My Anthro Inspired Dress
It’s done! After re-doing the hem four times (yes, FOUR times — I told you I’m well aquainted with my seam ripper), my dress is done. I finished it just in time for my brother in law’s wedding this weekend, and have to say that it was so much fun to make. If you missed it, I was debating between a couple of dresses to make (thank you SO much for all the suggestions!), and eventually decided to make one inspired by Anthropologie’s Ruffle Plaid Dress:
For my version, I used a charcoal herringbone fabric, although you can’t see the detail in the photos. I added cap sleeves, a higher neckline, and a flounce hem. I also lined the whole dress, which makes it SO much nicer to wear.
I used my serger to do a rolled hem on all of the ruffles, which I have to say was a dream. Since I was wearing flowers in my hair, I left off any fabric flowers on the dress (although I don’t think I’ll ever put any permanently on the dress). And I found the belt at Forever 21 (cause we all are, right?) for $3.50 for a set of two. I know it’s off centered in the photos, but that’s just the way things go sometimes :).
I think I’ll be making some more dresses soon. One of my goals this year was to sew more for myself, so at least I’ve done something towards that now. Oh, and I’ve got a couple of other things I’ll show you soon that I made for the wedding.
I’ll be linking up to a few of these linky parties!
p.s. Sorry! I accidently deleted the last 10 or so comments from this post, and when I restored them couldn’t get the original dates and time back so they won’t match up to when you wrote them :).

Holy smokes you’re HOT! That dress is AMAZING!!!! Good job Abby, I love the colour and everything, so when can I place an order? Dang what a great dress and I sure love the red shoes. You are uber talented :)
So beautiful! You’ve done such a wonderful job. Love it!
You are SO beautiful. I’m so glad some of the pictures turned out! :)
Love it! The red shoes are the perfect addition.
Wow, you are a very talented young lady! I love the flounce and the red, peep toe pumps and flowers in the hair are just the right amount of embellishment.
Well done. You look fabulous in the dress. I hope the wedding went well.
holy moly girl!! you look incredible and I would not have guessed you made that cute number! It fits you perfect and you look stunning, way to go. :)
Awesome job, I love it. I’m a total fan of herringbone, you made it so feminine with this dress! Did you start with a basic pattern and alter it or did you wing it?
Awesome dress! You look AMAZING!
Abby! You look FANTASTIC! And what a gorgeous dress!! Seriously. So cute!
Abs that dress is amazing. I only wish I had half of your skills!! It really turned out so good!
What a great dress! You did a fantastic job! I’m so glad to hear you haven’t aged past 21 either…
WHOA! Hold on…You look incredible in that dress. SERIOUSLY, I miss you! WOW, I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!
That was me (Lorianne) above! OOPS!
oh my goodness that dress is awesome!! if you get a chance come link up to handmade tuesdays @ http://www.ladybug-blessings.com
OH MY GOSH YOU LOOK AMAZING!!!! I can’t believe you made that! I LOVE IT!!
I just finished a dress but it isn’t as spectacular as yours! Check it out if you can!
http://www.seaminglysmitten.blogspot.com
Jenny
Oh my heavens…this is seriously STUNNING!! And I am adoring those red shoes!
Wow Abby! I love love love that dress. I love the color, the flounce at the bottom,the ruffles, the cap sleeves and on and on. You are so talented! Oh and I love the red shoes to top it all off.
–SaraLyn
P.S. You look absolutely beautiful in the photos!
Abby, it’s perfect. The redo of the hem four times was worth it. Really fabulous!
That is amazing. I like it a million times better than the anthro one!
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
The dress is so beautiful, and it is so flattering on you. Great Job! I love all anthro sewing projects…they are so fashionable and cute.
Halsey
spunkyjunky.blogspot.com
The dress is awesome. You must be a totally amazing seamstress. I am going to follow you. Have a wonderful day!
Katie
That’s a beautiful dress! I am truly impressed. And, I myself am very familiar with the seam ripper. It’s good to know that I have a partner in crime out there!
It’s beautiful! You did an amazing job.
Awesome job, I love the dress.
oh my word, that is one fabulous dress!
I’m so inspired! I think about sewing for myself and just never have taken the leap. You make it seem easy (I know I read you ripped it out 4 times… that still seems easy, no?) Looks amazing on you!! Can’t wait to see your next dress!
Wow, Abby! You always amaze me. That dress really is gorgeous on you. I’ve been MIA in the comment section but really have been keeping up with all that you’ve been doing. You’re still missed in these parts!
That turned out great! I was hoping you’d pick the coffee date dress (that’s on my list too), but this is way better! Great job!
You did such a great job! I love everything about it! It fits you so nicely and has such great details. Nice work! You will be stunning at the wedding.
That dress is darling! I like it better than the original Anthro dress. Amazing job and you look gorgeous in it!
you’re amazing abby!! the length is perfect and it is the cutest dress. i want it!
WOW. that is amazing. I love that style… just started sewing, one day maybe I can make something that awesome!! check my blog @ refinish-it-all.com. you can see my forte there!
The dress is so classy and you’re an incredible seamstress. (All good tailors know how to make good use a seam ripper.)
I’m visiting from the Santa’s Gift Shoppe Monday Blog Hop! Get a free copy of my Christmas ebook (Jesus Does Not Care and Other Christmas Stories) when you stop by. I’m #75 Donating to Charity This Season?
OH, I absolutely love it! Did you use a pattern for the dress? It fit’s beautifully. Great job!
That dress is adorable! I love it!
very pretty, love it better than the model! :) You did a fabulous job!
I LOVE this dress! you did a terrific job! Now we all need the pattern. Wow! It looks just like the original. Your an amazing seamstress!
That is AMAZING! You did such an amazing job! Did you use a pattern at all? Or are you a genius? Seriously. So great. You are gorgeous! I saw this earlier in the weekend and went to comment and it was gone:). So I just realized it was up today or I would have commented sooner. You are one talented girl!
That dress is smoking hot! I can’t believe that you made that! Definitely looks VERY professional! LOVE IT!!!
Fabulous job! I can not stand to do hems! Impressed you redid it FOUR times!
You should come link this up to my Making It With Allie Party!
AllieMakes.Blogspot.com
Wow! You did an amazing job with this dress. It is just gorgeous on you. Love it!!!
LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! There is nothing else to say! LOVE!
Im your newest follower! Id love for you to check out my blog http://craftycierra.blogspot.com/ & follow me back! I would love to do a blog swap with you! If your interested, please email me at [email protected]! Thanks!
still love it!!! GORGEOUS! I’ll be featuring this tomorrow! Thanks again for linking up to Topsy Turvy Tuesday’s!
Hey Abby-
Stopping by to tell you that I am featuring this today as party of the Making It With Allie Features! COme on by and pick up a button for your “street-cred”
AllieMakes.Blogspot.com
Wow! This looks fantastic! I am in awe of this dress and your skills. Great job!
Just to add to everyone elses.. adorable. I’ll bid on it when you list it on ebay! haha
What a great job! I’ve seen that Anthro dress before and thought it’d like to make it, but not seriously thinking it could be done. . . I was wrong! GREAT JOB — you have definitely inspired me!
That is gorgeous! I would never in a million years have looked twice at that Anthro dress because of the fabric, but yours is amazing! I would totally buy one.I’m your newest follower.
P.S. I came because I heard about your copycat party and I wanted to link up something I just finished today. I was totally bummed to discover it is closed. Maybe you could still check out my knock-off sweater overalls if you get a minute:
http://binkiesandbriefcases.blogspot.com/2010/11/sweater-overalls.html
That dress is amazing. I’m inspired!
GREAT IDEA. THANK YOU FOR SHARING. I AM YOUR NEWEST FOLLOWER AND I WOULD BE HONORED IF YOU WOULD LINK YOUR SUPER CUTE BLOG UP ON MY BLOG STALKIN’ PAGE.
http://alaynahoward.blogspot.com/p/blog-stalkin.html
You share the same passion for designing with my wife, Abby. She makes her own dresses for the formal occasions she frequently attends here in the US and in Canada. I really hope that she becomes an established designer someday. If you and her became friends, she would help you find the purses that would match that dress. It’s her specialty!
so, how’d you make the pattern? did you alter a similar dress pattern you purchased or…. Do tell, I have several items I would like adapt and make, but not *quite* sure how to get it started.
hard work really works! for the forth time you got the hemline correctly. :) good job. it really look good on you. maybe its time for you to have your own online clothing stores…
Well done. You look fabulous in the dress. I hope the wedding went well.