Simplicity 3473

This is what I have been working on for the past week or so. It is a vintage pattern, Simplicity 3473. I bought this beautiful purple silk and rayon blend crepe fabric from Mood to make a dress for my fiance's police academy graduation. I was very excited and originally intended to make the new pattern vogue 1044. I even ordered a custom belt and buttons from Pat's custom buttons and belts in Lodi, Ca. I made the muslin for v1044 and the pattern was way too small, and I was worried about the pleats exaggerating my bust.

So I threw that idea out the window and cut out the pieces for simplicity 3473. The crepe fabric  is very thin, and I decided to underline it with cotton. Well, sometimes projects just don't want to work out. The darts are weird, the fit is big, the neckline is too high, the top is boxy and unflattering. It is not nearly as cute as the picture. I still have some leftover purple, enough to make a different top for the skirt. Something with a little more drape will suit the fabric better.

My Mom let me borrow her dress for the graduation, but I still wore my belt with it! I was crying during most of the ceremony, I was so proud. Anyway, isn't my fiance cute?