Vogue pattern: V8755

School has started for the kids, the weekly dinner menu has moved toward longer-cooking and baked meals, and I found myself buying tights today.  Even without the crisp air and colorful leaves that I grew up with, Fall has most definitely arrived in the Bay Area.  My own teaching quarter starts next week and I always get myself something new to wear on the first day of school (the kids can’t have all the fun!).  I’m not sure I’ll wear it on the first day (chances are, it will be in the mid-70s, and a little warm for this heavy dress and tights), but with my new snazzy dress, I’m ready for when that first chilly day arrives!

The pattern is Vogue V8755 with heavy charcoal cotton fabric.  It truly has the heft and appearance of wool, but I’ll trust that Britex knows their fiber content! The lining is burgundy Bemberg, which is truly a fabulous, incredible lining fabric.  I followed the pattern instructions pretty closely, but I omitted my usual petite adjustment in the bodice, because I didn’t want the maternity effect of an empire waist and belly pleat.  After constructing the shell, the belly pleat was really awkward looking (I think my fabric was a bit too heavy for the design, actually), so I sewed along the pleat lines to make it much more streamlined and architectural looking–I love it!