After researching dresses and Mad Men, the following 3 things are what I find the most inspiring and are influencing the dress I'm making for the Mad Men Challenge:
- Use 2 different fabrics on the same dress and mix prints or pair a print with a solid. Usually it's a horizontal split at the waist - print top, solid bottom (top right, bottom left, and bottom middle).
- Pink & green prints and fabrics (top right). Bright, cheerful colors. I dig the florescent (bottom right), but don't have any in my stash at present and I'd like to use what I have.
- Strappy sundresses (bottom middle). I want dresses that I can toss on in the summer, look glamorous and cover with a cardi for work or wear solo when playing outside or having drinks with friends.
The bodice/top, including straps and pocket flaps, will be made in the green and the skirt of the pink lily pads. It's opposite of what you see in my inspiration above, but I think this is going to work. It captures the feel of the 2 fabric approach and the tropical island feel that we see in many 60's prints. Awesome bonus, the lily pad fabric makes me feel like I'm wearing an African Print.
Wish me luck! I'm not sure if I will have enough fabric, but I'm going to make this work!