Designer Stitch launched their latest pattern – Monica Dress.

This design is versatile and transeasonal. This style offers many styling options because that’s what Ann of Designer Stitch always offers and have a touch of femineity to with Monica.

This soft pale print is from Drapers fabrics online. The blue white print was bought from Super Cheap Fabrics online.

The tiers are very adjustable and you can either use them or discard them. I used the tiers to see how they worked on me. I’m not a gathers person. Pleats are my favorite feature.

My advice regarding the tiers is to decide on the tiers that suit your needs. Find a soft fabric that suits the gathers.

Look at current fashion trends to determine your sleeve choice and tiers. You get to determine the design of your Monica dress with Anne’s pattern.

I tried to limit myself to one Monica to wear for daywear. This pale print version is the one I love to wear.

Then I sewed this white and blue print version to get the hang of shirred sleeves. I love shirring!!! And I’m sticking to wearing the blue one until it falls to bits.

I took out 2cm from the front neckline – above the bustline.

On the blue version I lowered the back skirt tier to cover the depth of my booty. It’s my preference to keep my dress safe ie, when the wind picks up, I don’t want my dress to fly up as well. Let’s not think about that scenario. Too much information right?

The final blue version makes me happy.

Monica was great to wear to lunch recently. Not a big lunch but I must say I felt well dressed and comfortable.

I’m planning on sewing another version with a large print or a plain version but there’s nothing plain about this dress.

Now that the weather is cooling down, a long sleeve version is now in my sewing plans.