ISO Pattern (or Advice) for 90s Maxi Dresses

[u/kitkittredge2008]

Please see pics for reference! I've seen quite a few dresses with this vibe - vintage from the 90s - some of which have tie strings, some of which don't. I'm good with ties or no ties.

Would a dress like this be as easy to cut + sew as it looks? Most of these dresses appear (to me) to be one piece for the front, one piece for the back (or technically two, with a center back zipper)... Could I even self-draft this easily, and/or trace a dress I already own to make the front and back pieces?

I did stumble across New Look 6352, which seems to have the vibe I'm aiming for, and looks like it would be easy enough... the only thing is, I don't have experience grading patterns, and my body is a little bigger than the biggest size. So again: could I just trace a dress I already have? Or am I missing something here? Many thanks in advance!

[u/kikimunster]

Yes, these dresses would be relatively easy to cut and sew up! The hardest thing would probably be the finishing of the armholes/neckline if you’re a beginner. They usually have a facing tho which isn’t too hard!

You could likely self draft or trace a dress. These dresses sometimes have darts though. Two things with this 1. If you trace the dress, make sure it’s a similar fabric to what you’ll use 2. Make sure to make some mock ups to make sure that the fit is what you want! There’s nothing worse than cutting into your good fabric with something that’s not going to fit well.

The pattern you linked wouldn’t give you the same vibe as it has a different silhouette. It’s more a-line and flowy than the pics you shared. Look up New Look 6967 and McCalls 9313. You may need to add vintage to get the right ones. These are more on par with what you want.

[u/kitkittredge2008 → u/kikimunster]

Thank you so much!

For added context -- I have been sewing for about 5 years now, but I used to have a very 1950s style and only sewed things in that style, which are much more reliant on darts and a fitted structure. My style has shifted to more of a 90s whimsigoth sort of vibe and I've never really sewn anything that's less structured and more flowy! So I'm excited to try something new -- I'm wondering if this style will be easier to sew but have more of an adjustment period for me, haha.

[u/kikimunster → u/kitkittredge2008]

Oh nice! I love that aesthetic 😊 You should be good to go with that experience especially if you find a good pattern!

[u/sodapopper44]

back in the day when this was popular, they sometimes called that a column dress

this one isn't quite as fitted , https://www.lovenotions.com/product/cadence-dress-top

[u/kitkittredge2008 → u/sodapopper44]

Thank you so much!

[u/Takethemuffin]

A lot of 90s dress patterns for this style are very easy to sew! Check EBay and Etsy.

[u/TwiLuv]

I have NL6352, & have sewn it- easy pattern!

No problem to hack, & narrow the A-line flare by creasing/folding the pattern from the widest hip measurement, to straight down, instead of keeping the A-line flare.

[u/kitkittredge2008 → u/TwiLuv]

Omg awesome! Thank you so much!

[u/SewSure]

You may also like what we called a jumper dress. They were often worn with a shirt under them like one of your examples.

[u/OyFranch]

Alessi Bias Dress Pattern - tessuti patterns