I'm super embarrassed about how long it has taken me to document some of my favourite sewing projects from last year. I made a few incredible things that I hung in our sample closet intending to photograph, and then just got busy and forgot about. When I finally got my act together this month, it was like discovering a whole new wardrobe.
This red silk Kielo wrap dress from Named is one of those "oh man I forgot how much I love this!" makes. I love the idea of a red dress (maybe it's nostalgia for this song?) but I've always been nervous to pull the trigger since it's such a huge colour statement. I dipped my toes in the game with this very soft, coral-ish red textured silk I got in San Francisco last year (I scored the last few precious yards from the bolt!) It's got a sand-washed finish, so it doesn't read as bold and bright as say, that bananas plunging gown Julia Roberts wore in Pretty Woman. Which is to say, much more my speed.
One of the best things about this pattern is that you can wear it tied in the front or back for two pretty different looks. Here it is tied in the back:
Tied this way, it's much more of a straight column, with all the volume happening in the back.
For more of a party, you can also tie it in the front. This creates serious drama, in addition to a lot of tulip-shaped volume at the hips. I'm into exaggerated silhouettes so I love the shape, but it might not be for everyone.
 
 
And of course, the silhouette when unwrapped is practically iconic at this point. Here is my Kielo flying squirrel:
This pattern really exemplifies why I love so many of Named's designs. It's such a simple concept with minimal pattern pieces but the wow factor is very high. I made this to wear to a friend's summer wedding, and I had fun switching how it was tied all night long. I may have done some tipsy champagne dancing in full flying squirrel mode.
I was so happy to rediscover this dress I brought it to California with me last week and wore it on our one fancy night out to the Dresden (which incidentally is a MUST VISIT in LA. They have this amazingly kitschy-great jazz duo named Marty and Elayne who play there every night, made famous by a scene in the movie Swingers. We ate in the gloriously old-school Hollywood restaurant first; the food was fine but the setting was worth every penny). After wearing it for a few hours I remembered its fatal flaw; it's just a little too tight across the bust. This is 100% my fault. The pattern needs fabric with a bit of stretch, and this silk is stretch-less. I should have gone up a size or two, especially since I sewed the armholes higher than intended. I didn't like how low they sat on me when I tried on a Kielo one of my students made during a past workshop. By sewing a smaller armhole I gave myself less width across the chest, so the fabric wants to pull up and sit on top of my bust. It's not a major thing and I still love and plan to wear this a lot, but if I make another I will make sure I give my girls more room. I'd also raise the location of the ties; I find they sit just an inch or two lower than my natural waist when tied.
In terms of construction, I skipped the neck facing and finished the neckline and armholes with matching bias tape. It was a relatively quick and simple make and I plan on treating it casually. I've started washing and drying all my silk like normal clothing; not treating it preciously means I'm more likely to wear it day to day. And this dress looks great dressed up or down with my white converse high tops, so I'm hoping she sees a lot of daylight once the seasons change. I think I also have a few yards of the same silk in navy, so I'm brainstorming ways to use it. It photographs so beautifully.
 
Have you tried sewing Kielo yet? And would you ever consider wearing a red dress?
Details: Kielo dress by Named in red silk remnant, Lipstick: Glossier Generation G in Zip, Shoes: very old Aldo, Glasses: Firmoo
This is so great! I’ve got some magenta silk with a cool texture that’s been sitting in my stash forever. I hadn’t thought about using it for a sack dress, but that might be the perfect thing for it. Thanks for the inspo!
And what is it with Named and low armscyes? I had to raise them on Inari by at least an inch or else there was some serious interference with the bustline.
It’s not really an armscye if I remember correctly. It’s almost two angled lines you sew together to make the side seam – I just sewed it higher up because I’m not crazy about showing too much skin under my arms.
“I may have done some tipsy champagne dancing in full flying squirrel mode.”
OMG I love you.
Hahaha xoxo
Beautiful dress! I am curious though, and this has been stopping me from making it, how is walking in the dress? It looks pretty pegged at the hem, is it restrictive in walking at all?
There’s a big split in the back so it’s easy to walk in.
WOW this is quite possibly the most Heather Lou-feeling dress ever? You look effortlessly chic, and yet super comfortable.
Just bought the pattern specifically because of this post. I want a linen Kielo with converse for summer.
YES TO LINEN! That would be absolutely fetching on you Nicole.
Ah yes, the Kielo squirrel. I do that a few times every single time I wear mine.
It’s a fun dance 🙂
Love this, it’s like you’re swaddled in beautiful silk! Great photo setup too btw. I feel similarly about red: I just made a true cherry red balloon sweater and haven’t figured out how to wear it without feeling like a sore thumb yet…
With jeans! Perfect outfit. I LOVE MY NEW PHOTO SPACE! The glory of a white wall!
It’s gorgeous gorgeous! Makes me wanna make a red dress baaaaad!
DO ITTTTTT!
I have been ogling the Kielo ever since it came out, but I just don’t think that I could carry it off. On you, however – it looks absolutely fabulous.
I think it looks great on everyone who has made it!
Gorgeous fabric and perfect for the dresses. I love your necklace, stunning design.
Thanks Linda! I got the necklace in London, I love it so much.
It’s a very versatile pattern isn’t it? Red is just the thing to brighten a cruddy January day, so I’m in the middle of making quite a lot of red garments///or sewing dirty great big red rose appliques onto plain ones!
Ah! Love that idea!
That silk is REALLY gorgeous! I don’t mind coral but red, red is something I cringe away from. It has too many associations for me after all these years – Christmas and Valentine’s Day come to mind immediately when I see red. I’m also really pale faced (and getting more so as I get longer in the tooth) so when I wear red I’m little disturbingly reminiscent of a vampire. People ask me constantly if I’m feeling alright fearing I’m going to keel over any minute. Pink on the other hand really suits me but I wear it seldom – I’m more inclined to the cooler mauves and purples. But I would have had a terrible time turning down that silk! Love your dress on you too. It’s suits you so well. It’s exciting 🙂
Thanks Kathleen! It’s a hard colour to wear I think, but my feeling is the orangey reds are a little more flattering to most skin tones than the deeper blue or cool reds.
WOW! I think it would make an awesome wedding dress (tied in the back version)!
Fabulous. Love this pattern I made a scuba kielo in a giant abstract floral and enjoy the way the scuba adds to the structure!
What fabulous silk! And, you’ve basically stolen my next sewing project from inside my head. I’ve been wanting to make a non-stretch keilo for the last few months, and still have some hope for finishing one before summer down here ends… so good to know about the sizing up and armhole thing, thanks! Absolutely love the silhouette of this pattern – looks totally smashing on you 🙂
oh, yes:). This is fab. How could you not have worn it till now? It suits you so much!
I love red. I always have red shoes or boots in winter and red sandals in summer. And I have had red dresses in my time – love their energy! My present one is dressy so doesn’t get wron often – it’s long and very flaring in red lace lined in red:D. Love it!
What a beautiful dress and it suits you so well!
It is a great pattern and your version is beautiful. I made my Kielo in a viscose crepe knit for the most recent Melbourne Frocktails when I was 37 weeks pregnant and it was perfect (but OMG cutting out all that fabric when I was so big, nightmare!). I loved the way the folds of fabric sat perfectly over my bump! I raised the armholes and the ties too (actually I made removable ties so I could fancy it up or casual it down). As for red dresses, yes! Like red lipstick I think there’s a shade that suits everyone, you just have to track it down.
Wow this dress is so beautiful! There is nothing more fabulous than a woman wearing a red dress! Do you think i could do it with this kind of material? https://www.quartierdestissus.com/tissus-coton/762-tissu-tarlatane-plaque-de-15m-000.html i still have some rests of my last cretion so i thought of using it thank you for your answer:)
I think so! Just size up since the fabric was drafted for fabrics with stretch.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/2285098741848012
Can you make something like this for the plus size community in the US. A product, a pattern, a tutorial…anything?
Hi Casey,
We thank you for the suggestion.
You can find multiple tutorials on the internet for this kind of pants with the keyword ‘wrap pants’ 🙂