The Little Black Dress called Tamica

Hello dollies!

In between working on my projects, I make sure to stuff the shop with something exciting.

Recently, what excited me most is this little black dress.

You may have seen more photos of this one in the recent post which featured Tamica, my first repaint.

I was so enamored by how she looked lovely in this dress that I just had to make several pieces to share with our dolly friends.

So naturally, I named it after her.

When I was designing this dress, I was already decided on how the top would look like.

I was pretty much inspired by a knit top I once thrifted and wore almost every week to work. It was black so it was so easy to mix and match with my other staple items - I wore it with a pencil skirt, trousers, skinny jeans, even city shorts. I was so in love with it that now that I am working at home without an air conditioner in my workshop, I get excited when it gets colder outside because it means I get to wear again that black knit top - still standing, or shall I say, hanging in my closet - for almost 10 years now.

So going back to the Tamica design, tee hee...

So I had the top designed after my beloved top, and to get that lovely snug fit on the body, I chose my favorite fabric the stretch crepe. I have used this fabric too many times, in my own clothing, and in my dolls'. The drape is elegant, and the texture is just perfect - not too plain, not too elaborate.

Aki in the little black dress called Tamica...

Then I wanted a skirt design to complement the envisioned drape, so I chose a circle type - something I use very often in my designs. I find it lovely to have subtle waves on the garment. It's not that I don't like shirred or gathered skirts. I just find the stretch crepe too heavy for such fabric treatments.

The original length was actually an accident - I didn't intend it to be that short. It's just that I missed the mark I made when I was cutting the skirt part, and that I thought I would just go with it, nonetheless. The length turned out the way I am not too crazy about, so I added 1cm to the new design, which is now used in the pieces I have listed in my Etsy shop.

I really like this dress that I am planning to make midi and maxi versions, even a top only version of it, to commemorate the top I have loved and will continue to wear for a long time since it's still in top shape.

That's it for now, guys. Chat with you again some time!

xoxo,

shasha