Serendipity Dress

I'm delighted to introduce the Serendipity Dress, a 1940s style tea dress, evening dress or gown. Gathered centre panels in contrast fabric on the bodice and skirt give the Serendipity dress its visual interest and make this pattern perfect for using offcuts of precious vintage yardage.

An interlining stay in the gathered bodice front provides a foundation to ensure that the gathers don't blouse out and distort the bodice fit (recommended for larger cup sizes; smaller cup sizes may be able to get away without the stay). The dress can be made with either a centre-front or centre-back zipper - markings are included on the pattern pieces for either cut-on-fold or centre seams. 

Short puff and long bishop sleeves, and two lengths of skirt are included, so you can play with different variations. 

The Serendipity dress is all about colourblocking! Make it in tone-on-tone solid and print fabrics, go for a contrast colour pop, or play with contrast in textures. My navy version is made in soft viyella as the main fabric, with printed satin panels providing the contrast, while the coral tea dress contrasts slinky rayon solid with printed rayon challis. 

The Forces Sweetheart dress is available in sizes US 4-20 / UK 8-24, all with four cup size variations.  Get the pattern and instructions on my Patreon page.

Charlotte Dymock

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