Sheer Sheath Dress - June's Make of the Month

* Things have been really busy (good busy) with custom orders and showcase events so I have missed a couple of #MakeOfTheMonths. 

• For March, it was supposed to be a clamshell purse. I got as far as drafting the pattern and cutting out a muslin before I had to put it aside for more pressing work.
• For April, it was a new take on the popular tulip iro and buba sets (google it - very lovely). I created the iro (wrapper) but it turned out a bit bigger than I wanted. It's in my pile of to-be-adjusted clothes and I still have to create the matching buba (top).
• For May, it was a men's blazer which was to be a birthday gift for one of my favorite people. I've cut out most of the pieces and hope to finish it up in a couple of weeks so hold on ...

Last week though, I had a selfish self-love moment where I put aside the work I was doing for others for one night to do something for myself. That became June's Make of the Month: a sheath dress in African print fabric (thank you, Aunty) with an organza overlay. 

The evening started thus:
(walking into my sister's room)
Me: I've decided to make a dress tonight - should only take a couple of hours ...
Sis: OK ...
(8 hours later)
Me: Done :)

**  Enjoy the pictures below :).
I'm thinking of entering this into the PGS (Pretty Girls Sew) Sew Challenge for this month.

*** Check us out on Instagram @zichie_designs.

Out and About (Church) in My New Dress

Views From the Top

Front, Side and Back Views (Different Light Exposures)

My dressform will be wearing this for a while ...

Spots & Stripes Dress: January's Make Of The Month

  * At the beginning of this year, I set a goal to have a #MakeOfTheMonth every month. This will be something I make because I want to - not because of a client's order, special request or for sale on the Etsy store.

** The #MakeOfTheMonth for January is a Spots & Stripes dress that I sketched on a post-it note sometime in 2014. The design was for a fit and flare dress with spots on the bodice and stripes on the skirt. I didn't get a chance to do anything about the sketch till now. I did change the original design by adding stripes to the bodice and I think that was a smart choice. Enjoy the pictures below :).

** Check us out on Instagram @zichie_designs.

I was going to get regular polka dots and a matching striped fabric but these 2 together caught my eye and won't let go.

The initial plan was to have an A-line skirt but I've recently been wanting to make box pleats so I did.

As I previously mentioned, I was going to make the entire bodice out of the spotted fabric but after I took a 2nd look, I decided to bring the stripes up into the bodice.

 

I wanted to do something different for the back so I added a cut-out but I made the band wide enough to cover any bra straps. :)

Final Look:

Ankara Maxi Skirt

* I thought about making a maxi skirt like the one below during the summer but somehow, I didn't get to do so till now. This one was requested by Zi for her school's homecoming parade.
  ** Check out the 'Hers' page for other pictures.
*** Check us out on Instagram @zichie_designs.

Criss-Cross Pencil Skirt

   * This is one of the first pencil skirts I ever made so I'm going to start by saying 'Yay!!! It still fits; 3 years later'. I had remnants from sewing another outfit for a friend's wedding (will create a post on that one later) and I decided to do something with all the bits and pieces I had left. The top was made for the wedding.
  ** Check out the 'Hers' page for other pictures.
*** Check us out on Instagram @zichie_designs.

Velvet Border Skirt

  * It's called the 'Border Skirt' because the fun details are in the top and bottom borders. This is one way to show your love for Ankara fabric without wearing an entire Ankara outfit. Dress it up, dress it down ... still gorgeous and it'll go perfectly with your clutch from The African Fascinator.
** Check out the 'Hers' page for other pictures.

 

Lace and Ankara Peplum Top

    * This was my second peplum top ever and with it, I wanted to try a hi-low (or asymmetrical) hem. Since I have a sizable bum, having a longer hem at the back suits my silhouette just fine :).
  ** Check out the 'Hers' page for other pictures.
*** Check us out on Instagram @ZiChiEDesigns

The Peplum Top Paired w/Matching Pencil Skirt

The Peplum Top Paired w/Black Capris

 Out and About for the Odunde 2014 Social Mixer

 The Peplum Top Paired w/Skinny Jeans

Notice the Hair Accessory? :)

Monochromatic Maxi

   * At my height, I don't always find long dresses that are long enough so making this maxi dress was worthwhile and I think I will make more.
     The length + the softly draped bodice + the black and white pattern = awesome maxi!!!
** Check out the 'Hers' page for other pictures.

A 'hip-off' with friend and fellow designer Emem Okoh from A Toast to Life & its Beautiful Struggles

Special Request: Maternity Lace Halter Gown

  * Made for a wonderful lady expecting a baby boy in about 3 months. From what I observed, she is the queen of her husband's heart and I hope this dress truly made her feel like a queen. The best part? This dress would still fit amazingly post-baby.
** Check out the 'Hers' page for other pictures.