Christmas Dress planning

As I am writing this, the house is almost vibrating, so loud is the thunderstorm that has finally reached Nicosia around midnight. Rains are very rare during summer, up until November, and this one is so strong - it is loaded with energy. I have always associated thunderstorms with renewal, the new energy and so I had to get up and write the next post.

In New York, blogging was for me an escape from the daily life, especially at the beginning. Here, it seems more like a consequence of it. The day loads you with new experiences, leaving a strong imprint on every day of your life, begging for an outlet to express everything you absorbed.

We were out today, visiting friends in one of the very few mixed Turkish-Greek villages, very close to the UN buffer zone. Their house, on the outskirts of the village, is surrounded by a lemon and orange groves. We had a beautiful meal outside, while kids were chasing chickens between the trees, picking oranges to take home... The food and wine kept coming, and the conversation was flowing effortlessly, like everything else here, it seems. On the way home, my 4-year old fell asleep in the car hugging a sun hat full of oranges she picked herself. I can get used to this life...

Not so effortless is the Christmas planning this year. I need a nice dress for a formal dinner with my husband's family in Germany on the 24th, the day when Christmas candles are lit, the Bible is read and the gifts are exchanged. A conservative affair, with an oiled routine that has been perfected from year to year...

But, who said the attire, however formal it is expected to be, needs to follow the same pattern. So, when the German-speaking sewing blogosphere announced its third annual Christmas sew-along I was only too happy to join in. I was tempted to participate in the previous two years too, but I just could not nail the style. This year, however, I spotted a wonderful dress that was just perfect: original, practical and versatile.

Images: Vogue.co.uk

Obviously, the dramatic neckline that works so well for the runway, needs to be raised, but otherwise the dress needs no changes. And - what a joy - Burda issued a pattern that is so similar in style and, yet, is more wearable. Gucci has slimmer, kimono-cut sleeves, three topstitched darts (BS dress has three), the cut is slightly different - you can see it in the hip area, and, what's more important, the neckline in Burda version is not as plunging as in Gucci version.  I could even wear this dress for casual occasions over a turtleneck sweater; with wider sleeves it would be comfortable too.

Image: Coat dress #127, Burdastyle Magazine 11/2013

Of course, I went and checked first feedback on the pattern, and the first reviews on the Russian Burdastyle site (Russian members are very fast in sewing up garments) are very positive, the fit notes are helpful, issues with the pattern minimal. This week I plan to make a muslin, and will update you on the progress. I will use couture techniques as usual and try to share them with you once the fit is fine.

What about you, readers? Are you making a dress for the holiday season? Do you start early, or are you a last minute sewer? Any tips for succeeding with a deadline project? Anecdotes are welcome!