I'm not. Doing any last-minute sewing, I mean. (Especially not for my sister Kate, if she's reading this.) But if I did have to make a holiday dress (for myself) at the last minute, I would want a pattern like this one, from Vintage Martini. It looks SO EASY; and if you made it up in a nice bright cotton velvet with a little lace or satin bit at the front, it would be just perfect. Right? And those little bag pockets look just like presents, anyway.
Of course, the minute I put on a velvet and/or satin dress I immediately am handed 1) an unwrapped, briefly sucked-on piece of hard candy; 2) a cup of hot cocoa, upon the acceptance of which I am bumped into by either a wildly gesturing adult or a screaming and running small child; 3) a drippy canapé involving either grease or capers or both; 4) someone else's wet coat. It never fails. Which is why I have a lot of velvet and/or satin fabric which, Schroedinger's-cat-like, is neither dead nor alive as long as I don't sew it up.
Although I want to say that this should finally be the year I make myself a green velvet skirt. I could be drafted as a last-minute elf fill-in, right? And if I make it with pockets I can always chip the stuck-on hard candy out of them later.
Do you have a holiday dress? Where are you going to wear it?
What a lovely pattern! Have Happly Holidays, Erin!!Marie from Texas
Posted by: Ladygrande (Texas Marie) | 12/21/2006 at 03:53 PM
Now, what are "happly" holidays, you ask? Well, that's what happens when you are trying to get out of the office FAST!!!!!
Posted by: Ladygrande (Texas Marie) | 12/21/2006 at 03:54 PM
No holiday dress here, but that one's very pretty! I know what you mean about certain fabrics beginning for a disaster!
Posted by: Susan | 12/21/2006 at 04:02 PM
i've been reading your blog for a while now, and even though i don't sew dresses, i love it!a weird random coincidence: my name is also erin, and my sister's name is kate.
Posted by: erin is nice | 12/21/2006 at 04:11 PM
nope, I don't have a holiday dress - even if i did i don't think there is anywhere in this tiny town that i could wear a dress-i get plenty of looks just wearing clogs and a beret-
Posted by: john | 12/21/2006 at 04:20 PM
just clogs and a beret?
Posted by: Anonymous | 12/21/2006 at 04:30 PM
Erin, I love your blog! I used to have a small collection of vintage patterns but I seem to have sold them on ebay a few years ago -- otherwise would send them to you immediately... My favorite holiday thing is an emerald green silk long shirt that I wear over a black knit top and black pants. Haven't worn an actual dress in years!
Posted by: floribunda... aka Julie | 12/21/2006 at 05:00 PM
I have a brand new Christmas bib apron to wear for Christmas. Just made it a couple nights ago. I have a red velvet skirt and a top that has some kind of sprakly stuff in it that spreads where-ever I go--church, couches, etc. I can always tell where I have been on Christmas!
Posted by: Moonwishes | 12/21/2006 at 05:48 PM
Wow, from gifty pockets to Schroedinger's cat in less than 2 paragraphs! Merry Christmas, Erin! (And I wish you were my sister so you could not sew me a present.)
Posted by: Anonymous | 12/21/2006 at 06:34 PM
Hi erin,I don't remember where I read that aprons are now a fashionstatement. Velvet dress, satin apron?????Just a thought! ! ! Marcia in New York City.
Posted by: Anonymous | 12/21/2006 at 08:13 PM
Gosh, since when did a size 16 have such a tiny waist?!
Posted by: debraspincic@yahoo.com | 12/21/2006 at 08:19 PM
My Holiday Dress is a black velvet skirt, worn with black tights and ankle boots that zip. On top I drape a lovely confection of multi color velvet that over a black lacey camisole. This cleverly transforms my apple into something lovely.
Posted by: Well Rounded Dresser | 12/21/2006 at 09:25 PM
I have a dark eggplant velveteen empire-waisted wiggle dress that has become a sort of winter-party dress (because when else could I wear it?), and a full-length, sleeveless column dress that is made out of a sort of white-and-silver lame herringbone pattern fabric (which, naturally, gets pulled out for things like my birthday, halloween, and theoretically New Year's Eve--though I rarely stay up for that one lately, much less go out). Heck, if it weren't to serve the needs of the dresses, I might never go to parties at all! But they make it easier.
Posted by: nora | 12/21/2006 at 09:46 PM
I'm making a holiday dress, only the last finishing left. I think it's kitschy in a good way, but a lot of people would probably hate it. It's the 'Retro Butterick' wrap dress with the front in a green fabric with little Christmas-tree twigs and Christmas-tree decorations printed on, and the back is the same green with tiny gold dots. White satin bias tape round the edges. I'll spend Christmas with family, so it will probably only get worn in my parents' house./Monika
Posted by: Anonymous | 12/21/2006 at 10:42 PM
I have a frilly party dress that is black, off the shoulder, with a twirly skirt and built-in hot pink petticoats, which is the default to wear to a last-minute-invitation cocktail party tomorrow night. That is, if I don't get over-excited and decide to try to make a last-minute black wiggle dress with 3/4 sleeves and a midrif band with red piping. Which would be lovely, but a lot of last-minute crazy stitching...
Posted by: sarah from Oz | 12/22/2006 at 03:26 AM
No holiday dress. I feel very sad now, I am making a new striped dress that is directly attributable to spending too much time here! I Love It!
Posted by: Lisette | 12/22/2006 at 06:37 AM
Happy Holidays to my favorite, highly talented, eloquent, stylish, funny blogger who makes every day a little more enjoyable....Best wishes from Henriette in Denmark
Posted by: Anonymous | 12/22/2006 at 06:40 AM
Alack, alas, both my party dresses are now too big for me. I tried them both on while prepping for my Department Holiday Party and they were both baggy in the back and waist. I wound up wearing an old off-the-rack vintage 60's number that I haven't worn for ten years. It's great to be that size again, but I did love those other two dresses...--Lydia
Posted by: Anonymous | 12/22/2006 at 08:04 AM
I think that size 16, may just be a modern 10...?If so I would love it.For all your afore mentioned reasons of drippy, sticky and sogginess, I choose skirts and tops for the Holidays. I can reappear with "new" outfits if the kid-do's are extra lovely.Black wool circle skirt, funky tights and a top to somewhat match... I like RED to match my cheeks after a few : )Here's to more daylight, Happy Solstice ~ Becky
Posted by: Becky O. | 12/22/2006 at 08:23 AM
Merry Christmas Erin,Even though I do sew, my current holiday dress in a vintage 1940's black velvet with a sweetheart neckline that someone else home-sewed. Previously it was a sewn-by-me black windowpane wool with vintage mink cuffs that I had picked up at a garage sale. I miss being able to stuff my carcass into that one.Karen
Posted by: ladiva52 | 12/22/2006 at 08:27 AM
It's adorable, I wish you were my sister, not sewing me a dress ;)I have several holiday dress options a few of which I've posted on my blog. Feel free to vote your fav.
Posted by: S. | 12/22/2006 at 08:37 AM
just clogs and beret ?well,no.sweats in between the head and the feet !
Posted by: john | 12/22/2006 at 10:28 AM
My new holiday love is this one courtesy of Isaac Mizrahi and Target.http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=br_1_8/601-2438768-7262564?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=1&asin=B000GUHAKCI replaced the belt (blech) with a black with multicolored polka dot scarf.
Posted by: htwollin | 12/22/2006 at 10:37 AM
Just out of curiosity, what's a wiggle dress?
Posted by: RoseCampion | 12/22/2006 at 11:19 AM
No new dress this year but am working on a new hat and what better to wear with a hat than a dress? Am wearing a black scoop neck stretch velvet 3/4 sleeve, mid-calf dress for dinner, dancing and fireworks on the Bodensee this year for New Year's Eve (Silvester). K Q:-)
Posted by: Kate | 12/22/2006 at 11:48 AM