I’m on the cusp of taking the ruffle sleeves off of this dress and I need y’all to convince me other wise. I’ve been calling this my football dress and I bet you can guess why…
The Morningside Dress by French Navy patterns immediately caught my eye right when I was about to jump on the Kalle Shirtdress train. I love the popover detail and the ruffle sleeves were so fun and different. I also am really into the stitched down inseam pockets. It seemed like the perfect match for some fabric I’d been mulling over in my stash. I like that it’s a shirt dress with a little something extra… I’m all about a little something extra!
I didn’t make any changes to the pattern other than to shorten it. This was partially due to my height and partially due to the fact that I BARELY had enough fabric. I don’t remember exactly how much I took off I just removed as much as I needed to fit all my pattern pieces on.
I obviously chose the ruffle sleeve view and y’all I’m so unsure about it. I feel like it might look good in a drapey-er fabric but in this linen I think it makes my shoulders look extra broad and I look a little bit like a football player??? Please tell me I’m being crazy… cuz that’s what I’ve been telling myself. “Your crazy Amy you look great the ruffles add a little something extra to a basic shirt dress in a minimalist style linen fabric and you are not basic so run with it”. That’s what goes on in my head when I wear this. But I also feel I’m prepared to tackle anyone who tries to cross the line of scrimmage (did I say that right?? – my mom would be so proud!)
This fabric as a beautiful and soft ikat linen from Style Maker Fabrics a year or two ago. I was pretty sure from the get to I wanted to make a shirt dress with this fabric. I love how it has that sophisticated minimalist vibe (that I never feel like I pull off very well but it works alright here!)
I love the details of the “innards” of this pattern. The instructions really help you to have a nice clean and professional finish on both the placket and the pockets. It was a very fun pattern to sew!
See this dress in action:
SKIP TO THE END?
Pattern: Morningside Dress by French Navy
Fabric: ikat linen from Style Maker Fabrics last year
Notions: Buttons
Difficulty: Intermediate
Adjustments: Shortened to fit fabric
Finishes: Serged seams, stitched down pocket bags, clean finished placket
Sew it again? Probably not – only because theres always another shirt dress out there I’d like to try! I might like to try the shirt version though with the cuffed sleeve!
Happy Sewing!
Personally, I love the sleeves. I think because it’s a drop shoulder you don’t creep into linebacker territory! Super cute dress.
I really like the dress and the ruffles look good. I think it will be a very comfortable dress in the warm weather. The print is just fantastic!
Yes definitely very comfortable!
I think I’m with you on the ruffles on this one. I’m not sure they’re the right fabric and don’t really even read as ruffles, just a weirdly wide sleeve. If you are desperate for the ruffle, I’d do it in a contrast fabric, that’s drapier, which would probably then actually read as a ruffle. If it doesn’t make you feel great, then hack it off! No shame in being “basic” if you enjoy the dress more that way!
Thank you so much for your honest opinion Kendra! I feel so heard 😉
I do not think you look like a football player at all lol. But props for knowing more football terms than I do! The dress is very cute!