You may have seen me mentioning various spots ‘round the web that I was working on a red linen version of the 50s sundress I made last month. I finally finished it late last week and was able to get some pictures to share with you!
I’m really pleased with how this turned out. Instead of the full, gathered skirt of the gingham version, I opted to use a straight pencil-style skirt I drafted last year. This was partly due to yardage limitations (the red linen was a piece I picked up on clearance last year, so I only had so much!), and also because I wanted something that had a slightly “50s bombshell” vibe to it. You may notice the length is a lot longer than I normally hem my dresses; I was envisioning the sort of piece that looks like I just grabbed it off a rack of genuine 50s dresses, so I wanted a length that read “vintage”. I also scooped the back neckline a bit (I think I’d lower it more next time—but I didn’t want to run into the problem of not being able to wear a strapless bra) and added a vent at the skirt hem to allow for easy walking. The entire dress is lined in a lightweight cotton so I don’t have to wear a slip (it’s too hot right now!), but it breathes and helps keep the linen from wrinkling too much.
The only criticism I have is that after looking at these photos, I think I’d taper the skirt a bit more towards the hem. Because I went with a longer length I think it could easily slip into “boxy” territory if I’m not careful. I might go back and rework those side seams eventually. But for now, I really love how it turned out—I’ve worn it several times already!
Is it possible to be too in love with a dress style?! I think this bodice has become a go-to for this summer!
Pattern: self-drafted bodice and skirt (see the tutorial here on how to draft your own bodice).
Fabric/Notions: red linen, cotton lining, white bias binding, zipper (both the binding and zipper were thrifted—yay!).
Alterations: added a fitted skirt pattern. I also modified the issue I had with the first dress bodice around the armholes.
Techniques: lapped zipper insertion, adding a short length of chain to weight the back vent.
Make Again? Um… Do I really need to make another version of this dress?! lol. But if I could, I would… So yes!
Outfit: shoes: Remix Vintage “Rita” heels | purse: vintage telephone cord handbag | earrings: Getty Museum | belt: thrifted
Oh, my goodness, how much do I love this version?!?!? Beautiful, as always. I like the slimmer skirt, and I can see why you might consider tapering it towards the hem. I’m a sucker for red, a sucker for linen, and a sucker for that neckline! I like the deeper scoop in the back with the bateau front. And your Remix shoes are *perfect* with this! Bravo!
You look spectacular in it! I think the scoop in the back is just enough– just a bit to show you there’s a little bit more flesh there than you’d expect. And ah! Red linen– that sounds so glorious right now, with all the heat and humidity…
I’m loving wearing linen lately!!! (I imagine weather in New Orleans is similar to the weather in the part of FL I’m in…
) I seriously cannot imagine surviving a Southern summer without cotton or linen in my closet!
♥ Casey
Oh my gosh, Casey, this dress is PERFECT. It’s absolutely ideal, so cute, and so YOU! Bravo!
Gorgeous dresses!
I love the red and white color combination. I personally like the full-skirt version better. The skirt on this one seems more like a slim a-line skirt to me than a fitted pencil one? Will definitely try to draft a bodice based on your tutorials for this dress.
It actually is a straight/pencil skirt (I used the same skirt draft when I made this dress last summer)–and is the same width all the way from the hips down. I think it’s the length that is affecting the drape a bit. Which is partly why I’m considering tapering it a bit at the side seams…
Always a work in progress and learning experience, this sewing thing! lol.
♥ Casey
The dress is lovely. I would very much like to attempt to taper the legs on one of my capri pants patterns. I have a store bought pair that I adore, with tapered legs. I’m not great at altering patterns, so I’m trying to learn from you!
Laurie
Aw, thank you so much Laurie!
Tapering skirts (or pants) isn’t that tough; but I do recommend at least tissue fitting (or making a muslin) with pants. As well as taking vital measurements like thigh, knee and ankle as well (a lot of the big sewing manuals go over the exact measurements for pants), so they fit well. 
♥ Casey
Yay! Gorgeous. Total triumph!
Px
squee! i love it! the white is a nice contrast. and such a great fit! i bet the linen is perfect for florida weather too.
Absolutely Gorgeous! Looks like you just walked off the set of a 1950s Bombshell Calendar pictorial. The detail and darts are fabulous and the lapped zip looks perfect. Congratulations!!
This dress is gorgeous! You are so talented and inspiring. You make it look so easy to draft your own pattern when I know from experience it is not.
Maybe it’s time for me to give it another go.
Believe me, it’s taken me lots of time and trial and error to figure out pattern drafting over the years!
That and lots of muslin… lol.
♥ Casey
Gorgeous! The last picture is my favorite
Oh, it’s lovely! You did such a fabulous job, and that red linen is such a beautiful color. The dress is so glamorous, and looks like a perfect summertime date dress!
Great dress, Casey, and it looks lovely on you!
Casey – beautiful. You mastered the use of bias tape for sure! It’s so versatile, so easy to use that even a beginner could master it. I love all the wild colors of bias tape out there now. Neon purple, orange, yellows and greens, all great contrast for the garment of choice now. Neon contrast is so RTW.
I am absolutely in love with bias tape at the moment! hehe. I never really used it a lot prior to this, and am now having way too much fun!
♥ Casey
You are so talented! This dress is beautiful, and you look lovely in it. I’m inspired to try drafting a similar pattern, once I’ve sewn a few dresses for myself. Thank you for sharing it!
Oh Casey! This is so lovely! I’m already planning to make up the full skirt version with some yummy fabric I have! I just need some space in my sewing line-up…giggle! Red looks absolutely stunning on you!
Gorgeous dress! It is perfect, a little cute and a little sexy-not too much of either. It looks great on you!
The red linen is fabulous. I think it’s very fitting for the 50s bombshell look you were going for. Once I get a little breather from all of the projects I have lined up, I hope to take advantage of this tutorial of yours. Thanks for taking the time and effort to put it out there for your readers.
Adorable! And I just love that little slit in the back.
Love your dress. It looks fabulous on you.
What a coincidence, I just finished sewing and posting about a red dress I made (with a similar style to yours, except I shortened the skirt), and then this popped up on my twitter stream! Makes me want to make another red dress
Very beautiful, love the little bows!
Must be something about this time of year that just begs to make a red dress! hehe. I love yours; the matching belt is such a sweet detail!
♥ Casey
LOVE LOVE LOVE!! This turned out so gorgeous, and it’s the PERFECT colors, too. I’m so going to try and do something like this. Frankenpattern, here I come!
Gorgeous, Casey! I’ve been waiting eagerly to see the whole dress, and this didn’t disappoint. It’s classic. The dramatic bombshell touch is definitely there.
Man, I need to make myself a red dress. Every lady needs a red dress.
Aw, thank you so much, Rachel–I’m tickled you were looking forward to seeing it!
Yes, I agree every gal needs a red dress–to me it’s just as essential as the classic “little black dress”. 
♥ Casey
Absolutely gorgeous! It’s so sophisticated, and the materials make it great for summer. I also think that this pattern would make the perfect little black dress.
The dress is lovely, and the last picture with you smiling is beautiful!
B.
Oh its so fabulous! I love the white piping – what a red hot summer dress! Totally darling and fits you like a glove. I do love the length of the skirt too – a little longer than I’m used to seeing and really it works so well! Lovely and brilliantly executed!
You look absolutely stunning!
Wow! This turned out really well! I love the fitting and the detailing. Good work, lady!
Mom
Your new dress is so cute!
Ooooh, love it! Works so well with a slimmer skirt but I guess it looks as awesome with a full skirt. The top is just so great!
Beautiful as always! I love those shoes you are wearing, they go perfectly with this dress and the pink gingham. I just finnished my version of that dress, and I also had to do a pencil skirt becuase of fabric shortage.
Oooh! I can’t wait to see your dress!!!
♥ Casey
What an awesome dress!
Personally, I love that length of dress, but I’m 5’7″ so I can get away with it. It’s definitely a more vintage look, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing.
Aw, thank you!
I tend to shy away from this length dress because I have proportionately short legs, but I’m glad I went with it anyway! 
Nothing ventured, nothing gained!
♥ Casey
This is so gorgeous, love the length, I think this is such a great length to wear really elegant x
That looks amazing on you! Probably my favourite of your outfits I’ve seen so far! And I’m starting to really want those shoes.
Fab colour! I think I love this one even more than the pale pink version – the contrasting white ties really show of the simple lines beautifully
So much awesome! I love the longer length too. And I’ve been eyeing off those shoes on Remix for ages (as well as the Babydoll Pumps). Your photos make me wish it was summer here already – and I’m not even a summer person.
I’ve noticed that a lot of vintage patterns have a fairly straight skirt – I guess that is a true pencil, but I like mine a bit more “bombshell” than that.
wow! you definitely look like a bombshell. Mission Accomplished ; )
Gorgeous! It’s like you stepped out of a time machine–in a good way!
wow Casey, this turned out amazingly. So gorgeous! you are my sewing inspiration!
Oh Casey! This is absolutely adorable! I hope I will be pardoned if the exact same sentiment was already expressed!
Beautiful as always xx
The dress and the shoes were just adorable!
This dress is gorgeous! I really like the red colour and the shape.
I’m intrigued by your bag… “vintage telephone cord handbag”?? That sounds interesting!
I love that face you’re making in the last photo!! really adorable. I like this version of the dress but I believe I like the other one more. I think it’s my gingham love though.
If you like it and it looks good (which it does) then I think you should make one in every colour
Well done and red suits you! I have a tendency to want to shorten vintage styles but this makes me think twice about it.
absolutely gorgeous!
Oh, I like both versions of this dress – and I’m imagining doing a version with a circle or half-circle skirt … A question for you – how much ease do you have in your bodice pattern? Thanks.
and how much ease at the waist? It gives me a ballpark figure to start with.