wiggle frock

i bought these two beautiful cottons at vogue fabric. there are a few yards of each, and i'd like to make dresses, even though these colors aren't typical of what i'm wearing right now. (lots of minimalist, structured black, white, and gray.)

the dress envisioned would have a modest, slim cut, which would contrast with the exciting orange and yellow wax print, or the peach and blue shibori. once in a while, in a thrift store, i come across a 1950s-cut dress in this gorgeous african textile, usually with short sleeves. when i was staying in london, my host (a jamaican-born teacher) took me with her to church, and i saw a bunch of ladies whose prim silhouettes were enhanced by knockout colors. 

i haven't drawn up a pattern, but that's the next step. count on narrow sleeves, knee-length pencil skirt, with maybe a slight origami-fold bustle. wasp waist, collar-bone neckline. form follows fabric, and this isn't draping gauze or slouchy knit. suppose they should be lined, too.

another idea would be to make a dress in ...black... and use the brights for contrast paneling, like over the hips, but that seems kind of tame.