Dress to Impress:
Spring ’08 Trends
By Susan Voigt-Reising
The dress, that beacon of femininity,
continues its reign on the runways. Sew
the top five looks in styles that fit you — body and soul.
New Look 6778,View C
Take the A-line to the season’s most forgiving silhouette: the trapeze.
Sun salutation:
Breezy fabric, a gathered neckline and ribbon
straps make New Look 6778, View C (Misses’ sizes 6 to 16)
easy to sew and wear, camouflaging pear shapes and playing
up shoulders and legs.Three variations offer more clever strap
and neckline options.
Head of the class:
The above-knee A-line in McCall’s
5578 (Misses’ sizes 6 to 20) flows from a gathered Empire
waist. Up top, it features a wide rounded neck and cut-on
sleeves in two trendy three-quarter options or a cuffed cap
that echoes an optional hem band.
Career path
: Especially flattering to larger sizes, the moderate
A-line dress with asymmetrical button-and-loop closure in
Vogue 8474 (Misses’ sizes 8 to 24) is boardroom-ready
topped by a raglan sleeve jacket with dramatic flutter collar
and front hemline points.
Evening affair:
McCall’s 5584 (Misses’ sizes 4 to 20) takes
the double-layer trapeze look upscale with or without straps,
plus oversize bustline bow or neckline lace trim.Trés chic..
Butterick 5183, View A
Like a fine wine, the special occasion dress is always en vogue.
The season’s most sought-after characteristic? Halter styling.
Full-bodied: The floor-length gown in Butterick 5183,
View A (Misses’ sizes 8 to 24) showcases curves with a sweetheart
neckline and fit-and-flare princess seaming. But its piéce
de résistance is a unique halter design: front bodice bands that
angle up and behind the neck, anchored by four straps that
secure the halter in back.
Spicy undertones
: From the new Project Runway pattern
line featuring designer figure templates comes Simplicity
3501 (Misses’ sizes 4 to 20), a party dress with a zesty
attitude from its bikini-style bodice and optional side
cutouts to its trumpet or high-low hem. Four of the eight
views feature halter necklines, one with sheer scarf-like ties
that cascade to the hip.
Soft finish
: Simplicity 3502 (Misses’ sizes 6 to 22) is a shirr
thing, featuring four styles with gathers emanating from bust,
waist, and sleeve or neckline. Choose from two halter looks, a
full-length style with plunging V-neck, or a petite-friendly
above-knee version with a high neck and optional generous
tie belt.
Smooth and smoky
: Designed for stretch knits, Simplicity
3503 (Misses’ sizes 6 to 22) is perfect for power-serging
today and partying tonight. In both short and long views,
center-front and back gathers below the wide waistband
forgive minor excesses, while bustline and neckline halter
gathers are kind to small-to-moderate busts.
Simplicity 2998, View C
Attention young and young at heart: The mini dress is
back—and willing to compromise (as a top or tunic) for
those whose thigh-baring dress days are behind them.
Short and sweet: Simplicity 2998 (Misses’ sizes 4 to 22),
View C is a sweet ’60s flashback with bodice tucks, daisy
trim at the neckline, yoke seam and hip patch pockets, and
voluminous half sleeves with elasticized hems. It joins three
other ingénue looks in this mini/top package that’s specially
designed for knits.
Right to bare arms—or not
: Interesting sleeves are a
focal point this season as Simplicity 3507 (Juniors’ sizes
5/6 to 15/16 and Juniors’ plus sizes 15/16+ to 25/26+),
an eight-mini Project Runway pattern, attests. All styled
with a high square yoke, figure-skimming body and hem
band with optional trim, they diverge to offer short puffed,
flutter cap, three-quarter peasant and half cuffed sleeves, plus
two sleeveless styles and rounded patch pocket variations.
Add coordinating ankle tights for a winning look.
Retro-powered:
The well-above-knee length and A-line
shape is pure ’60s, but the bodice styling of Simplicity
2999 (Misses’ sizes 6 to 22) harks back to the ’40s, with
high waists punctuated by an inverted V, and bodice treatments
from bands and bows to ties and flowers.The Vneckline
features an inset that squares it off and keeps it
daytime friendly.
Modest proposal:
Lace and eyelet are high profile this
season—often as bands or insets, as in New Look 6790
(Misses’ sizes 10 to 22).This button-and-loop front closure
mini dress or top is graced by lace sleeve and hem bands or,
on a sleeveless view, wide bands along the front opening.A
drawstring waist cinches the deal, looking especially fresh
with the included side-zip crop or full-length flared pants.
McCall’s 5576, View C
The circular or oval band is the hottest neckline of spring
’08, having burst on the scene last summer and grown
steadily in popularity.
Stone hold:
Back darts give a hint of shape while front
bustline gathers add volume to McCall’s 5576, View C
(Misses’/Miss petite sizes 6 to 22), a combination that effectively
camouflages thick waists and slight tummy bulges.The
wide scoop neck of the focal neck band balances minor lower
body issues and provides an ideal canvas for decorative rhinestones,
beads or sequins. Adding to the ambience: half sleeves
with self-lined ruffles, one of three au courant sleeve options.
Tunic, too:
New Look 6785 (Misses’ sizes 6 to 16) builds
on a topstitched circular neck yoke to create three distinct
looks: a wide-strapped dress with low-slung tie belt, raglanstyle
thigh-length peasant top with gathered cap sleeves, and
hip-length loose top with fluttery short sleeves. A slim sidezip
pant transforms the mini into a smart tunic.
Jacket of all trades:
To give a dress broader appeal, top it
with a cutting edge jacket. New Look 6788 (sizes 10 to
22) takes the mystery out of a successful pairing, positing its
three-button, three-quarter-sleeve jacket over a sundress
with contrast straps, and neck and hem bands that echo the
jacket neck and sleeve bands.Top and coat views further
expand this package’s potential.
Top it off:
A channel-stitched or sequin-trim enhanced
circle neckline band plays the part of a statement-making
necklace in Simplicity 2997 (Misses’/Miss petite sizes 8 to
24), a moderate A-line dress with cut-in armholes in mini or knee-skimming lengths. Bodice gathers flank a V-shape
neckline slit and repeat at the center back.To bare less, opt
for a raglan sleeve view with wide round yoke, and short or
poet sleeve details.
Vogue 8471, View A
Empire waistlines bolster anemic bustlines. Surplice wraps
compliment larger busts. Spring ’08 brings them together in
styles that green-light busts of all sizes, as well as visually
lengthen legs.
Knit pick:
A two-way stretch knit renders the bodice and
waistband gathers in Vogue 8471 (Misses’ sizes 6 to 22)
both comfortable and stylish. Short sleeves gathered at the
shoulder and sleeve band continue the theme to complete
the bodice, which joins a mid-knee-length fit-and-flare skirt
for pure poetry.
Straight and narrow:
Asian influences abound in
McCall’s 5579 (Misses’ sizes 8 to 16 and Women’s sizes
18W to 24W), including the Empire surplice bodice
bordered in contrast channel-quilted bands.The topstitched
effect repeats at the wide obi-esque waistband and armholes
for a modern techno feel, while the straight knee-length
skirt gathers at the center front and side backs for a bit
of extra ease.
Dance partner:
Whether you’re a ballerina or just want to
feel like one, you’ll look the part in Butterick 5176 (Misses’
8 to 22).Above and below the wide fitted waistband are a
gathered sleeveless surplice bodice and dramatic A-line skirt,
respectively. Cut it just below the knee or to the lower calf
and add the optional waist tie for an ethereal swish.
Nouveau deco:
If a traditional Empire isn’t your best
look, consider the inverted V in Hot Patterns Deco Vibe
So Pretty Dress (Misses’ sizes 6 to 26). Exquisite in fluid
fabrics like silk charmeuse, its gathers drape the bust and
caress the shoulder. Self-binding trim at the waist and
underbust seams, and a flared knee-length skirt make it a
winner in this or any season.
HIT SUITS AND COMBOS
- Cropped, flyaway, or fitted and belted jackets
with short dirndl and barrel-shaped skirts
- Cropped jackets with three-quarter sleeves
over slim pants or skirts
- Long fitted, belted jackets with narrow pants
- Safari-style jackets atop high-waist shorts
and shorts with flared legs
- Vests—whether loose, fitted, cropped or long—
as a wardrobe layering essential
TOPS IN TOPS
- Romantic tops and blouses with ruffles, dropped shoulders, puffed or full poet sleeves, Empire lines, bubble hems, V-necks, halter necklines
and lace trims
- Loose and easy or fitted and shaped tunics
- Tanks and T-shirts layered together
BOTTOMS UP
- Slim pants and stretch leggings, sometimes cropped
- Pants with banded or elastic hems in a harem-like style
- Full and wide-legged pants
- Jeans with high waists and suspenders
- Leg-revealing flared or boxy shorts
- Soft, full flared skirts
- Pleated, bubble, barrel and dirndl skirts
- Slim skirts
Hot Tickets
Simplicity fabric director Carin Blankoff
shares these top 10 must-haves for your
spring closet, plus more of the hottest
pairings and details of the season.
Top10 Items:
- Mini Dress
- Short (from short to walking lengths)
- Full Trapeze Dress
- Bubble Hems (for tops, skirts and dresses)
- Metallic Jacket, Coat, Dress or Accessory
- Utility Jacket with Pocket Detailing
- Puffed Sleeve Top
- Loose or Fitted Tunic
- Vested Suit
- Barrel-Shaped Skirt or Pant with Pegged Hemline
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