The end of summer is nearing and I’ve wanted to make a playful yet subtle evening inspired dress that would carry me through into winter. The Rhea dress really has become a staple outfit for me as I literally throw it on and I feel put together. No zips, no buttons just over my head and voila!

Choosing the pattern

The Rhea dress is my own pattern that I realised a year ago now! It’s been absolutely incredible seeing all of your #tammyhandmaderhea and watching the community grow! I knew I wanted to hack this pattern slightly and thicken the straps ever so, and include waist ties to cinch me in. The Rhea Dress runs from sizes UK 6-24 and is midi length in style.

Choosing the fabric

I was gifted this Robert Kaufman fabric from an online Singapore fabric shop Modes4U that ships internationally! Scrolling through their website you can see hundreds of different fabrics that cater to all different needs. This black and gold fabric which is a part of Modes4U’s dots, stripes and patterned fabrics collection, stuck out to me straight away as it’s got a gorgeous foiling detail that feels so glamourous yet not garish! I really love that the website has a YouTube video of how the fabric handles because you can save yourself the hassle of wondering what the quality would be like in person!

This black and gold Robert Kaufman print is a medium weight cotton that holds its shape without feeling stiff once worn. As with all Robert Kaufman fabrics, this quality was amazing and feels smooth as well as keeping such a vibrant black shade. I knew this fabric would work well for an evening style dress as it holds gathers beautifully and the gold embellishment is so eye-catching in person. The delivery of the fabric was super quick and I know I’ll be shopping with them in the future. I also love their eclectic variety of fabrics, they stock some well-known brands with so many colourful, fun and daring prints that I’ve never come across before! If you’d like 10% off your order use the code: TammyHandmade at checkout.

Construction

I’ve made The Rhea dress quite a few times now so I chose my usual size 8. I decided to thicken the straps by 0.5 inch and also decided to add waist ties when sewing the side seams of the skirt. This helps make a more fitted silhouette that feels perfect for a glamorous evening party. Because the fabric has a nice medium weight handle, sewing the gathers was such a breeze and the overall shape of the garment works perfectly. I’m over the moon at how this fabric pairs with this pattern and already have a party lined up to wear this!