Possibly a Perfect A-Line Dress for Me (& Yet I Never Wear It)

I hella heart this dress, my denim Colette Rooibos (originally blogged here and featured on the Coletterie here). 

When I was talking about A-line fantasy dresses for rectangular gals, I was probably thinking about this dress: the wide neckline brings attention to the shoulders, the wide hem to the lower body, and a fitted bust and empire/high waistband brings a slimness to the torso without showcasing a full natural waist. 

Then there's pockets and the basic color that pairs with everything, any season. When I think of a perfect-for-me woven dress, this is it. 

And yet I don't wear it. 

I had A LOT of fitting problems with this dress. Since I made it last June, I must've un-stitched and re-stitched various seams 3 to 4 times. The bodice was too tight, the armscyes too high and I could never decide on the sweep and length of the hem. 

Add to that a fabric that was absolutely unforgiving to unpicking—either leaving marks in the fabric or unraveling to the point or where a new seam was useless. Sigh. 

This dress only looks good from five feet away. I've jerry-rigged it to make it wearable, but I'm so self-conscious every time I put it on that I just don't put it on anymore.

The wonky zipper, from sewing and re-sewing.

The navy knit inset, so I could breathe. Under one arm, so the bodice is slightly off. So unsightly. 

The old hem line I get to look down to every time I wear it. Plus some fabric problems from the wash. 

This is definitely one of those dresses that, when folks ask if I made it, I know it shows. In the bad way.

What about you? You got any of these lying around? 

There's nothing like a month-long me-made challenge to start dreaming up perfect-for-me garments and so, up next: The Replacement Rooibos!