Tuesday 20 March 2012

Hand made painted dress

Okay, fellow bloggers and dear readers, I need your help. I made this navy peter-pan collar dress from this awesome vintage pattern I picked up while thrifting the other day (which only cost me 20c may I add!), and used $2 vintage fabric from the same store, and then hand painted it with little white birds. It turned out a little something like this:





(The pattern I made it from, so 70s, oh yeah! I chopped the sleeves part out though.)

SO that's all very well and good, but here's the problem I'm having, dear readers. It feels unfinished. And I can't figure out what to do with it so I feel like it's "finished". I would love your feedback on this - do you think it needs more birds on the front bodice? Do you think I should paint birds on the back bodice, or leave it as it is? What about a white trim around the peter pan collar? Or should I add pockets? Or buttons?

What I'd also like to know is how you would style this dress!
I really value your opinions and would love to know what you guys think!

Super thanks!

Love, Annika xxx

40 comments:

  1. I think it needs red! It totally looks like a little sailor dress, so red would be marvelous! Maybe make the collar red? Or add a red bow or something? I don't know .. it looks lovely now though. But my vote is something red. :)

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  2. I would add some white ribbon under breasts/as a bow- tie or as a bottom line, I really love the pattern

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  3. It is gorgeous my dear! Maybe some white lace at the bottom and around the collar would be a nice touch.

    Hugs,
    E.

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  4. I think your dress needs colour. The first thing that came to my mind was adding a long red bow at the collar, but I see that someone already suggested it :)

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  5. ahhh i hadn't even thought about adding some colours! that's a really great idea! thank you! and i like the idea of white lace or ribbon around the bottom of the dress as well. Hmmm... so many possibilities! they're great - keep these ideas coming!

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  6. so gorgeous. but the suggestion of adding colour is definitely something I agree with. My vote is for red!
    I'm not big on the 70s, but this is a slice of the 70s I like.

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  7. I'm no fashionista but i feel like even just wearing it with a white belt would top it off nicely!

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    1. you've read my mind, that's exactly how i'm wearing it as i sit here typing!

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  8. hey! Beautiful dress, and lovely pattern ! When I first saw the picture, I thought the birds were already on the fabric when you bought it, but cool that you painted it on yourself!
    Maybe the collar should be white instead, to give a contrast to the blue bodice? or a white frill at the bottom of the collar? Or some more white accessories, like a nice big white beaded bracelet :-)

    Much love!

    The Creative Muslimah

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  9. I think a white trim would be good!x

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  10. I think you could bedazzle of remove the back part. But your DIY skills are on a level way higher than mine, like a hill vs Mt Everest. So trust your instincts! You're so good with prints though, I'm jelly

    http://allyisacat.blogspot.com/

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  11. Cute frock. Someone is bird crazy. I think you should throw in a few kitten print outfits. *gasps* You should do a pineneedle original giveaway (with kittens on it). :D

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    1. alright, kitten print is next on my list, i promise ;)

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  12. Love the pattern !!! Where did you get it ?
    A white belt would be bad ass !

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  13. This dress is wonderful :) i don't think you need to change it.

    Rose x

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  14. This dress is stunning! Do you sell the dresses you make?
    I don't think you need to add anything...maybe a white trim around the collar but I honestly think it looks amazing as it is! x

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  15. White belt and some sort of piping around the collar. In the far away pictures you can't even tell you have a collar and that's one of the cutest parts, so I would definitely add something to it!

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  16. I would add a white bow in the center of the collar ;)

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  17. you should add some red or golden buttons down the bodice! It would draw the attention to the collar, which you don't really see at first glance, without adding too many stuff. As there are birds everywhere already, adding another piece would make the dress too "crowded" in my opinion.

    I just discovered your blog a few weeks ago and i'm following it every day now. I just like how passionate you look. And your DIY are great! I read some articles from months ago, and your style became even more inspired since you began thrifting :)

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  18. wow! que hermoso vestido! te quedo hermoso! muy lindo!

    http://dancingwithtearsgf.blogspot.com/

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  19. I think defining the peter pan collar would help a lot. It's hard to tell that the dress has one in the first picture. (:

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  20. I love the style of the dress, it looks great. Maybe put a satin bow at the collar? Possibly a white or red bow..or even a polka dotted one.

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  21. The pattern of your dress is so cute :)

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  22. I am so jelly of your dress. Tres cute!

    As for something extra to go with it, if you want to be more dainty, you could add lace gloves or anklets and wear mary-janes.

    To toughen the look up, I say wear a lightweight motorcycle jacket.

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  23. Alright, you guys are awesome. Thanks so much for all the great ideas!

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  25. It seems like it does need some more birdies... but I like the ideas of bow-ing up the dress. Whether at the collar or at the waist would be a matter of preference really.

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  26. Thank-you for the comment my lovely, wow! you made this, it's beautiful!


    Lots of Love,

    Lily from Red Brick Lipstick

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  27. I agree that it needs a bow tie at the collar. A big one! And yes, red would be lovely!

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  28. You know I can kinda imagine it with three white buttons on chest. That's not a lot but I think it would look very cute :D Btw. I love how this dress looks right now :)xx

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  29. love this! what a great diy :) - i think a couple of small gems on the beaks of the birds? just dotted around!?

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  30. Just as I was reading this and looking at your dress it did lack something so I thought a white trimming would be nice on the collar and maybe a white belt? I can't believe you made it yourself too! amazing :)

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  31. I love how obsessed you are with these birds! The dress is so adorable!

    Becky
    xx

    http://www.beckybedbug.com

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  32. Utterly delightful!
    This is just gorgeous; and how incredible you made it entirely yourself!
    I do love the birdy print, it's very quirky.

    In terms of adding something to it, I think a few more birds on the back would look cute.
    And as has been said above, some white trim to the collar could look cute - or a big white bow!
    I also have a penchant for wearing belts around dresses to give them a pretty shape - maybe a nice white frilly sash would look cute?

    However, I've got to say it looks truly wonderful as it is!
    I wish I had your DIY talents!


    Ivy & Rosebuds

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  33. This is absolutely lovely! I feel like just a touch of simple white trim, maybe as simple as piping or thin bias tape, on the edge of the collar and hems would help to highlight the shape since the fabric is dark.

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  34. First of all, the fact that you made this is unreal and I am beyond envious...I wish! Secondly, I think it looks adorable as is...I do think pockets are always great, always and I did like the idea of the white trim around the collar and maybe the bottom hem?

    SO CUTE!

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  35. Definately llace around the collar and a nice belt around the middle, something as simple as a wide ribbon :)

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  36. Hеy thеre! ӏ've been reading your web site for some time now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Porter Texas! Just wanted to tell you keep up the good job! 1

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