The Little Bow Pleat Dress by Duchess and Hare
/It’s always exciting to try a new designer, and even better when you LOVE the results. That’s exactly what happened for me with this Little Bow Pleat dress from Duchess & Hare.
This is such a gorgeous, classic design with so many sweet elements (not all of which show up well in the pale pink fabric I chose). The bodice has a center panel which would be perfect for showcasing embroidery or a special fabric, or accenting with piping or trim. I chose the sweetheart neckline with cap sleeves, but the pattern also has the option of a straight neckline and a narrow ruffle sleeve. The sizing was spot on - always a relief when trying a new-to-me designer - my daughter’s chest is in between the measurements for the 5 and 6, but her height was a 6, so I went with a straight 6. It fits her beautifully!
I chose the full skirt (as opposed to slim) because my girl loves to twirl, and it definitely passed the test! The faux bow tails created by the pieced skirt give this design a unique look and it came together surprisingly easily!
If there’s one thing I would change, it’s the insertion of the zipper. The bodice is lined, but the zipper is not enclosed in the lining, so it is exposed to the wearer’s back on the inside. Little miss didn’t complain about it at all, but I will probably look for a tutorial to teach me how to enclose the zipper for next time.
The next time the opportunity comes up to try another Duchess & Hare pattern, I won’t hesitate as my first experience with the company was fantastic!
Today we are featuring the Cat’s Meow and Double Dutch from Duchess and Hare. These patterns are so cute and combined with the optional cat shaped pockets, it really is the cats meow!