Gloria Dress for Gaby

My second Gloria dress with Denis skirt, both patterns by the leading Russian pattern company Vikisews. Gaby was very enthusiastic for a feminine georgette dress for herself after I made mine a couple of months ago. I saw the fabric some time ago, sent her a picture, she liked it and it was decided - this was going to be my personal present for her birthday.

The fabric is sort of georgette, but thinner and more see-through than the fabric I used for my dress, so I had to make a lining for the skirt. I cut the lining out of sheer black chiffon and I think it worked perfectly for the fine main fabric of the dress. 

I made the dress with a few small modifications, based on previous experience: I raised the heart neckline by 2.5 cm to make it more covering, as the original is a bit low; I also narrowed the neckline by 2.5 cm both at the front and the back, as I found the original cut a bit loose. I also made most of the seams French seams because of the fine and transparent nature of my main fabric. I small note - Gaby is a bit more broad shouldered than me and I should add just a bit more volume at the sides - probably somewhere in the range of 1.5 - 2 cm total for more comfort, as the dress is a bit tight-fitting as it is. I also added 1 cm to the length of the body, as Gaby is taller than me and it was a needed correction - it fits her body well.

 

Pattern: Gloria dress and Deniz skirt by Vikisews

Size: 36

Height: 154 - 160 cm

Fabric: polyester georgette, black chiffon

Time to make: 3 days

I had very limited time to make the dress before we packed our bags for Greece and I am so, so happy that I managed, with all the challenges the thinner fabric posed. Actually, when I cut both fabrics, I was sure I had bitten more than I could chew - I don't think I had ever sewn such thin fabrics, but the result turned stunning and I am so happy I was able to present this dress to her on her birthday, which we celebrated at the sea-shore :)

Gloria dress and Denis skirt are presently my favourite patterns and I plan at least several more dresses, based on them. It could be a phase I'm going through, but I've been favouring my silk dresses this summer and I need more - I just love it, when I am wearing sophisticated feminine dresses. I've been putting on my Roliz and Gloria dresses by Vikisews on every occasion I could find and I believe Gaby was also impressed by her dress, as she wore it twice during the four days of our sea vacation :)

And might I just add, that she looked absolutely stunning in it :)

And as of today a newly-minted Master of Science from Vienna University!

Viki Sews Gloria Dress

Three years after my Roliz dress by Vikisews, I've made another dress. The inspiration for it comes from a Russian seamstress, who blew my mind with her interpretation of Vikisew's dress and prompted me immediately to log on to the site and buy the two related patterns.

Yes, two patterns, as the upper part of the dress is the Gloria and the skirt is a simple semi-circle skirt, which I lazily chose to buy, instead of drawing it myself.

I've always known that short wide skirts are my thing and when I saw Bogdanchik's version of Gloria, I knew I had found my dream dress pattern :)

Apart from the different skirt, this version of the dress also features a different sleeve - the long shirred lower part of the sleeve is gone and the upper part is gathered with an elastic, inserted in a tunnel.

Although I ordered and made my size 36 and my height, I've noticed a few minor things that I will need to modify in my next dresses, based on this pattern.

The square neck opening of the dress is a bit low for my taste and so I added a little piece of ruffle. Next time I plan simply to raise the neckline by 2.5 cm.

Another issue is the width of the dress in the upper part and at the shoulders. I know I am actually 34 around the bust and the shoulders, so I plan to narrow the cleavage and to add two small darts at the back neck, reducing the front and the back necklines by 2 cm respectively.

 

Pattern: Gloria dress and Deniz skirt by Vikisews

Size: 36

Height: 154 - 160 cm

Fabric: polyester georgette

Time to make: 2 weeks

 

Roliz Dress by Vikisews

A crazy and very emotional photosession husband and I took today on our way back from Riska Skakavitza Waterfalls. Last week I finished my first dress from Vikisews - a popular Russian pattern company, and I wanted to photograph it somewhere special and beautiful. I absolutely love the mountain road from Sofia to Sapareva Banya, that meanders between Vitosha and Verila on one side and Plana on the other, with a mesmerizing glimpse to the high wall of Rila in the distance. Knowing that we'll pass along it today, I packed the dress, a pair of fancy sandals, a hairbrush and my sunglasses, just in case. So - the dress is a bit wrinkled here and there; my hair, after four hours of climbing and descending, is everywhere; no jewelry and accessories, no make-up, but we had so much fun and the freshly mowed field we found was such a perfect background, that I consider it one of my best photosessions this year :)

Vikisews is, from what I've listened and read, popular and kind of high-end Russian pattern company, which sells their patterns with very step-by step instructions and a general detailed instruction for pattern adjustment to individual measurements. Each copy of a pattern you buy from them is only in one height segment and one size - which is both good and bad. I love the fact that they have 154-160 cm height segment and I don't have to adjust the pattern pieces to my height, as with most other companies. The prices are very very reasonable, especially compared to US or other indi designers. The instructions are in Russian, though they have a collection of patterns in English, but the prices there are much higher. The instructions are very professional, with a thought to the smallest detail, I was extremely impressed. 

I got hooked on buying and sewing a dress from Vikisews by several Russsin vloggers I follow. The summer dresses are very feminine and somewhat minimalistic in volume, with intricate details. I had my eyes on three dresses and in the end bought Roliz, but I think I want Alexia and Nola too. Not that I have so many places to go and events to dress up for, but I absolutely adored the slow process of sewing the dress.

The fabric is viscose crepe, with good texture and structure and fun print in colors that I find flattering. I had 1.5 m, which was more than enough and allowed me some pattern placement - I was adamant that I wanted the two big orange flowers on my fabric piece in full display, as without the orange bits the fabric lost most of its interest.

I had this fabric for at least three years (with two different size matching hidden zippers and a thread bobbin, bought just in case). In the end I needed buttons, instead of zippers, so I still had to rummage in the local haberdasher's for matching buttons -  the irony :)

Pattern: Roliz by Vikisews

Size: 36 

Height: 154 - 160 cm

Fabric: viscose crepe

Time to make: 6 days

My only modifications to the pattern: I added 2 cm to the length of the dress, I shortened the straps by about 1 cm and I narrowed the back by about 1.5 cm after the first try; otherwise I made the dress as designed and as per instructions, even my buttons are at the exact places as provided by the designer.

I already bought a new Vikisews pattern - simple elasticated knit trousers. I have at least half a dozen of similar patterns from Burda, but the fans of the company sing so many dithyrambs for these pants, that I'm curious to try them and see for myself.