Constructing: Stewart Dress

I've been wanting a little plaid dress I could wear black tights and a blazer with for winter, and LOVED the Marc Jacobs version (but honestly, $500 for a casual dress?)

Not happenin'.

Besides, what's the point, when I could have my own version for $9 and one afternoon's worth of work?

You see my point, right?

For the Do-It-Yourselfer's, this is a little trick I use all the time on tunic shaped dresses that I want to be a little more fitted in the waist.

--Sew one side of a grosgrain ribbon across the waist of the dress.

--Sew down the ends of 1 inch elastic under neath the ribbon (just across the back from side seam to side seam)

--Sew up the other side of the ribbon to cover the elastic.

It just pulls the back together, without having to put in a

complete elastic waist band, and ends up looking like this from the back.

I wanted to have some kind of crest on the shoulder,

but didn't have any Scottish crests just lying around and

ended up using this button and ribbon.

I'd already taken all these pictures when I spotted these

amazing silver crest buttons at Walmart, of all places,

and used one to replace the wood button.

I love this so much better.

(Kristina J. Stewart Dress, Anthro Tellicherry Belt and Field Game Cardigan, Mia Cadet Booties)

Finally, a shot of my little photographer!