Dress Design for Shabby Apple Dresses 'Dare to Design' - Limoncello Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

When I discovered that one of my favorite clothiers Shabby Apple was offering a contest for a spring season dress I knew I had to throw in my proverbial hat. This is my Dress design for Shabby Apple dresses AND your chance to win my entry.

I know that the contest only required that you draw a sketch of your idea but to be honest I'm not that great at drawing freehand and I thought it would look better finished and on an actual human. Since, at the moment I could only model maternity wear, my sister was kind enough to offer her afternoon to photograph her flattering figure.

So let me start off by describing the dress. If you look closely at the pictures below you will see that it is a swiss dot-like material.

The top is pintucked with tiny cap sleeves. Peaking out around the neckline are white fabric covered buttons and white button loops. Also, matching yellow lace lines the v-neck front and is echoed in the underskirt peaking out at the bottom.




The bodice is pulled together by a removable creased sash with white piping lining the outside. It ties together in the back and falls down to the bottom of the skirt line.


I designed the sash to taper off at the sides and be widest in the middle to flatter the figure best.





The underskirt is made of tulle so that the skirt opens up into a generous A-line and as I mentioned earlier has a lace lining peaking out at the bottom.


I was inspired one day while watching the food network. Huh? That's right, specifically Giada's at Home and her limoncello recipe. Everytime I watch her show and see her fabulous springtime recipes and Italian getaways it feels sunny and warm regardless of what season it may be.


Her description of limoncello made me water at the mouth. And what's more spring than gathering outdoors on a warm evening with your friends and enjoying dinner and lemon drinks? Obviously the choice of dress color was born from the inspiration of her lemon drink recipe.


I wanted this dress to be a perfect choice for a fancy lunch with friends or picnic with your husband.


One dilemma was that it had to be a 'spring' dress. Which wouldn't be a problem in the spring but at the moment, everything screams fall. Not that it isn't beautiful, in fact the leaves are Sunday drive worthy. But we had to go to the Hershey Gardens in order to get some good summer flowers. Roses, chrysanthemums, pansies, etc.



My sister was a little uncomfortable with all the extra attention I attract when we do photo shoots. The picnic blanket alone had her more nervous that you'd ever imagine. It was like a giant blue sore thumb in a sea of green grass.


Ideally, I wanted a picnic table with a dish of lemon custard pie and a turquoise blue metal 50s chair with lemons scattered around the table. Perhaps set in front of a wooden blue sided house....or white. Whatever.


Ideally, I also wanted a brunette. Here's a little secret. Chan is totally blonde, has been since I knew her. Here's a more accurate photo. And here's a better one.


I bought a costume wig for her to wear but in the end we decided that Photoshop would work just as well. Personally, I think she looks better as a blonde but I didn't want her hair to blend in with the dress.



It's funny, my sister and I share a father so we are technically 'half' sisters. My mother is Pacific Islander and therefore, we look nothing alike. But seeing how she looks with dark hair makes us appear 'a little' similar. Maybe?


I'd say this dress would fit a size 2-5.




If you'd like to win this dress just link to this post either using the 'create a link' at the bottom of this post or simply creating a post on your blog and including this link.


If you have any questions see the "questions and answers" link to the right. If you use blogger just use the "create a link" link at the bottom of this post. If you don't use blogger, that's fine too. Just create a link on your page as you normally would and I will see it using Technorati.

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