TIME FOR A CONFESSION.
The Leopard Wrap Dress? Well, first of all – it’s cheetah, not leopard. Oops! I still like the fabric, though! 🙂 Secondly, it would appear that my wrap dress is actually a mock wrap dress – double oops! And wouldn’t you know, I didn’t even realize it until I got about halfway through the directions and saw that there was a zipper in there. Yep, even with cutting the pattern, I did not figure out that this wasn’t a true wrap dress! Oh well, I find wrap dresses kind of hard to keep closed, especially with slinky fabric like this – so let’s consider this a blessing in disguise 🙂
That being said, check out my cheetah print mock wrap dress, guys!
I used Simplicity 6268, which I can’t seem to find anywhere on the internet, sry2say. I picked this up a couple of years ago at the flea market – in a bag full of sewing supplies for something like $5. The fabric was given to me by my best friend – her grandmother was cleaning out her sewing room so I ended up with a LOT of this fabric (5 1/4 yards, if you’re curious. And yes, I have leftovers! Lots of leftovers!). It’s not something I would typically buy for myself, as it’s some class of poly and pretty drapey, but I LOVE how the finished dress turned out and it seriously does not wrinkle at ALL. I think this dress would be great for traveling – very wash & wear!
Since my pattern is for a 33.5″ bust, I was afraid I’d have to do some adjusting, but a quick tissue fit showed that everything fit fairly well. I’ve noticed a lot of patterns put extra (excess) ease in their garments – which is awesome for me, because that means I get to snap up all those cute little 32″ bust patterns and they fit fine! HA HA! Like I said, this one fit with no alterations, other than the length. See how short the skirt is? This is after I added 1.5″ to the hem & I used a 5/8″ hem (instead of the suggested 1.5″ hem). This baby was supposed to be SHORT! I don’t mind short, usually, but not with a flowy dress. Especially not a dress I plan on wearing to work. So, if you get this pattern, consider the length.
On a side note, I just have to share this because I felt pretty freaking brilliant:
I ran out of tape, so I sewed the tissue pieces together! I got the idea from Liz haha. And no, I still haven’t bought more tape. Need to get on that.
The tie belt is actually supposed to be sewn to the sides & tie at the back – I ended up sewing my pieces together to make a long belt, and it is not attached to the dress. I think tying it in the front makes it look more like a wrap dress, plus now I can wear different belts if I feel so inclined 🙂 I think cheetah (and leopard!) go with all kinds of colors, so it makes the dress much more versatile.
And can I just point out that I took these pictures after I got home from work – at 5:30! Daylight Savings, I looove you! Plz to stay with me forever, thnx.
I just love the shape… I think it is super flattering. I want to make more of these!
See? The zipper 🙂
The zipper also came from my stash – I think I ripped it out of something I used for the fabric. So basically, this dress was free. Yay free dresses!
I love the little tulip sleeves.
I did end up putting a small snap at the overlap on the bodice, for a little extra modesty. The dress is not immodest by any means – I don’t think the lack of snap would cause a wardrobe malfunction or anything – but the extra security is nice. You know, so I can splay myself across the couch & eat Italian Ice & not worry about the girls getting a sneak peak. Not that I was doing that last night or anything.
Also, it was WINDY outside yesterday! See? WINDY!
So happy with my new dress, even if it’s not really cheetah or a wrap 🙂
LLADYBIRD 
Looks awesome!
I got home from work here at 6:30 pm yesterday and it was still daylight. Not bad!
I just bought some cheetah fabric that is very similar. I bought it onlline on a whim for free shipping and really like it. I was worried a dress might be much, but it actually looks pretty neutral on you. Yay! It looks fantastic by the way!
Yeah, that’s what I was afraid of with this fabric (hence why I held onto it for so long!). I think the key is to keep the shape of the dress fairly simple and sleek so the fabric can take center stage 🙂
So cute and flattering…and the snap is brilliant! I always worry about that with a wrap-style top or dress. I love that print too. It doesn’t look too over the top cheetah. It is purrfect. 🙂
This is SO SO SO SO gorgeous, I love it! You’re so inspiring! Great job. So classy.
Making us all look lazy cause you’re busting out cute dresses every day! It looks very pretty, good work like always!
You’re a machine Lauren – how on earth have you pumped out two stunning dresses in a couple of days? Are you enlisting Mr Lladybird for cutting out and finishing seams?? Beautiful wrap dress – you’ve managed to make it look cute and sassy and modest, all at the same time. Great job!
Hehe well I must point out that both the Pastille & this dress were quick sews (minus all that fitting with the Pastille, but I did all that last week anyway). It helps that the dude works more than I do, so I have plenty of guilt-free time to sewwwww and, er, not clean lol.
I like the idea of a “mock wrap” dress. Less likely to have a boobie wardrobe malfunction
This looks amazing on you! Congratulations on a job well done.
damn, girl you are productive! this dress is adorable. I want some cheetah/leopard in my life!
Look at you, churning out the hits! You are the adele of dressmaking, just one after another and each better then the last. So pretty. And not at all too much of anything, just enough of everything. You have to stop doing this, you are making the rest of us look bad.
Oooh, pretty dress and fun fabric! Sewing the pattern pieces together is brilliant! I’m always running out of tape when I need it too, so I think I’ll be trying that! I’m fairly long waisted so I usually have to compensate for that in most patterns. Good tip!
This is stunning! It looks SO amazing on you! I love the sleeves and the skirt and the wrap! Everything about it is just gorgeous.
This is so swishy, sweet and adorable. Love it! Embrace the lure of the animal print- it suits you!
Wow, you really sew a lot! I can’t make that much in such a short time.
Looks great!
Great little dress. I love the sweet sleeves!
Also, you’re incredibly fast! It takes me ages to finish anything, even when I work very diligently. I’m jealous!
That’s one gorgeous dress. I love the sleeves.
Hot mama!! Dude seriously, you’re rocking that dress! Now I feel like I need one so I can maybe, possibly, rock it half as well. Love it!
(…hopefully that didn’t come off as creepy lol)
If I could steal that dress through the computer screen I’d definitely do it. Gorgeous! And the sleeves are too cute!
Ooh this really is gorgeous! The sleeves are extra cute,and in cheetah it looks very sassy. Great idea to detatch the belt and have those extra options!
Cheetah, leopard, wrap, mock: It’s really great!
Hey, here’s an ego boost for you. I wanted to make my niece something and sent her to the Colette pattern Flickr site and told her to look through it to come up with ideas. She wrote back to me, “I love anything that this chick Lladybird is wearing.”
Aw!! That just made me smile so hard! Tell your niece she’s got excellent taste, according to me 🙂 lol
Meow!!!! I love the dress and the print. I have never made anything animal print but would love to. Never quite brave enough to pull it off. Maybe I should just suck it up and go for it. You look great!!! As always of course.
It’s the dreamiest cheetah dress I’ve ever seen! That drape is gorgeous on the swirly skirt and cute sleeves. I don’t know, I’d given up on wrap dresses as becoming a bit frumpy until now…. Gorg.!!
I am DYING to make an animal print wiggle dress! I’m a little worried, however, that it’ll turn out more Pink Lady/Rizzo than it will chic. I love your version though–the cut takes a really “hot-to-trot” pattern and works it into a really lady-like dress.
Also, I nominated you for a Versatile Blogger Award. If you’re interested–and you’re so not obligated to play along–feel free to check out the details on my blog http://retrorabbithole.blogspot.com
OMG, I love, love, love this dress! It’s super flattering and the fabric print, faux wrap-over effect and tulip sleeves are all very cute!
I’m absolutely in love with your dress !! You did a great job with this pattern !! I have it and seeing yours makes me want to try it !
Ps :I just check my pattern to see the year, it’s from 1974
Ooh awesome – thank you for checking that year for me!
Lovely! It looks so wearable too….pretty inspiring 🙂
Lovely! So pretty and flattering. I know what you mean about fabric choice – I always go for natural over man made but in reality I never iron so my clothes made out of easy care fabric get worn the most.
It looks great. I think a mock wrap is the way to go. I always avoid wrap dresses because I don’t want to have to worry about it opening up on me
CUTE!
OOhhh mock wrap! NICE! I’m always attracted to the wrap top/dress look but it’s so hard to get them to stay in place in the front, for me – this looks like the answer; too bad the pattern is unavailable LOL. Probably for the best… as if I need to add any more projects to the queue! LOL
OMG so cute… So now that you’ve made a fantastically cute, and well fitting dress, do you think it’s kind to rub it in by telling us you got everything for free?? lol!! I agree with the rest, you’re making us all look TERRIBLE! 🙂
Haha well I can’t buy fabric right now so I had to find a way to piss you guys off somehow! I kid, I kid 🙂
Love it! The sleeves are my favorite part, besides the print. Great job! 🙂
Again, love this dress! On a side note, I’ve nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award. You needn’t participate if it’s not your thing, but I just wanted to let you know. Details on my blog soon. 🙂
Absolutely gorgeous! (Thought it was about time I started commenting and stop stalking!) Your sewing is very inspiring and I love your comments on adjustments etc. I love your blog!
my gosh girl, how fast do you sew?! This is super adorable by the way 🙂 And the snap is genius.
I tend to call any print of this type leopard print, which I know is wrong. Not sure where, but I recently read a blogger have a rant about the misuse of the word, lol.
I like a good leopart print, cheetah print, whatever. Let’s call it animal print.
You look great, as usual!
LOVE IT! It looks so great on you. And the tuplip sleeves are adorable. Agree with you that ‘leopard’ goes with loads of different colours, so that was a great idea to have a belt that you can switch up.
Aw man! I love a wrap dress – mock or not! They are just always so feminine. You look so freaking hot in this!! The “cheepard” (my knew name for ambiguous cat prints – maybe cheepardguar?) print is really fun. Also, love those little tulip-sleeves. Nice little modesty snap – see no reason why splaying across a couch eating italian ice isn’t a perfectly acceptable first run for any dress!
Gorgeous! Love that it’s sexy but comfortable and not wrinkly!
Seriously, adorable! The shape of the dress and the cheetah print really suit you. The tulip sleeves are simply lovely. It’s unbelievable that you created such a cute dress for free. Awesome!
Totally love it! It really suits you and I love the tulip sleeves too!
Wow that was odd. I just wrote an extremely long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t show up. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyhow, just wanted to say fantastic blog!