Stella McCartney Color-blocked Dress Knock-off

Although it is technically Spring, per the calendar, you sure wouldn't know it around these parts. On Wednesday, the first day of Spring, it was -5 degrees with windchill at the bus stop for my kids.  Ouch!  We are so done.

But because of such "lovely" weather I haven't really been able to take any pictures of Spring projects I've been working on.  Since I'm not sure when it will really warm up around here, and the drifts of snow at the end of my driveway melt away, I'll go ahead and post anyway.  Just excuse the not great pictures--I don't have fabulous lighting in my house.

Stella McCartney dress at Niemann Marcus

I've seen this dress on various celebrities and just love it.  It is color-blocked in front and one color in back with a zipper closure. But there is no way I would pay $795 for a t-shirt dress, which is basically what this dress is, even if I had the money to do so.  I knew I could duplicate this and I've been wanting to make a version of it all Fall and haven't got around to it, until now.  There are a number of patterns out there that you could use to duplicate this dress but I used the Project Runway pattern Simplicity 2146.

Originally hubby told me to make the sleeves exactly like the Stella dress--fitted short/elbow length.

I wasn't sure so I made the cap sleeve and 3/4 bell sleeve, exactly from the pattern, to make a determination.  See below.

Basted the sleeves in, asked my family to tell me which one they liked best, and the long version above won out.  (Judging the sleeves were me, daughters #1 and #2)



Then I basted in the sleeve my hubby preferred and it won out over the 3/4 sleeve.

Daughter #1 was all over the 3/4 sleeve.  That is her personal favorite but I when I asked her what looked better on me and not what she liked best the elbow sleeve won out.

Hubby loves it when he's right--'cuz as he said, "I called it first."
He was spot on with the sleeves once I tried them all on.

Final Version:




Details:

• Simplicity 2146 cut & lengthened 8 inches.  Comes in petite and misses sizing.
• Made the red/black version without the contrasting "belt" in front.
• Altered sleeve using the bell shaped pattern piece and then shortened it and took it in at the underarm seam to look more fitted.
• To make the contrasting band along the top neckline I just found the spot I liked, and cut the white piece adding 5/8" seam allowance.  Then did the same for the top navy piece--adding the 5/8" seam allowance.  Love how it looks!
• Navy and white linen from my stash.  This pattern is not for knit fabrics although the original dress is made from spandex/knit.
• Invisible zipper
• Machine blind hem stitch used for both the dress hem and sleeve hem.  Because I am all about using my machine any time I can and avoid hand sewing.

Other pattern options: 
Simplicity 2648 
McCall's 6432 (out of print) if you prefer a raglan sleeve style.