DIY Great Gatsby Dress and Cape

 What’s with the getup?  I went to a Great Gatsby themed birthday party and let me tell you it was fabulous.  The decorations, outfits, music and food were awesome.  The theme of the party was Great Gatsby, but we didn’t drink bathtub brew and we didn’t swing, but we did dance a lot!  This was a Juke Joint so it was dark, I tried my best with the pictures.  When deciding what to wear, I knew I wanted to make my outfit and I didn’t want a costume.  I knew
it had to be quick, easy and something I could wear again.

On my search for the inspiration, I did what everyone does when looking for inspiration, I browsed Pinterest.   I found these two inspiration pictures and I went to my local fabric store to get fabric, I wanted a knit for the dress so Black Friday online shopping for the save!  From the inspiration pic, it was a basic tank dress, so I just had to find the right fabric.  I’m not a fan of fringe, or fur, or ruffles, so I knew the cape would be toned down lol! 

Pinterest

Pinterest

I had a great time making this outfit and wearing it.  Full disclosure, I’m not a fan of sequin, it rubbed on my arm and it was uncomfortable which will make the dress unwearable.  However, lesson learned when wearing sequin.  Looking back, I would have made this a drop waist and added the sequin to the bottom and used a double knit or a glittery type knit for the top and maybe added some trim to the front.  The real thing I should have changed was the length, the dress was pretty long, I should have shown some more leg but I’m such a prude!  The cape was hot and the headband was irritating so by the end of the night it was just me and the dress lol!

So for the dress, I used B6425 view B, I made it last week here and I used it because it was on my table.   I wanted a basic tank dress drafted for knit fabric.  The only modification I did from the original was leaving off the sleeve and adding the trim to the bottom, easy peasy!  I wanted knit, because I knew I wouldn’t dance in a stiff fabric.

I used a sequin knit from Fabric Mart, it was a remnant that cost me just under $4 for a yard and a quarter!  I know right!! It was a steal, I originally order it and it never arrived, I called Chris at Fabric Mart and she had it to me in a few days.  The only problem was it was 1.25 yards and I needed 1.5 yards.  I decided to use some fringe from my local fabric store (I originally planned to make a skirt),  I didn’t’ like the fringe in the store it looked like something you would see on drapes.  I should have shortened the armscye a bit considering the bodice was drafted for sleeves, but the gaping was barely noticeable.

The cape was a very straight forward sew, I made the caplet, view A and I graded up to a XL.  I followed the easy instructions, three pattern pieces, front, back and neckband.   It’s sewn with french seams and I serged the hem because it frayed a lot and I didn’t want to fight with trying to do a narrow hem.   I may cut the V in the back to make a true capelet, we will see.

That’s it, I purchased shoes, stockings, and accessories from Amazon and I was set.  This outfit cost me $35 to make, dress was $4 and the cape was $31, it was a Casa Embellish Eventide fabric from Joann’s on sale.

Have you done any costume sewing?  How do you wear sequin without it scratching you?