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Tuesday, May 24, 2011

The Daily Dress: 40s-Style Midriff Dress

The blue dress above (well, half of it anyway!) is in the new Vogue magazine and I loved it immediately. Isn't the cutout at the midriff neat? It looks like something right out of the 40s to me.

Here's a full view of the dress, which is by Carven. I'll be honest, though, I don't like the styling here. Not glam enough!


 And here it is sans model, but also sans cutout. Interesting!
I love the overall silhouette and could definitely see myself wearing a similar bodice, even with the keyhole opening. I'm not really one to show my midriff too much, but this approach is quite subtle. It would be lovely in a retro rose-print cotton.

Would you wear it?
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37 comments:

  1. MoniqueMay 24, 2011 at 5:02 PM

    Not me I'm afraid... although I do like the drapey skirt.

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  2. AlisonMay 24, 2011 at 5:05 PM

    Ooooh I think it's quite daring and dramatic! Would be fun to make it in a nude/skin tone, and the cutout would be even more subtle. Sexy!

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  3. Toby WollinMay 24, 2011 at 5:06 PM

    The styling makes it look like a schmatta. Sheesh. Put the girl's hair you in a glamorous hairdo, give her some bling and some dress shoes.

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  4. My HandmadehappinessMay 24, 2011 at 5:07 PM

    Na not for me.... There are much better 40's-style dresses out there!!

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  5. VioletMay 24, 2011 at 5:09 PM

    I would definitely wear it without the cutout.

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  6. LizMay 24, 2011 at 5:12 PM

    I love the bodice - I'd wear it with the cut out. But that skirt offends me. I don't like the draping it has. I think the dress looks terrible on the model, I think it's just overall too big on her and the styling is yucky.

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  7. Social HistorianMay 24, 2011 at 5:14 PM

    Looks great in the pic but awful on the model. She looks like she's going to some kind of toga party wrapped in her bedsheets, it looks unflattering and I can't see how to transform it. Perhaps therein lies the challenge for you, Gertie?!

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  8. PaulaMay 24, 2011 at 5:17 PM

    I can see myself wearing the cutout bodice, but with a much more "flow-y" skirt. I do agree that the bodice cutout is subtle enough even for me, but I agree with Liz and Molly, don't like the skirt.

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  9. NuranarMay 24, 2011 at 5:22 PM

    Maybe there's still a cutout on the picture without the model, and that's the back showing through?

    I like real 40s, and this is pretty close, especially with the natural waist. I'm not a fan of the excessive draping of the skirt, though. It needs to be either more simply gathered and draped, or dramatically like a sarong. As-is it's more like a curtain.

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  10. Samurai MomMay 24, 2011 at 5:24 PM

    eeew! The skirt is terrible. I like the bodice without the cut out.

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  11. Diary of a 54 year old PhD studentMay 24, 2011 at 5:42 PM

    I would wear it - gallbladder scar and all! It is different and that is what I like!

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  12. SaraMay 24, 2011 at 5:55 PM

    Who would think a designer could make a midriff-baring dress look dowdy? The styling of the model is very off, and I agree with everyone that the skirt looks like a bad high school version of Julius Caesar. Nice try, but Gertie, you could do much better!

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  13. The Amazon seweth...May 24, 2011 at 6:07 PM

    I like this dress a lot(probably flattering to a heap of body types with a little skirt alteration). :)

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  14. Lady Be GoodMay 24, 2011 at 6:10 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  15. Lady Be GoodMay 24, 2011 at 6:11 PM

    I like the dress, but it looks too big on the model. For peekaboo midiff though, you can't beat Marilyn in Niagra:
    http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lmp5SsvpIMo/SrFkanVIBgI/AAAAAAAAALk/yrWIYraxux0/s1600-h/Annex+-+Monroe,+Marilyn+%28Niagara%29_08.jpg

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  16. UnknownMay 24, 2011 at 6:20 PM

    I love it personally x

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  17. AmandaMay 24, 2011 at 6:28 PM

    I love it (if it had a different skirt). Have you found any patterns that might replicate the look?

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  18. RachelMay 24, 2011 at 7:02 PM

    I'd wear it without the cut out as I'm not comfortable wearing stuff that shows midriff. Sometimes even the v-back style (which I love) wigs me out because I feel like I'm exposing myself when the wind hits my back. Crazy, I know.

    I like the draping of the bodice, but not so much the skirt. I don't know if it's just too big on the model or what because I like the idea of the skirt, but for some reason it's super unflattering on that model.

    I know there are some 50s style skirts that use a similar draping method, and Ceil Chapman used it in several of her dresses, but she made you look like a Grecian Muse while that one just looks frumpy.

    I say, go for it, though. I'd love to see what you accomplish with it if you decide to take it on.

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  19. AnonymousMay 24, 2011 at 7:09 PM

    I just watched 'Bathing Beauty' with Esther Williams again after many years and a lot of the costumes have that same look and cut out. Watch that movie again, lots of inspiration!
    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036628/

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  20. DrJulieAnn aka Grandma's Sewing CabinetMay 24, 2011 at 7:19 PM

    Even if I were the midriff exposing type, I wouldn't wear it with that skirt. To me, it looks like it got caught in her waistband.

    The bodice, though, is cute.

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  21. ms. modisteMay 24, 2011 at 8:03 PM

    I agree with those who dislike the draping of the skirt, but I think the cutout is cute. It instantly reminded me of the dress which Gwen Stefani recently wore at Cannes:

    http://www.fashionfame.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/gwen-stefani-cannes-hairstyle.jpeg

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  22. joenMay 24, 2011 at 9:10 PM

    I love the bodice and the color is beautiful for a summer sun dress, but I think I would prefer an ALine or flair skirt less bulk in my hip and tummy area for my shape.

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  23. AmandaMay 24, 2011 at 10:03 PM

    Oh, I wish. It's very cute, but even at the beach I'm not too keen on showing off that area!

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  24. CaseyMay 24, 2011 at 10:17 PM

    I do love a good midriff bearing style, and adore the bodice on this! But I must agree with all the other commenters--the skirt draping is really off in some way. Maybe it's the styling, but I can't help but think it looks a bit confused: as if it doesn't know whether it's full and fluid or a wiggle skirt! lol.

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  25. Jane EliseMay 24, 2011 at 10:17 PM

    I saw a drapey skirt in a photo similar to the skirt on this dress and loved it but when I tried it on it did the exact same thing and kind of just sagged at the front. :(

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  26. BetsyJaneMay 24, 2011 at 11:05 PM

    Okay so my comment just went kapoof!

    Hmmm, not sure about the draping with my hips (and the styling is a bit lack lustre) but I would definitely give it a go. It strikes a nice balance of overall coverage with just a hint of the peekaboos. I have wanted to try the cut out style for a while but often the cut-out is at the back and I cannot go sans bra. Nice find Gertie!!

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  27. lapMay 24, 2011 at 11:26 PM

    I'd wear it because it's high midriff, and I've got a foxy ribcage! I really like it, it has the feel of playclothes. But that braid is horrendous- think of how cute a high pony would be, or a Betty Grable headband with a mass of curls...

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  28. MichelleMay 25, 2011 at 1:07 AM

    I think it needs to be styled different. But I love the cut out, and the skirt. I like different draped silhouettes. And I can rock the hell out of a midriff! This dress is actually spot on, and mixes vintage with contemporary. To people that just find this dress baffling, check out http://www.fashionising.com/

    Fashion can be challenging sometimes. It's art. Some will love and embrace, and others will scratch their heads. This does not make one right or wrong. I think the daily dress is fabulous, and if you only showed dresses that fall into the "pretty dress" category things would get stale around here fast. I love a bit of creative fashion.

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  29. AstridMay 25, 2011 at 3:50 AM

    I would def. make it! Is there a pattern for this - or similar?

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  30. MegMay 25, 2011 at 4:16 AM

    I'd earmarked some fabric for a dress with a middriff cut-out. I was going to put a circle skirt on it, but this is giving me ideas!

    In response to some people's comments about it not looking good on the model, I don't think that many clothes look good styled on models at the moment. The prevaling fashion seems to call for maximum slouch (all angles) and there's almost a grunge vibe to the way clothes are styled.

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  31. coffeeaddictMay 25, 2011 at 4:38 AM

    Hmm, how about a full circle skirt instead of this bublle draped skirt? That could really turn into a sweet sun dress.

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  32. NathalieMay 25, 2011 at 5:43 AM

    Not sure I like it with the cutout. It might just be that it's too baggy and shapeless on the model, but it looks like someone trying to make a dress out of bedlinen to me...

    Presented off the model however, it is much nicer.

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  33. moniroseMay 25, 2011 at 10:26 AM

    I adore this dress - it makes me want to go lounge on a pacific beach somewhere. So although the model is styled very well, I can see this being worn casually.

    I don't know that I could pull it off, but oh, I'd want to!

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  34. HollyMay 25, 2011 at 12:44 PM

    I love the cutout and the neckline. The little sleeves are adorable also. I really hate the skirt, however. I would make it with a knee length circle skirt instead, I think.

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  35. The Amazon seweth...May 25, 2011 at 3:42 PM

    Forgot to add...Kinda partial to this cutout style...it's sometimes friendly to us larger fashionistas... :)

    http://www.monifc.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/l/g/lg_monaco_fuchsia.jpg

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  36. NicoleMay 26, 2011 at 4:09 PM

    I loved this when I saw it in Vogue, although I'm not so sure about it on the model. I'm not usually one for random cutouts on clothing, but there is just something about that bodice. On the model the cutout seems a bit large, maybe something more subtle would be better. There is just something about it that I love.

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  37. Krystle!May 27, 2011 at 1:57 PM

    YES! I fell in love with that dress in Vogue as well and have since been frantically searching for a vintage pattern similar to it.

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Thanks for your comments; I read each and every one! xo Gertie