Description
I wanted a dress to do the traditional visiting rounds in, for Chinese New Year.
This one is in auspicious red and orange colours, so it’s very New Years-y indeed, never mind the Darth!! It was great, because all the non-traditional younger folk recognized him, and all the traditional old folk just thought it was a nice red auspicious dress. Hah!
Last pic shows the dress in action at First Aunt’s house. I’m holding two oranges – the word for them (‘kum’) is very similar-sounding to the one for ‘gold’ in dialect. Yes, the Chinese have money on their mind always!
More details and lots more pics on my blog.
Material Notes
old cotton bedsheet (ebay), chiffon x 1FQ for back panel, polyester lining
Difficulty
Novice
Oct 4, 2013, 09.03 AMby Ellen Hatteland
What an adventure! Just fantastic! I love playing with fabric and styles as well :-) I can imagine you have achieved a lot of compliment for this dress ;-)
2 Replies
Oct 4, 2013, 09.21 AMby The Tropical Sewist
Thank you! You would be surprised…in this very constrained and conservative Asian society where I live, strangers avert their eyes when they see something strange….so yes, I have had a lot of eye-aversions! A few compliments only from my close friends, but then again they are all that matter, no? :)
Oct 4, 2013, 01.55 PMby Ellen Hatteland
Yeah, it’s funny..
It is a fantastic and extraordinary dress, so you should be proud wearing it!
Mar 9, 2012, 10.57 PMby Testosterone
BRILLIANT!
Mar 1, 2012, 06.57 PMby groovymama
This is no doubt the coolest dress EVER. I love the shape and of course the print. You are a freakin’ genius!!
1 Reply
Mar 2, 2012, 07.46 PMby The Tropical Sewist
you are way too kind!
Feb 11, 2012, 06.48 PMby LimeSoda
Spirited and fun. I believe your happy smiles inform your fun take on clothing.
1 Reply
Mar 2, 2012, 07.47 PMby The Tropical Sewist
Thanks so much! I like having fun with clothes – I try not to take myself too seriously!
Feb 2, 2012, 10.44 PMby barmaglot
Though I’m not a fan of Star Wars, that is totally COOL! Amazing how you turned an old bedsheet in such an amazing piece of work…
1 Reply
Feb 3, 2012, 05.18 PMby The Tropical Sewist
thanks so much! the bedsheet was so awesome, it in itself provided all the inspiration I needed.
Feb 2, 2012, 10.04 AMby pambox
This is sheer brilliance.
Feb 2, 2012, 07.16 AMby debophile
SO SO SO AWESOMO!!!!!
Feb 2, 2012, 06.07 AMby CationDesigns
I don’t think I have to tell you this is the best thing ever. Love every bit of it — the impeccable construction, fabric+pattern matching, inside joke, everything! Fantastic job!
1 Reply
Feb 3, 2012, 05.17 PMby The Tropical Sewist
that is the most overwhelmingest flatteringest comment ever! Lady, you made my day :)
Feb 1, 2012, 11.31 PMby smallone
oh my! feel the auspicious force!!!!!!!!
1 Reply
Feb 2, 2012, 01.59 AMby The Tropical Sewist
hahaha! thanks :)
Feb 1, 2012, 10.10 PMby sophienissirios
That is the coolest thing I have seen in a very long time :-)
1 Reply
Feb 2, 2012, 02.00 AMby The Tropical Sewist
you’re too kind :)
Feb 1, 2012, 09.30 PMby marlalalalere
yeah!!! :-)))
Feb 1, 2012, 08.27 PMby LadyDanburry
Totally awesome.
1 Reply
Feb 2, 2012, 02.00 AMby The Tropical Sewist
thanks so much!
Feb 1, 2012, 08.14 PMby elaineren
I love this dress! Auspicious, awesome, appropriate, and audacious!
1 Reply
Feb 2, 2012, 02.00 AMby The Tropical Sewist
What a lot of ‘a’-s! You must be a major alliterist, I presume? ;)
Feb 1, 2012, 05.54 PMby ifkagljifka
waaaaa great!!! and your body and face expresion totally goes with the dress!!! iloveit!
1 Reply
Feb 2, 2012, 02.01 AMby The Tropical Sewist
haha thanks! I did try. I wanted to pose with a fake light-saber but unfortunately couldn’t find anything appropriate lying around!
Feb 1, 2012, 05.22 PMby madebymeg
ha! this is great
1 Reply
Feb 2, 2012, 02.02 AMby The Tropical Sewist
thanks much!
Feb 1, 2012, 04.28 PMby clio
Freakin’ Fantastic!! How fun! And auspicious!
1 Reply
Feb 2, 2012, 02.04 AMby The Tropical Sewist
Aw, thanks so much. My kids collected lots of red packets this new year – it must have been my prosperity-inducing garment, heh!
Feb 1, 2012, 02.38 PMby skeeler
As the Christian guy says on Project Runway: Fierce!! I love this dress, particularly the name on the collar and flames up the back…Wow.
1 Reply
Feb 2, 2012, 02.06 AMby The Tropical Sewist
I’m insanely flattered. Christian remains my all-time fave PR contestant – I love all his OTT bigness and Personality! And wow – you noticed the name! You do have quite an eye.
Feb 1, 2012, 11.23 AMby libra-s
soo coool!!!
1 Reply
Feb 2, 2012, 02.08 AMby The Tropical Sewist
wow! thanks!
Feb 1, 2012, 10.48 AMby wardrobe-cat
WONDERFUL! AMAZING! FANTASTIC!
2 Replies
Feb 2, 2012, 02.08 AMby The Tropical Sewist
oh my, you made my day :)
Feb 2, 2012, 01.32 PMby wardrobe-cat
YAY! Simply, I was impressed. Gotta admit, he is one of my all-time fave characters. Seriously, this would not have been as cool with Yoda on it (although he’s cool in his own way). Very good idea going with the simple dress shaape to showcase the fabric.
Feb 1, 2012, 10.37 AMby aggelicat .)
A M A Z I N G !!!!
1 Reply
Feb 2, 2012, 02.10 AMby The Tropical Sewist
thanks!
Feb 1, 2012, 09.36 AMby janene
This is sooooo cool. Deserved of a feature methinks! I so love an unexpected fabric on a classic design!
1 Reply
Feb 2, 2012, 02.12 AMby The Tropical Sewist
Thanks so much! This is an honour coming from you – I’m always awed by your work!
Feb 1, 2012, 08.35 AMby schnui
I have never seen an old bed sheet look so good refashioned. Well done, you look great in your New Years dress.
1 Reply
Feb 2, 2012, 02.13 AMby The Tropical Sewist
Thanks so much!
Feb 1, 2012, 07.06 AMby memoryseed
Gong Xi Fa Cai! :) Love the outfit!
Feb 1, 2012, 06.58 AMby monikapullerits
Genius! Just love how you have put commercial figure into your garment! And how fun it must have been, older folks thinking what a lovelu red dress :)
1 Reply
Feb 2, 2012, 02.32 AMby The Tropical Sewist
Thank you! New Year visits are always so boring, but his year I was giggling all the way watching my kids receive their red packets from all these genial old people while I stalked around in my dress! And all the youngsters with open mouths but too polite to comment (it’s a chinese thing to not talk about clothes)