I need chic! Dress saw on woman in Chelsea yesterday play help me find.

[autumnhasbroken]

I was going to a concert yesterday and on the bus going along Kensington High Street when I fell in love with a wonderful dress someone was wearing. It was probably high designer but just in case it's not and someone has spotted it.

Black velvet, which I don't normally like. Very high neck. Swing A-line to knee. Long sleeves with cuffs. Very plain but somehow looked so chic. The woman had accessorised with pointed flats and sheer black tights.

The nearest shape but nothing like as nice is this one in John Lewis: https://www.johnlewis.com/kaffe-caca-high-neck-half-sleeve-dress/p110877095

The JL one is quite shapeless and horrible material though, this was more A line, and the neck isn't as high. Sleeves were full length (I hate 3/4).

Any ideas?

https://www.asos.com/asos-design/asos-design-high-neck-flute-sleeve-mini-dress-in-velvet-cord-in-black/prd/208090956#ctaref-more%20colours%20swatches&featureref1-more%20colours%20swatches

I think the key thing is knee length and trapeze. Reckon this was a designer dress.

Proper velvet is really expensive. Lots of dresses are short or tunic shape to save cost.

Sounds like something Audrey Hepburn would have worn.

ganni or alaia?

Interesting, that completely makes sense that it was proper velvet not velour.

The Vampire's Wife did a H&M collab a few years back with something similar.

Yes it definitely had Audrey Hepburn vibes. I think you are right and it must have been a designer dress - it was just a level above anything posted here. Very simple but I think every element worked perfectly.

I wonder if I could find a pattern and get a dressmaker to make one for me. That might go horribly wrong though....

Too fitted unfortunately and too long

I think this may be the kind of material: https://higgsandhiggs.com/product/100-cotton-velvet-black/. Any thoughts on where I might get a pattern from?

Not exactly what you're looking for but it's pretty

I am now deep down a velvet rabbit hole - https://sewport.com/fabrics-directory/velvet-fabric

Oh it is pretty on a young and pretty person, I fear I would look like quite matronly in that.

Velvet is a woven fabric, not stretchy.

That looks like the proper stuff. Remember to account for the nap if you make it yourself. And to shear the seams. And to press with another piece of velvet…….

This? Oh actually sleeves are wrong. But I have it in pink and it’s lovely! https://www.cos.com/en-gb/women/womenswear/dresses/mididresses/product/gathered-silk-blend-velvet-midi-dress-black-1262427001?utmsource=Lyst%20UK/EU&utm_medium=affiliate&utmcampaign=4783216957627757165815718&utmcontent=15&utmterm=1847649&ranMID=47832&ranEAID=gcdL/ATRVoE&ranSiteID=gcdLATRVoE-a5I2rOkFTsxiGbKLXzJYVw

https://www.sewatelierm.com/merchant-mills-trapeze-the-perfect-dress-for-all-seasons/

You could add a collar to this and change the sleeves.

If any help, I buy cotton velvet from Ebay. It's about £13 a metre, though the last one I bought (black) has a deep pile and was £19/m.

Silk velvet is expensive, upwards of £40 a metre usually. It has a sheen that looks just like viscose velvet (which isn't cheap anyway) but it feels much nicer and sort of ripples when it moves. There are some lovely mixed silk & viscose velvets.

A trapeze dress is very easy to make, though sleeves are tricky for beginners. A dressmaker wouldn't charge through the roof, even with lining - which should be silk or viscose.

Wrong sleeves, right collar?
https://www.sewessential.co.uk/misses-special-occasion-dress-vogue-pattern-1723

Was the one you saw voluminous like this, or a closer fit?

Oh I like this, I think this could be near enough! I have just ordered it, fingers crossed! Thank you all.

If it is too long when it arrives you could get a seamstress to take it up. She might also be able to create a cuff/band effect to lengthen the sleeves with the fabric off the hem.

www.aspiga.com/products/victoria-mini-stretch-corduroy-dress-black?variant=43179593695412&tw_source=google&tw_adid=&tw_campaign=19958856894&tw_kwdid=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19958858808&gbraid=0AAAAAD4mDLh1v-YUFlIvB3HxKcVe1_eBt&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiNi41uTqjwMV7oBQBh10iDTCEAQYASABEgLfMvD_BwE

They have it in a longer length too..

https://www.aspiga.com/products/victoria-round-neck-3-4-sleeve-dress-black?variant=42309695013044&tw_source=google&tw_adid=&tw_campaign=19958856894&tw_kwdid=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19958858808&gbraid=0AAAAAD4mDLh1v-YUFlIvB3HxKcVe1_eBt&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIp6a8wuXqjwMVmIpQBh2bKBDbEAQYCSABEgJxKfD_BwE

https://www.hollandcooper.com/products/rachel-mini-dress-black?variant=42247003308228&currency=GBP&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22470490223&gbraid=0AAAAAC3KQN1IuPfblyYdde8QeEPM-g_xN&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrvXa6-XqjwMVU5tQBh2mFAyhEAQYBCABEgJqU_D_BwE

This one? Easier to see style / fit in the brighter colors. (Edited to add: black is sold out :-( )

https://www.reiss.com/style/su026043/700947#700947

Rixo do silk velvet dresses. Could it be something from a past season?

house of bruar

hobbs, wrong shape but lovely