Introducing the Serenade Dress

The Serenade Dress, based on an original mid-1940s design, features a dart-fitted bodice with a ruched yoke, creating a wide neckline and almost-off-the-shoulder look with tiny cap sleeves.

The gathered skirt’s frill echoes the ruched yoke and gives the dress a retro Hawaiiana vibe, while the gored skirt gives a more understated, 1940s-inspired look.

This is a versatile pattern that can be styled to different eras and occasions: with slim A-line skirt in rayon it has a 1940s feel; crisp cottons and a full skirt take it to the 1950s. For evening, make it in slinky crepe de chine or underlined sheers with a flowing, ankle-length skirt.

The yoke provides opportunities for colour blocking or using up those short lengths you saved “because it might come in useful”: Make a contrast yoke, or perhaps match the yoke with the skirt and try a contrast bodice. For an alternative look, you can even skip the ruching altogether and make a flat yoke using the facing pieces. The possibilities are endless!

While there's a whole lot of gathering and notches to match, no advanced techniques are required for this dress, making it a solid choice for less experienced sewists looking to stretch their skills.

Note: the gored skirt is the same as the one supplied with the Café Culture dress, so if you already have that printed there's no need to print it again!