Open-Back Sundress with Racerback Straps and Cutout Waist
A vibrant maxi sundress featuring a gathered halter-style bodice, side waist cutouts, and a striking open back with straps joined by a decorative clasp.
When To Wear:
- Summer Parties & Gatherings: The flowy silhouette and open back are perfect for warm weather celebrations.
- Vacation & Resort Wear: Its light and airy design makes it ideal for seaside escapes and relaxed holiday settings.
- Semi-Formal Daytime Events: Can be dressed up with accessories for sophisticated brunch or daytime celebrations.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: a-line maxi silhouette with a gathered bodice and a full, gathered skirt.
Neckline: High round halter-style neckline finished with a faced band; the upper front is gathered below it for a soft drape.
Waist: Side cutouts between the bodice and the faced waistband (front placket and back facings) onto which the skirt is gathered.
Back: Open back; the straps run from the neckline band and are joined at the upper back by a decorative clasp on fabric loops.
Sleeves: Sleeveless.
Closure: Invisible zipper in the center back seam of the skirt, plus the decorative clasp at the back straps.
Length: Maxi length, falling to the ankle.
Hem: Simple turned and topstitched hem.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Requires careful gathering, precise facing construction, and detailed assembly of the open-back strap system.
Fabric Recommendations
Choose light to medium-weight dress fabrics with good drape:
- Dress fabrics made from natural or blended fibers
Additional Supplies
- Fusible interfacing
- Concealed zipper fastener
- Decorative fastener
Cutter's Must
- From main fabric:
- Back Skirt – 2 pieces
- Front Skirt – 1 piece
- Upper Front – 1 piece
- Strap – 4 pieces
- Front Neckline Facing – 2 pieces
- Back Facing – 4 pieces
- Front Facing – 4 pieces
- Front Placket – 2 pieces
- Also cut a strip 5 × 5 cm for the clasp loops.
- From fusible interfacing:
- Strap – 2 pieces
- Front Neckline Facing – 1 piece
- Back Facing – 2 pieces
- Front Facing – 2 pieces
- Front Placket – 1 piece
Sewing Instructions
- Fuse interfacing to the designated pieces.
- Serge the armhole edges of the Upper Front, press to the wrong side, and topstitch. Run lines of loose gathering stitches along the upper and lower edges and gather.
- Take the 5 × 5 cm strip for the loops. Fold in half lengthwise with right sides out and press. Unfold, press the side edges towards the center, and fold in half again. Stitch 0.1 cm from the edge, cut into two pieces. Insert the loops into the decorative fastener.
- Stitch together the interfaced Front Neckline Facing, Straps and Front Facings. Stitch the Upper Front to the Front Neckline Facing. Stitch the lower edge of the Upper Front to the Front Facing from the edge to the mark. Press seam allowances towards the facing.
- Stitch together the non-interfaced Front Neckline Facing, Straps and Front Facings. Place these pieces onto the interfaced ones and stitch the front neckline, the outer edge of the straps, and the lower edge of the front facing, inserting the loops with the fastener. Clip seam allowances, turn to the right side, and press. Fold the raw seam allowances of the facings and straps inwards, align, and topstitch 0.1 cm from the edge.
- Stitch the side seams of the skirt, press seam allowances towards the back, and serge.
- Stitch the side seams of the interfaced Back Facings and Front Placket. Run loose gathering stitches along the upper edges of the Back Skirt and Front Skirt and gather. Stitch the skirt to the interfaced Back Facings and Front Placket. Press seam allowances upwards.
- Serge the center back edges of the Back Skirt. Stitch from the zipper mark downwards, press seam allowances open. Insert the zipper.
- Stitch the non-interfaced Back Facings to the non-interfaced Front Placket, place them on the outer pieces right sides together and stitch along the upper edge, inserting the Upper Front between them. Turn the inner pieces to the wrong side and press. Turn under their raw seam allowances and topstitch them into the skirt seam.
- Serge the bottom edge, press to the wrong side, and topstitch.
