I made a Latin dress with this pattern. I did not like the result very much, so it is in my pile of unfinished project bag.

But I definately think it could be a good practice project for a beginner ballroom dress seastress.

I did not know my comment would make you get so defensive and emotional. Sorry for that.

I am glad that you liked the dress. I simply didn't like the look, and I don't think I made any mistake in the process. Also I definitely think I have a clue as to what I am talking about. I guess we just have different tastes.

But please don't let my comment keep people who want to make their own dresses from trying this pattern as a starting point. As I said before, it is a very good practice piece. It shows you how to make a bodysuit and assemble it with the dress, all the good things to know to make a real dress eventually.

I agree with you -- people who don't have experience sewing need to start somewhere, and that Simplicity dress pattern is readily available and not too hard to follow. If I were, say, a collegiate dancer getting started in sewing, I'd do this project to start to teach myself. I'd end up with something I could wear in, say, a syllabus-level competition that allows costumes. Or I'd use it as a pattern to make dance dresses for practice and for costume-restricted events. I'd never wear that dress for a high-level competition though, not even for Novice to tell you the truth.

Ron, you seem very defensive about this!

I've been making ballgowns professionally for a number of years and I tend to agree with the poster you slammed.

I think the pattern is a good introductory project for someone getting started, both in sewing and in competing. The lines are simple and clean, but compared with the styles of dresses the top competitors are wearing today it's just not good enough. I'm sorry to say but to me that Simplicity pattern screams "home-made."

I prefer to start with a simple princess-seamed sloper (for Standard and Smooth) and draft my own patterns from there, or take evening gown patterns (I'm fond of the ones from the Vogue designer series) and adapt from there. I've also based dresses off of swimsuit and figure skating dress patterns. Once I even draped a Latin dress and didn't use a pattern at all. I never went to art school so I have no degree in Fashion Design, but that doesn't mean I don't know what I'm talking about.

I have to agree that the costume patterns do scream home made, but i think they would be great for collegic competitions in the early levels. i do collegic comps and those would fit right into bronze. and if the wearer wasnt too picky, with a littleplayign with it and some nice stoneing it could fit into silver, the latin styles any way. As for higher levels and non collegic competitions i would have to say they would be a bit out of place. I still think they would be great start out costumes. and i have often thought of trying to make a gown out of the vouge evening gown patterns. but i bought a nice one off of ebay the other day. got a great deal on it too.

Ah, I see.