Vogue 1482

Vogue 1482 front view

This is the best hot weather dress I have ever made. It’s Vogue 1482, a Rachel Comey design. The UK is going through an unpleasantly sticky heatwave at the moment and this dress has been a lifesaver. It’s so light and airy it feels like not wearing anything at all.

Here’s the line art.

Vogue 1482 line art

It’s basically a great big sack which means no real fitting is required. I added my usual two inches to the length, but at the hem rather than above the waist as I normally would because the long diagonal seam makes it tricky to add length anywhere else. I also added my usual two inches to the sleeve length by adding an inch to both parts of the sleeve. And finally I made the recommended size instead of going down one size as I usually would with a Vogue pattern. When you’ve got this much design ease in a style a little more won’t hurt, and it’s insurance for when my bump gets larger.

Vogue 1482 side view

The fabric is a very lightweight viscose from MacCulloch and Wallis, which at the time of writing is still available here. I suspect this may be the type of fabric known as challis. It was hard to cut out because it shifted a lot, but easy to sew and press. It moves and drapes beautifully. The pattern calls for French seams throughout and for once I actually bothered to make them.  Mainly that was so I didn’t have to buy new thread for seam finishing, so I can’t claim this is sewing to any higher standard than usual for me. I don’t have any thread at all that matches the pink fabric, never mind the number of spools I’d need in order to thread the overlocker as well as the main sewing machine.  So the dress was sewn using only the sewing machine with a random spool of purple polyester thread I had lying around. The purple blends surprisingly well, even where there is top-stitching.

Vogue 1482 back view

The centre back opening isn’t needed as the neckline’s more than wide enough to go over the head, but I like the effect. I think many people would want to make the opening shorter though. It only just clears the bra band on me and I have a long back. It’s closed with a little loop made from the fashion fabric and a self-covered button. The instructions for creating the loop didn’t work very well for me; I followed the measurements  on the pattern carefully and it came out too chunky. I replaced it with a much skinnier version. Otherwise I followed the pattern exactly and everything worked out.

Vogue 1482 back view closeup

The pocket is great. Very large and in just the right place. I thought it would be odd to have only one pocket but it seems to work. And it’s beautifully finished with more French seams. I wonder if left-handed people might want to flip the front pattern pieces so the pocket is on the right though?

Vogue 1482 front view with pocket

And finally for laughs here’s the full flying squirrel effect. Vogue 1482 back view extended

There is definitely going to be at least one more of these. I can see it being nice in a drapey jersey fabric, or a crepe de chine – basically anything lightweight and drapey.

44 thoughts on “Vogue 1482”

  3. I’ve made this pattern twice and I really like it. You’re right about that pocket, it’s perfect and now I want to add a diagonal seam and pocket to everything. Love the bright colour you chose.

  6. It makes such a great pregnancy dress – bump friendly and still stylish :). Having said that, I think your pregnancy wardrobe is looking exceptionally stylish – and a million times more interesting than mine was.

    Go the flying squirrel!

  8. Beautiful, wish I’d had one when I was pregnant in summer–inverted triangle is so much chicer than a tent. I’ve made this from a silk CDC and finished just in time for an unexpectedly hot day. I felt I was really pulling one over on everyone who hadn’t figured out how to leave the house in their underwear. I did have to shorten the back vent, but agree it’s worth keeping for design interest and might as well be as deep as feasible. Love the shade, I wouldn’t have the thread either.

  10. That is an awesome colour. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in pink before! It’s gorgeous. And the shoes are perfectly understated. You’re looking good!

    1. Thanks! My original hair colour is reddish so I never used to get on with pink, but I’m loving this particular shade since I’ve gone blonder.

    1. Thanks! The grainline runs pretty much vertically so that long diagonal seam is on bias. It ripples a bit but it’s liveable with. I’m not sure if it would work to try to stabilise it in this fabric in case it made the dress stiffer around there?

  14. Somewhere I missed the preggo announcement so I want to start with “Congratulations! That’s awesome news!” Then this is the perfect dress for your new situation!

  15. Flying squirrel effect! Ha! I love your posts so much…but that one gave me a spit-take with my evening tea! 😀

  16. De-lurking to say congratulations! Umm, would Neue Mode 9718 maternity dress be your style? Sewing Patterns dot com is having a dollar 99 download sale right now, hence why I was perusing…..

  17. that looks great, love the color and perfect fabric for it. I think you have cracked the puzzle of how to make maternity wear look chic!

  21. I’m just about to post my version. I found all the French seaming around the pocket has made it a bit bulky. Love yours.

    1. That’s worth knowing, my fabric was really lightweight which is probably why I didn’t have that issue but you’re right it could get quite bulky in a heavier one.

  22. What a fantastic dress to wear in a heatwave. Love it on you. Also thanks for alerting me to MacCulloch and Wallis. I have been in the vicinity many times and never been through the door! Thought they were purely haberdashery and expensive. Must take a look.

  23. It looks just lovely on you! and a great dress for a future non-pregnant summer too. The colour is knockout, I just love it 🙂

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