the allowances open. Insert the zipper.
- Stitch the right front princess seam. Overlock the allowance and press it towards the center.
- Stitch the side and shoulder seams. Overlock the allowances and press them towards the back.
- Fold the collar pieces in pairs, right sides together, and stitch along the outer edge and center edge. Trim the allowances at the corners, clip at the curves. Turn the collars right side out and press. Form and secure the pleats. The pleat depths are directed towards the shoulder seam.
- Fold the left collar with the wrong side of the dress and stitch into the neckline. Overlock the allowance. Fold the collar to the right side. Secure the lower edge of the collar to the upper center front.
- Fold the right collar with the wrong side of the dress and stitch into the neckline, inserting the left. Overlock the allowance. Fold the collar to the right side. Secure the collar edge to the right princess seam.
- Stitch the left front princess seam. Overlock the allowance and press it towards the center.
- Cut a bias binding 4 cm wide and a length equal to the armhole length + 4 cm. Fold the bias binding in half lengthwise, right side out, and press. Place the binding along the armhole edge, right sides together, extending the ends, and stitch. Fold the binding to the wrong side, clip the seams, and topstitch along the fold to the main piece. Press the seam.
- Overlock the hem allowance of the dress bottom, press it to the wrong side, and topstitch.
