Sewing: The rehearsal dress

Last summer, I got married. For the rehearsal dinner, I tried to find a nice red sundress, or a dress with red in it, partly because I like red and look good in red, but mostly because my fiance was Chinese, and it would be good to have a good-luck-red dress. There were no red dresses to be found, because last summer was the Year of Salmon Pinkness. I have a strong dislike (hate is such a powerful word) for pink, so this would not do. The obvious solution: despite not having a successful dress in the past, make my own dress! Of course!

The first challenge, find a fabric. Like I said, last year was the Year of Salmon, and there were no red fabrics to be found (other than silk, obnoxiously bright brocades, or sparkly prom-dress sateens). I found this nice red-and-white-flower-on-black print. Okay, yes, it's cotton quilting stuff, and I know you're not supposed to use it for clothing, but it was the first sorta-red thing I found and didn't hate.

This could work. I hoped it was red enough. There was certainly more red in it than any other pattern I'd seen. Maybe I could add a trim? No, it'd never match. I'll just do that fabric, and hope it's red enough. And not too black.

After taking far too long to make the fool thing (New Look #6885, view A), it turned out pretty cute!

Hooray!

Just before the rehearsal dinner, this was approximately my stream of thought: Is it red enough?! too black? my future mother-in-law will think I'm bringing death to the family with the white flowers and/or the black! My own mom will think I'm depressing! Am I channelling my inner-high-school-girl? It's too short! It's too tight, but not fitted enough! The stitches are far too wimpy and will break while I'm sucking in my tummy riiiiiip! and I'll be embarrassed and have to cancel the wedding and never see my lovely fiance again and and and...

So I wore a store-bought dress.

I did wear this little thing a few weeks later, and was actually complimented on it. Score!