I finally finished my wrap dress. It is a copy of a Vivienne Westwood dress I had for many years and wore until it wasn’t fit to be seen. The style is no longer available so the only solution was to make my own version. It has a lovely asymmetric collar detail. The left collar extends into a flap which tucks though a buttonhole on the right collar. If you wear it tucked, as below, you get a keyhole effect.
But it also works well worn open.
Here are some side views. Hopefully you can just about see that the front hem corners are curved and that there’s a wide line of top-stitching around the edges holding the facings firmly in place. Installing the facings was a bit of a nervous moment as they go the whole way round the dress, including the hem and the neckline. You sew the facings together in a loop and hope you were accurate with seam allowances and it’ll actually be the right length to fit onto the dress. I was very relieved when mine went on smoothly.
The back of the dress is fairly plain by comparison.
If anyone’s wondering about the post title, the Liberty print this dress is made from resembles the Death Star when viewed close up.
Despite the science fiction inspiration, I think the final effect is more vintage than modern. I’m no fashion historian but it it feels a bit 1930s to me. The sort of thing you might wear to take tea with the vicar in Agatha Christie or PG Wodehouse. Not the kind of event I regularly have to dress for! But this will get plenty of wear for fixing computers and teaching maths.
Catherine Daze's Blog 
Wow! I love how this turned out. It looks amazing. Not that you asked, but I prefer the collar open. But that’s a personal preference as I don’t like things resting on my neck/collarbone area. Beautiful dress!
I saw this on your Flickr account and was happy to read your blog about it. I love the print!
It’s sci-fabulous! The (sewing) force is strong in you.
Wonderful. Clever you for reproducing a Vivienne Westwood dress. It looks great on you. And, not that you asked and neither did Elizabeth, but I like it with the collar tucked.
Another fabulous dress! Despite your tribulations with the muslin, this version turned out beautifully!
This is a very flattering dress on you, I can see why you wanted to copy the style. I love that you can wear this in summer or winter just by layering and accessorising differently.
Best title for a blog post EVER. Fact.
I can see why you were so determined to copy the original. Everyone has a style that is perfectly suited to them. This is definitely exactly right for you. The fabric is intriquing.
Fabulous. You are so clever. I’m fairly new to sewing; your Vivienne Westwood copies are a real inspiration and a spur to encouraging me further. Most people seem to want to make clothes in “vintage” styles which are very pretty but not really my thing. I prefer interesting and unusual shapes. I love shopping in All Saints and Vivienne Westwood is probably my favourite designer. I’d love to sew in this sort of style but find it difficult to find funky patterns. I’m obviously going to have to learn to draft my own!
Just gorgeous & I love the key-hole effect. It is a little vintage – but I love how the pattern up close changes your perceptions…very cool.