Chic Shirtdress Styling

I love a good collar so you can well imagine how excited I was when Seamwork released this new pattern. The Porter shirtdress has classic styling with a modern twist.

Porter is a mid length shirtdress with a straight fit. It features a two piece collar with a stand, a front placket, curved hems and side slits. All of these details give the Porter a tailored look with a comfortable fit. It offers a sleek silhouette that can be worn on its own, layered or worn open. It can be styled with a wide leather belt, worn loose or you can use the waist tie belt that comes with the pattern. All of these offer a variety of styling options making Porter even more versatile.

Apart from adding extra length I made not further adjustments to the bodice of the Porter. This is a style I so appreciate because I am always adjusting patterns that are too curvy. This pattern was a delight to make and I finally feel that my body shape which if pretty rectangular has been included in the vast array of styles.

One pattern hack I did make was to lengthen the sleeve. Porter comes with a short sleeve that has a lovely curved edge, finished with a facing like the hem. I love this option and will definitely be using it in the spring but I wanted a long sleeve option for the Fall/Winter season.

To create a long sleeve I simply lengthened the sleeve straight down from the bottom of the short sleeve pattern piece. I measured from the top of the center shoulder to my preferred finished sleeve length. The Rachel Button up from Seamwork is one of my go-to patterns ( you can see examples here) so I used the cuff pattern and sleeve placket from the Rachel to complete the sleeve on the Porter. It was great to have all of the directions from the Rachel to follow, the two patterns fit together seamlessly. I think this is great pattern mash utilizing two classic styles.

I wanted to use a fabric with good stand so that the shirt would have a crisp tailored look and hold its shape. I choose this striped linen and silk blend that I had in my stash. It was sustainably sourced at a charity shop so I was thrilled to find such a wonderful classic combination and quality fabric. I think this fabric choice will only add to the classic longevity of this Porter dress.

Porter is a classic pattern with chic styling. I am thrilled to have this pattern in my repertoire. It will be a go to pattern as it defines my style perfectly. I think it will be great to have one in denim and I have some lovely faux suede fabric that I think would be perfect for a modern take on a Halston ultra suede dress. It will be easy to create a knee length version that is cut straight across.

Once again Seamwork has designed a classic pattern that can be used with a variety of fabrics and adapted to suit your needs. I highly recommend this pattern and can't wait to see what you design with it.

After all.... There is Sew Much To Design.

Happy Shirtdress Sewing,

Lou Sheffer

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