There was something about the silhouette of the Florin Wrap Dress from Then & Now Patterns that immediately drew me in. I love vintage-inspired designs, and this pattern has that beautiful 1950s feel with a fitted bodice, full A-line skirt and a gorgeous wrap detail across the back. It feels classic while still being completely wearable today.
For my Florin, I used the Minerva Festival de Flores linen viscose blend in Azul. The gorgeous royal blue and white print is absolutely stunning, and the linen-viscose blend was such a good match for this pattern. It has enough body to show off the shape of the dress while still having lovely movement and drape.
Before cutting, I prewashed and dried my fabric the same way I plan to care for the finished garment. This is especially important when working with linen and viscose because both fibres can experience some shrinkage. Prewashing also gives you a better idea of how the fabric will behave after laundering, so there are no surprises after you’ve put all that work into your garment!
The Florin can be made as either a dress or a skirt, and the dress includes several neckline options. There’s a square neckline, which I chose, a square neckline with a V-notch, and a softer scoop neckline. I’m particularly tempted by that V-notch for another version! I also love the front patch pockets and waist ties.
But it was really that back that sold me. The bodice wraps beautifully across the back, creating such a flattering shape, and the neckline is secured at the back with a simple button or hook-and-eye closure.
For sizing, I cut a size 20, but after sewing it up, I realized I could have gone down a size. I took in the side seams quite a bit to get the fit I wanted. I also had some gaping along the front square neckline, so I increased the seam allowance by almost a full inch until everything laid nice and flat. Because I’m short-waisted, I also shortened both the front and back bodice pieces.
Getting the fit right through that beautiful wrap opening in the back took a little more work. I ended up increasing the seam allowance there as well until the back fit and laid the way I wanted. I will say, this was one of those times when sewing and fitting by yourself was a challenge. You simply can’t see everything happening behind you! This might actually be one of those moments when having a dress form would have made a huge difference. Thankfully, my husband graciously stepped in to be my extra set of eyes while I made the adjustments.
I really wanted to make the long-sleeved version, but because this fabric is only about 44 inches wide, I simply didn’t have enough fabric. I was able to squeeze out the short-sleeved version instead, and I’m so happy with how it turned out.
Now I’m hoping to get in a few wears before fall weather officially settles in. And with that gorgeous royal blue and white print, I may just have to find a way to carry this one into fall!