theStyleSafari
  • Fashion
    • All Inspiration Pregnancy Style and Tips Shopping List Stefanie’s Fashion Portfolio Styling Tips
      Pregnancy and Motherhood

      Postpartum Update: 8 Weeks with Dean

      Fashion Design

      Designed by Stefanie: Floral Maternity Dress

      Pregnancy Style and Tips

      36 Week Bumpdate: Baby #3

      Pregnancy and Motherhood

      20 Week Bumpdate: Baby #3

      Inspiration

      1 Item 3 Ways: White Combat Boots

      Inspiration

      What to wear in Lake Tahoe: Summer…

      Inspiration

      My 5 Favorite Fashion TV Shows

      Inspiration

      Everything I wore in NYC last week

      Pregnancy Style and Tips

      Postpartum Update: 8 Weeks with Dean

      Pregnancy Style and Tips

      Designed by Stefanie: Floral Maternity Dress

      Pregnancy Style and Tips

      36 Week Bumpdate: Baby #3

      Pregnancy Style and Tips

      20 Week Bumpdate: Baby #3

      Shopping List

      3 Ways to Style a White Puffer…

      Shopping List

      13 Chic Non-Maternity Items under $100 to…

      Shopping List

      New Small Brand Alert: Magill Clothing

      Shopping List

      My 5 Favorite Shops in Paris

      Stefanie’s Fashion Portfolio

      Designed by Stefanie: Floral Maternity Dress

      Stefanie’s Fashion Portfolio

      Designed by Stefanie: Scrunchie Strap 2 Piece…

      Stefanie’s Fashion Portfolio

      Designed by Stefanie: Blue Print Strapless Dress…

      Stefanie’s Fashion Portfolio

      Designed by Stefanie: Red Bow Tunic and…

      Styling Tips

      The New Rules of Pattern Mixing

      Styling Tips

      5 Items I Bought and Regretted

      Styling Tips

      Style in your 30s: 3 Tips

      Styling Tips

      Early Fall Style and Transitional Style Picks

  • Home Decor
    • All Inspiration Shopping List Stefanie’s Portfolio
      Pregnancy and Motherhood

      Liam’s Modern Surf and Skate Nursery Design

      Home DIY

      DIY Ottoman Cover- Faux Fur and Beyond!

      Patternmaking Videos and Resources

      My Atelier Reveal : And a Video…

      Home Decor

      Atelier The Style Safari: Designing my Ultimate…

      Inspiration

      Being Trapped Indoors has me Dreaming of…

      Inspiration

      Bathroom Vanity Organization

      Inspiration

      Powder Room Remodel and Designing with Large…

      Inspiration

      San Francisco Decorator Showcase 2019

      Shopping List

      7 Must Have Interior Design books for…

      Shopping List

      10 Light and White Coffee Tables

      Shopping List

      Target Project 62: 20 More Reasons to…

      Shopping List

      The New New at CB2 will make…

      Stefanie’s Portfolio

      Liam’s Modern Surf and Skate Nursery Design

      Stefanie’s Portfolio

      DIY Ottoman Cover- Faux Fur and Beyond!

      Stefanie’s Portfolio

      My Atelier Reveal : And a Video…

      Stefanie’s Portfolio

      Atelier The Style Safari: Designing my Ultimate…

  • Lifestyle
    • All Fitness Pregnancy and Motherhood Thoughts and Essays Weddings and Wedding Planning
      Pregnancy and Motherhood

      Postpartum Update: 8 Weeks with Dean

      Pregnancy and Motherhood

      Postpartum Update: 4 Weeks with Dean

      Fashion Design

      Designed by Stefanie: Floral Maternity Dress

      Pregnancy and Motherhood

      30 Week Bumpdate: Baby #3

      Fitness

      How to Make the Most out of…

      Fitness

      The Diet I Didn’t Realize I was…

      Fitness

      Postpartum Fitness with ClassPass LIVE

      Fitness

      Pregnancy Safe Workout: What I actually do…

      Pregnancy and Motherhood

      Postpartum Update: 8 Weeks with Dean

      Pregnancy and Motherhood

      Postpartum Update: 4 Weeks with Dean

      Pregnancy and Motherhood

      Designed by Stefanie: Floral Maternity Dress

      Pregnancy and Motherhood

      30 Week Bumpdate: Baby #3

      Thoughts and Essays

      Why I Quit ‘Influencing’

      Thoughts and Essays

      10 Tasks for February, and my short…

      Thoughts and Essays

      Budgeting Tips for Bloggers

      Thoughts and Essays

      The First Trimester Blues: Different from Last…

      Weddings and Wedding Planning

      My Engagement Story

      Weddings and Wedding Planning

      #WeddingWednesday: The Details, Paper Goods and Gifts

      Weddings and Wedding Planning

      Designed by Stefanie: #WeddingWednesday – The Dress

      Weddings and Wedding Planning

      #WeddingWednesday: My Table Settings and Headaches

  • Travel
    • Travel

      7 TIPS FOR SHOPPING THE SOUKS OF…

      Travel

      Everything I Wore in Jackson Hole, Wyoming

      Travel

      My 5 Favorite Shops in Paris

      Travel

      What to Pack for your next Beach…

      Travel

      Colmar Travel Guide: Where to Eat and…

  • Sewing & DIY
    • All Accessories DIY Clothing DIY Home DIY Patternmaking Videos and Resources Project Real Way
      Home DIY

      Liam Turns 1! His California Surf Theme…

      Home DIY

      Marina Turns 3! Her Rainbow Birthday Party

      Home DIY

      DIY Ottoman Cover- Faux Fur and Beyond!

      Patternmaking Videos and Resources

      My Atelier Reveal : And a Video…

      Accessories DIY

      DIY Ice Dye Ring Sling

      Accessories DIY

      DIY Woven Ribbon Bag

      Accessories DIY

      DIY Floral Headband for Babies and Toddlers

      Accessories DIY

      DIY Gold Cowrie Shell Necklace

      Clothing DIY

      Daddy Daughter Reversible Robe Gifts with Simplicity

      Clothing DIY

      Easy Toddler Elton John Costume for Halloween

      Clothing DIY

      Designed by Stefanie: Mixed Print Robe Dress

      Clothing DIY

      Upcycled White Shirt Dress Tutorial

      Home DIY

      Liam Turns 1! His California Surf Theme…

      Home DIY

      Marina Turns 3! Her Rainbow Birthday Party

      Home DIY

      DIY Ottoman Cover- Faux Fur and Beyond!

      Home DIY

      DIY Felt Monster Puppets for Toddlers

      Patternmaking Videos and Resources

      My Atelier Reveal : And a Video…

      Patternmaking Videos and Resources

      How to design and embroider a custom…

      Patternmaking Videos and Resources

      Sewing With Stefanie: Unique Pleating Techniques Tutorial

      Patternmaking Videos and Resources

      How to Use Decorative Stitches on Clothing…

      Project Real Way

      Project Realway: Warm Weather Look Inspired by…

      Project Real Way

      Project Real Way Challenge 8: Editorial New…

      Project Real Way

      Project Real Way Challenge 7: Look for…

      Project Real Way

      Project Real Way Challenge 6: Streetwear for…

  • About & Partnerships
    • Partnerships
Recent Articles
Postpartum Update: 8 Weeks with Dean
Postpartum Update: 4 Weeks with Dean
Designed by Stefanie: Floral Maternity Dress
36 Week Bumpdate: Baby #3
30 Week Bumpdate: Baby #3
Why I Quit ‘Influencing’

theStyleSafari

  • Fashion
    • All Inspiration Pregnancy Style and Tips Shopping List Stefanie’s Fashion Portfolio Styling Tips
      Pregnancy and Motherhood

      Postpartum Update: 8 Weeks with Dean

      Fashion Design

      Designed by Stefanie: Floral Maternity Dress

      Pregnancy Style and Tips

      36 Week Bumpdate: Baby #3

      Pregnancy and Motherhood

      20 Week Bumpdate: Baby #3

      Inspiration

      1 Item 3 Ways: White Combat Boots

      Inspiration

      What to wear in Lake Tahoe: Summer…

      Inspiration

      My 5 Favorite Fashion TV Shows

      Inspiration

      Everything I wore in NYC last week

      Pregnancy Style and Tips

      Postpartum Update: 8 Weeks with Dean

      Pregnancy Style and Tips

      Designed by Stefanie: Floral Maternity Dress

      Pregnancy Style and Tips

      36 Week Bumpdate: Baby #3

      Pregnancy Style and Tips

      20 Week Bumpdate: Baby #3

      Shopping List

      3 Ways to Style a White Puffer…

      Shopping List

      13 Chic Non-Maternity Items under $100 to…

      Shopping List

      New Small Brand Alert: Magill Clothing

      Shopping List

      My 5 Favorite Shops in Paris

      Stefanie’s Fashion Portfolio

      Designed by Stefanie: Floral Maternity Dress

      Stefanie’s Fashion Portfolio

      Designed by Stefanie: Scrunchie Strap 2 Piece…

      Stefanie’s Fashion Portfolio

      Designed by Stefanie: Blue Print Strapless Dress…

      Stefanie’s Fashion Portfolio

      Designed by Stefanie: Red Bow Tunic and…

      Styling Tips

      The New Rules of Pattern Mixing

      Styling Tips

      5 Items I Bought and Regretted

      Styling Tips

      Style in your 30s: 3 Tips

      Styling Tips

      Early Fall Style and Transitional Style Picks

  • Home Decor
    • All Inspiration Shopping List Stefanie’s Portfolio
      Pregnancy and Motherhood

      Liam’s Modern Surf and Skate Nursery Design

      Home DIY

      DIY Ottoman Cover- Faux Fur and Beyond!

      Patternmaking Videos and Resources

      My Atelier Reveal : And a Video…

      Home Decor

      Atelier The Style Safari: Designing my Ultimate…

      Inspiration

      Being Trapped Indoors has me Dreaming of…

      Inspiration

      Bathroom Vanity Organization

      Inspiration

      Powder Room Remodel and Designing with Large…

      Inspiration

      San Francisco Decorator Showcase 2019

      Shopping List

      7 Must Have Interior Design books for…

      Shopping List

      10 Light and White Coffee Tables

      Shopping List

      Target Project 62: 20 More Reasons to…

      Shopping List

      The New New at CB2 will make…

      Stefanie’s Portfolio

      Liam’s Modern Surf and Skate Nursery Design

      Stefanie’s Portfolio

      DIY Ottoman Cover- Faux Fur and Beyond!

      Stefanie’s Portfolio

      My Atelier Reveal : And a Video…

      Stefanie’s Portfolio

      Atelier The Style Safari: Designing my Ultimate…

  • Lifestyle
    • All Fitness Pregnancy and Motherhood Thoughts and Essays Weddings and Wedding Planning
      Pregnancy and Motherhood

      Postpartum Update: 8 Weeks with Dean

      Pregnancy and Motherhood

      Postpartum Update: 4 Weeks with Dean

      Fashion Design

      Designed by Stefanie: Floral Maternity Dress

      Pregnancy and Motherhood

      30 Week Bumpdate: Baby #3

      Fitness

      How to Make the Most out of…

      Fitness

      The Diet I Didn’t Realize I was…

      Fitness

      Postpartum Fitness with ClassPass LIVE

      Fitness

      Pregnancy Safe Workout: What I actually do…

      Pregnancy and Motherhood

      Postpartum Update: 8 Weeks with Dean

      Pregnancy and Motherhood

      Postpartum Update: 4 Weeks with Dean

      Pregnancy and Motherhood

      Designed by Stefanie: Floral Maternity Dress

      Pregnancy and Motherhood

      30 Week Bumpdate: Baby #3

      Thoughts and Essays

      Why I Quit ‘Influencing’

      Thoughts and Essays

      10 Tasks for February, and my short…

      Thoughts and Essays

      Budgeting Tips for Bloggers

      Thoughts and Essays

      The First Trimester Blues: Different from Last…

      Weddings and Wedding Planning

      My Engagement Story

      Weddings and Wedding Planning

      #WeddingWednesday: The Details, Paper Goods and Gifts

      Weddings and Wedding Planning

      Designed by Stefanie: #WeddingWednesday – The Dress

      Weddings and Wedding Planning

      #WeddingWednesday: My Table Settings and Headaches

  • Travel
    • Travel

      7 TIPS FOR SHOPPING THE SOUKS OF…

      Travel

      Everything I Wore in Jackson Hole, Wyoming

      Travel

      My 5 Favorite Shops in Paris

      Travel

      What to Pack for your next Beach…

      Travel

      Colmar Travel Guide: Where to Eat and…

  • Sewing & DIY
    • All Accessories DIY Clothing DIY Home DIY Patternmaking Videos and Resources Project Real Way
      Home DIY

      Liam Turns 1! His California Surf Theme…

      Home DIY

      Marina Turns 3! Her Rainbow Birthday Party

      Home DIY

      DIY Ottoman Cover- Faux Fur and Beyond!

      Patternmaking Videos and Resources

      My Atelier Reveal : And a Video…

      Accessories DIY

      DIY Ice Dye Ring Sling

      Accessories DIY

      DIY Woven Ribbon Bag

      Accessories DIY

      DIY Floral Headband for Babies and Toddlers

      Accessories DIY

      DIY Gold Cowrie Shell Necklace

      Clothing DIY

      Daddy Daughter Reversible Robe Gifts with Simplicity

      Clothing DIY

      Easy Toddler Elton John Costume for Halloween

      Clothing DIY

      Designed by Stefanie: Mixed Print Robe Dress

      Clothing DIY

      Upcycled White Shirt Dress Tutorial

      Home DIY

      Liam Turns 1! His California Surf Theme…

      Home DIY

      Marina Turns 3! Her Rainbow Birthday Party

      Home DIY

      DIY Ottoman Cover- Faux Fur and Beyond!

      Home DIY

      DIY Felt Monster Puppets for Toddlers

      Patternmaking Videos and Resources

      My Atelier Reveal : And a Video…

      Patternmaking Videos and Resources

      How to design and embroider a custom…

      Patternmaking Videos and Resources

      Sewing With Stefanie: Unique Pleating Techniques Tutorial

      Patternmaking Videos and Resources

      How to Use Decorative Stitches on Clothing…

      Project Real Way

      Project Realway: Warm Weather Look Inspired by…

      Project Real Way

      Project Real Way Challenge 8: Editorial New…

      Project Real Way

      Project Real Way Challenge 7: Look for…

      Project Real Way

      Project Real Way Challenge 6: Streetwear for…

  • About & Partnerships
    • Partnerships
Stefanie's Fashion Portfolio

Designed by Stefanie: Blue Print Strapless Dress With Contrast Piping

Hi All!

We just back from Mexico and I wanted to share a few of the looks that I made for this once in a lifetime trip! First up is my blue print strapless dress with contrast piping. This dress is a bit of a love letter to some of my favorite fabrics and trims that I have been stashing away until I had the perfect design for them. Going on a family trip to Cabo San Lucas finally seemed like the perfect time to make something beautiful, and for this design, I really let the fabric and trim shine.

Blue Print Strapless Dress with contrast Piping drawing

The Materials

The blue and white pattern on this cotton sateen is unlike anything I have ever seen before. I bought this fabric almost a decade ago in the remnant section of Britex Fabrics in San Francisco, not having a plan for it. It was only 1 3/4 yards! Over the years, I have used it as a backdrop for photos and as a table cloth, but never wanted to cut into it for fear I would make something and hate it.

Fast forward to COVID and finally being able to travel… and it just felt like it was time! For 18 months I have been trying to move through my fabric stash, making some designs I love and some I hate. Along the way I realized that the mental weight of holding onto each fabric (I have moved 3 times since I bought this!) was worse than making something I hated, so the time was ripe to use it.

I also have been hoarding one of my favorite trims from East Coast Trimming in NYC. I discovered this trim years ago, and the perfect black and white woven jacquard chevron is so beautiful, it pairs and elevates any design. BUT- at $12 a yard you can bet I use it sparingly and wisely!

The Design

Since I had very little fabric to work with, my design needed to be relatively close-fitting, and devoid of too many seams. I decided that I wanted to make something a bit dressier, because the fabric is so statement-making and I would enjoy wearing it for special occasions. There are lots of unique necklines on runway designs lately, most likely driven by the increase of “waist up” dressing from Zoom calls, so I wanted to try my hand at a more angular one. The trim does double duty then- highlighting the square neckline, and adding an unexpected detail.

I let the rest of the silhouette stay classic, with a simple pleat front and back skirt allowing room for in-seam pockets, and as long of a length as I could manage with my fabric yardage. The zipper running down the front is the closure to the garment, which helped to lengthen the lines of the dress.

Blue Print Strapless Dress with contrast Piping inserting boning

The Construction

This dress was more difficult to construct than you would have expected. The bodice contains 3 forms of structure: mid-weight interfacing to give weight to the fabric, bust cups to give shape to the squared out bust, and boning at the side seams and center front to hold up the bodice.

I would give myself a C+ on the inner construction. I designed the dress with very few seams, which didn’t allow many places to insert boning, making it difficult to add in shape. Because of this, I had to add boning to the center front seams, which made me lose my bust shape, and was difficult to sew because of the zipper.

There was a lot of hand sewing with the trim which came out beautifully, but was a time suck. In the end, I never regret hand-sewing because the result is so much more beautiful, but I do have to plan out when I’m going to fit in the time accordingly!

Blue Print Strapless Dress with contrast Piping in Cabo San Lucas

The Final Blue Print Strapless Dress With Contrast Piping

This dress is nothing if not a head-turner, and one of my most popular designs to date. I felt amazing and beautiful wearing it, and felt I was wearing a work of art. There are so many learnings from the making and hoarding of this dress fabric, but one of them is that if you love something, it’s worth the cost, and it’s also worth the wait. In the end, the result will be better when you truly love the ingredients.

Blue Print Strapless Dress with contrast Piping in Cabo San Lucas Blue Print Strapless Dress with contrast Piping final Blue Print Strapless Dress with contrast Piping final Blue Print Strapless Dress with contrast Piping closeup

Designed by Stefanie: Blue Print Strapless Dress With Contrast Piping was last modified: June 21st, 2022 by Stefanie
Pin
Tweet
Share
0 comment
2
Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
Liam's Modern Surf and Skate Nursery, Baby Boy nursery ideas, green teal, wood, ocean, palm trees, nestig baby crib, Mockup
previous post
Liam’s Modern Surf and Skate Nursery Design
California Surf Theme Birthday Party - Liam turns one!
next post
Liam Turns 1! His California Surf Theme Birthday Party

You may also like

Designed by Stefanie: Floral Maternity Dress

Designed by Stefanie: Scrunchie Strap 2 Piece...

Designed by Stefanie: Red Bow Tunic and...

Subscribe to The Style Safari!

Receive monthly updates and exclusive content on sustainable Fashion, DIY projects and personal style!

Popular Articles

  • The Evolution of the Date Night… into Date Morning

  • How to Drape a Basic Raglan Sleeve

  • How I’m embracing Slow Fashion and Still Dressing like Me

  • Designed by Stefanie: Oversize Bow Dress

  • Sewing Room Storage and Pegboard Organization

Latest Looks

  • Postpartum Update: 8 Weeks with Dean

  • Designed by Stefanie: Floral Maternity Dress

  • 36 Week Bumpdate: Baby #3

  • 20 Week Bumpdate: Baby #3

  • Designed by Stefanie: Scrunchie Strap 2...

  • Designed by Stefanie: Blue Print Strapless...

  • 1 Item 3 Ways: White Combat...

  • 3 Ways to Style a White...

What I’m Loving Now

Subscribe to My YouTube Channel!

CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE!
Schoen Retail Consulting, Stefanie Schoen, Stefanie Reinstein
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Bloglovin
Footer Logo

Back To Top