How can I look for a dress similar to this?

[dudsville]

I thought I'd copied the link but it hasn't worked. I'll try again, but in the meantime I'd like to ask for help finding a dress similar to the Toast forte ikat wrap dress. I would never spend that kind of money on a dress but I love it so much. I love the 80s vibe, the colours, the cut, that it's cotton and has pockets... I'll try to link to it, but if anyone knows of anywhere producing similar dresses at an easier price please tell me!!!

Here it is

Etsy is your friend here, just type in 'wrap dress' and see what takes your fancy. It's an extremely simple shape, the bit that's costing the money is the ikat fabric.

I'm perusing etsy but can't see anything with similar print. Lots of the dress shape in plain colours, but I love the print! Anyone else have any ideas?

Kin by John Lewis has lovely prints and all the dresses have pockets!

The thing is, it's not a printed fabric. Ikat is made by precisely space dying individual threads before they are woven. It's very labour intensive so it's expensive. You can't really reproduce it with a print.

do a Google reverse image search?

Like this

(You'll need to look at the ones that say 'In Stock' though or else you'll be chasing old Pinterest boards)

There’s no real substitute for a proper Ikat fabric. It’s woven in a completely unique way in specific parts of the world, making it expensive. You can find Ikat prints but they are poor imitations of the real thing. I’m afraid real Ikat dresses are pricy!

I know that dress I've pictured is fabulous fabric and that I'm looking for it's poor cousin, but that's how it is!

I didn't know about reverse imaging, thank you, I'll see what that brings!

You can buy Ikat fabric and maybe make a simple wrap dress using a pattern, or get a tailor or crafty friend to do it.

Here’s one ikat

Also this

Also, I’ve got a couple of toast dresses by waiting for them to come up on ebay, and their sales are usually really good too. Keep an eye out and you might be able to snap it up,

similar shape, massively different colour way!

www.phase-eight.com/product/nelly-abstract-print-wrap-dress-200372142.html

dress 1

www.monsoon.co.uk/ikat-printed-jersey-midi-dress-1457040254.html

All the dresses linked above are in vicose jersey (that's a soft t-shirt type fabric) so will not hang on the body in anything like the same way as the Toast one.

Thanks everyone, yes in really only after pure cotton. I have a dress of theirs in this style from a sale but it was no where near as special as this one. Its a good idea about fabric, thanks for the suggestion.

If you look up Wildwood wrap dress pattern, it's a lovely elegant dress that would work for a special fabric, could easily be altered to a wider skirt too. If you were thinking of getting one made. That dress in the OP is a work of art!

Maybe buy the matching cushion?

www.toa.st/products/forte-ikat-cushion-cover-black-lemon

Lovely fabric though

OP, it’s a lovely dress and very distinctive. In my experience, when you love a garment that much, nothing else comes a close second, and is a false economy. Either buy the dress, or wait for Toastbto have a sale (they do, fairly often) or stalk eBay.

It's so rare to find a dress you love that much. Is there any way you could buy it?

This website lets you flag a particular item and lets you know when it's on sale if that helps.

www.shopstyle.co.uk

Aw, I have to be careful, I could easily be encouraged to buy it. I don't keep that kind of money free... I put everything into savings. I know in my heart I'd rather retire early. Oh damn. I might at the very least pop into a shop and try it on and thanks for the link to shop style, I didn't know about that!

@dudsville - buy it. Seriously. There is nothing on here that compares. I've bought a lot of things from Toast and they always look good.
Finding cheaper, less substantial, less attractive dresses is a false economy.

Is just dawned on me that it's made to order, so they're not going to have surplus to out on sale.

I actually do agree that if you are in love with it and can afford it, you should get it because a special dress that makes you feel great and feel like “you” is an investment - you will wear it a lot and always have it there for any occasion when you need confidence and - I don’t know why this word has popped into my head as it’s very 70s! Panache!

If you have savings and you’re sensible with money, that’s not going to change but it’s ok to spend it on something that’s a good buy (and you can return it if necessary)

However it’s also highly likely you can get it in the sale or on eBay, using alert systems, especially if you’re a middling size. (though a larger size could easily be taken in with this cut of dress)

—Invested, moi?—