The Forsythe Dress

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Hey friends! 

Today I'd like to share my tester version of the Forsythe Dress by French Navy. Sarah from French Navy is the same designer who created the Orla Dress - that free dress pattern I never stop hyping on about. This is her first paid pattern and she totally knocked it out of the park. 

The Forsythe dress is easy-fitting with a dropped waist, slash front pockets, and really interesting princess seam lines that are perfect for colour blocking or using up scraps of fabric. The shoulders are dropped (my favourite) and the back is finished with a button closure - although, I just slip mine on and off over my head and have forgone the buttons all together. 

While this isn't a style I'm naturally drawn to (this column-y bod tends to appreciate a little more waist definition) I'm surprised at how flattering this dress is. The roomy pockets, dropped waist, and relaxed silhouette all make this dress extremely comfortable to wear, but yet I'm still feeling perfectly put together. Secret pajamas to the core. And it's a style I've seen a lot at brands like Madewell and Pyne and Smith, so I feel very trendy and chic while wearing it. 

I also have a top version planned for this pattern, because those sleeves are CUTE. 

I sewed up the XXS with no fit adjustments out a flowy rayon lawn purchased locally from Fabricland. I think for future variations I might take in the center from by a centimeter or two to compensate for my smaller upper-bust (while my bust measurement matches at 32", my underbust at 27" is 3" too small for the standard bust ratio). This is a new adjustment I've been trying out lately to try and address my bust area fitting concerns. 

Not going to lie, this dropped waist is a little out of my comfort zone, so I'm pleasantly surprised it's been in weekly rotation since I made it in May. I think sewing it up in a drapier fabric helped to give my body a little more shape since it glides along my body instead of sticking out. I've seen lots of versions made in a crisper fabric from fellow testers and they all turned out beautifully, so if you're dreaming this up in a chambray or flannel go nuts! But, if you're a little unsure about how this style will look on you I would definitely recommend trying it in a drapier fabric first. And don't forget, if you lengthen the skirt pieces a little you can always raise the waist if you decide you need to if you realize you're not loving the dropped waist after you started sewing. 

Which you will, so that won't be a problem. 

I just wanted to remind you that there are always ways to make things work. 

I'm really grateful I had the chance to test this pattern because otherwise I might have (wrongly) assumed that as a firm lover of all things high-waisted that this wouldn't be a good pattern for me. This was an awesome opportunity to take a step out of my usual outfit comfort zone and try a new silhouette. 

So if any of you reading are dropped waist nay-sayers, the Forsythe dress is an awesome place to start. 

Plus you'll feel like a chic Madewell model whenever you wear it! 

Now that I've had one successful go in this pattern, I'd like to make another version in a cotton lawn with a little less drape to it and eventually work my way up to a flannel number like this one from Pyne and Smith for the fall. Could you IMAGINE how comfortable this dress would be in mammoth plaid?

Before I get too far into planning my fall wardrobe in the middle of July I'm going to wrap this post up. 

I would love to know if anyone else has had dropped waist fears. Is it just me who has found this style a little intimidating?