Omilie Dress

As soon as I saw the Omilie Dress pattern by Merchant and Mills, I added it to my #MakeNine2023 plans immediately. Square neckline? Asymmetric button placket? Gathering? In-seam AND patch pockets? SIGN ME UP!

I bought the fabric for my dress using some birthday money when I visited Merchant and Mills with Patsy at the end of April. It’s a cotton and linen mix (70%/30%) and it is GORGEOUS. The ‘Pacific blue’ is a really lovely, rich shade of teal and the fabric is lightweight and comfortable to wear. It was an absolute joy to sew with and at only £14 per metre, I think it’s great value – perfect for a dress like the Omilie that required 3.5m to make in my size (UK 8).

I actually made the dress back in June and it was the last garment I stitched in my lovely sewing dungeon. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the sewing process, when the dress was almost finished I realised I had accidentally made a chorister’s robe! I pressed on, adding the buttons and button holes, but even when it was completed and I tried it on I felt very unsure about the shape and style – gutted!

As well as chorister vibes, I was also getting Handmaid’s Tale vibes from the dress. I struggled to think of a way to style it that would improve this, and it sat on my mannequin until we moved house at the beginning of July. I thought maybe tights and boots would work, so I was waiting for the cooler autumn weather to try wearing the dress. Then we decided to go for lunch at Water Lane on bank holiday Monday and when I realised how lovely the backdrop of a Victorian walled garden would be, I decided to take my Omilie for a twirl.

We haven’t got a full-length mirror in our new house yet, which made styling my dress even more difficult, but I think I managed to find the ideal accessories. Bright trainers seemed an unlikely choice for a chorister or handmaid, as did pairing them with some big matching earrings. My favourite bag matched the trainers and earrings and actually features some of the fabric from my dress, so that was also the perfect accessory!

I actually really loved wearing my dress out and about and although I am still getting used to the longer-length of this style, I didn’t feel silly in it at all. Two lovely ladies stopped to say how much they liked it while we were taking photos, which is always such a confidence boost! The dress was also perfect for the weather – although it was sunny and dry, it was only about 20º and the breeze was fresh, so I was glad to have longer sleeves and most of my legs covered.

My Omilie dress has certainly grown on me and I will definitely wear it again – I am looking forward to having a go at styling it differently for the cooler weather that will be on the way soon. I would also like to give the blouse version a try and will be on the look out for some suitable fabric on future shopping trips!