As you may or may not know, I recently wrote a book about love words in other languages (That's Amore). As part of the giant publicity blitz for said book (you may have also heard me on the radio in Michigan and Albany, NY), there was a short feature in Chicago Magazine about it. With a photo (of me, not the book jacket). For which the photographer asked if I could wear something red.
Well, that, of course, was like a flag (of the same color) to a bull: why not, I reasoned (although I'm not sure if "reason" really came into it), go all-out and make a Valentine's-themed dress? Something I'd never wear in civilian life, but would be fun for a photo shoot? I'm not usually a fan of stunt clothing, but this seemed easy enough to do, so I did it.
The fabric is Alexander Henry "Tattoo Hearts" (sadly, no longer available in the red colorway from eQuilter, but the buttercream is now on sale …) and the pattern is Simplicity 4532, which was quite easy to make.
Here's a closeup of the bodice:
Now, I probably won't wear this dress very much (not even today, because even though it's Valentine's there's about a foot of snow outside). I might even cut it down for a skirt, which would be more wearable. But making it was a fun way to spend a few hours, certainly …
A Dress A Day 
What’a cute photo. The dress was great for that. Great use of that fabric.
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You look great…love the glasses…and the dress!
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I love the fabric – i would wear it when i felt a little blue to cheer myself up!
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The cover of the book on Amazon has a different author’s name! Unless you’re using a pseudonym??
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I LOVE IT! I’m not sure if it’s because it’s my FAVORITE color, or because the dress design is simple making the fabric design shine even more! I may have to make this one up for my cousin’s wedding in March–in RED, of course!P.S. Love your blog!
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Yep, there’s an error on the Amazon page. I wrote the book, and Christopher Moore wrote the (great) introduction!
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Oh my gosh, that’s so purty. Is red the thing to wear for publicity shots? I just discovered your blog–I think someone linked to mine and she had you on her blogroll or something. Dresses make me so happy and now so does your blog. There’s a girl in my office who is trying to eliminate all clothing besides dresses and underthings from her wardrobe. I’ll have to send this to her too!
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Want. Want want want. Desperately. I’m so glad I didn’t know about this fabric and I have no interest in the buttercream version.*ded* from desire for this dress.–Lydia
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GREAT dress!!! Love it w/those shoes too!I’d want to wear it everyday!!sheri
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Congratulations, Erin. That dress looks perfect for the occasion.
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No, no, don’t wreck it! Not a skirt! I LOVE this dress and if it were mine I’d wear it every day it wasn’t in the wash.
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Quite simply: awesome.(And I somehow knew you’d have a great Valentine’s Day post. This dress is totally outrageous. :D)
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Erin,That is a gorgeous dress. I am so inspired. I don’t really have an eye for looking at a vintage pattern and seeing it in a modern fabric, I am envious of your talents. Anyway. I think you could wear the dress more than you think.
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I *Love* it!Happy V.Day
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I adore this dress. I’d wear it all the time! I’m a sucker for the bright red, and a square neckline.
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I wanted to see this dress on so I saved and blew up your publicity photo and noticed the red watchband and glasses! Redness! Fascinating article about the “real” you, too. Congratulations on your new book and on getting Amazon to fix the authorship so quickly.
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So! Cute!I love that photo of you, Erin, and I love this dress. I would wear the hell out of it, if it were mine.
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I second nadine, you CAN’T cut it, you just CAN’T! It’s too pretty.
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Erin, the dress is great and you look adorable in the photo! Perfect shoes for it, too! You are really amazing. Of course I will go buy the book, too. I can’t believe how restrained you have been in the bragging arena…a great role model. (As well as a great Valentine’s Day dress model!)
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Wow, I love it, and the picture is great. Please don’t turn it into a skirt… it’s just too fantastic as a dress! I’m sure you’ll find more occasion to wear it than you think.
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I am utterly fascinated with the idea of a “stunt dress” — brilliant idea.My sweetie and I are invited to an Ocscar Party (food, fun, and toss a few bucks in pool to guess the winners) and we are to dress in our red-carpet-attending-the-Oscars fancy duds. Sweetie is considering renting a tux, a stunt suit if ever there was one. I need a stunt dress.CMC
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What a fabulous picture of you! And that dress is great – the fabric is wonderful and in this pattern looks completely swank.*adds another book to wishlist*
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Great article about you! Glad you shared thzt. Love the whole look in the photo. Really like your dress, please don’t make it into a skirt!
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Faubulous!I can imagine us all redecorating our castles : )I think my friend Annie Mohaupt is in the same issue…She is a Chicago designer who makes handmade shoes:http://www.mohop.com/~Becky
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Look how totally cute in that photo! The dress, AND the author!It’s a beautiful dress, and beautiful on you. I think it deserves to be worn more than once a year, and I don’t think you should cut it up! (Although the buttercream might make a very cute petticoat underneath it.)
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It’ a beautiful dress, Erin. Keep it! Wear it!
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I’m with the others on preserving the dress–part of your history and achievement. To look at the fabric on a bolt I don’t think I would have had faith in the power of its quality to turn out such a stunning effect. You impress me! Well done! I say treasure the dress and actually wear it. This is one of a kind itself! Your book sounds really fascinating. I will order a copy of it and actually read it.
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Supercute! I don’t think you should make it into a skirt. It’s not aggressively heart-y, they just happen to be part of the pattern. But then again, I love hearts (despite or perhaps because of my perpetual lovelornity).
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I heart this dress. Hope you get to wear it at least once before you turn it into a skirt.
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Congrats, Erin! What a cute photo. And keep it as a dress, pleease? It’s a winner.
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I love stunt dresses. Actually, because of this post (I follow the links and I buy things), I’ll be throwing one together myself next week, praying that the fabric order gets here in time! I’m aiming for the retro Butterick 4919 in Kaffe Fassett’s Bead Stripe (magenta).
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I totally covet that pattern, it has now been added to my ebay list of things to find someday. Also, I tracked this entry back to when you originally bought this pattern and well, your link to the Ebay store stellablue caused me to happily part with some money. What great patterns! Thanks again Erin for your blog.
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So cute! And fun article…I love “lethiferous” – I’m going to have to try to work that one into circulation. Now, is the “-sug” in “bookiesug” pronounced as in sugar? A friend recently apprised us that “book” is “cool” in phone-texting “l33t” (or whatever you’d call it). Which in our geeky world seems totally apt, on a par with “word” meaning “I hear that” or “no doubt”. I keep forgetting to use it though, so I’ll try it here:That dress is so pretty! and it’s so book you sewed it yourself!
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Are you not just the cutest girl, ever? Love it! You are a woman of many talents.
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Late to the party as usual! Erin, you look smashing in the dress. It looks like you’re having a good time at the photo shoot and I can’t wait to get your new book. Hope your V-Day was spectacular. I heart you & Dress A Day!Holly
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how is it that I have been reading this blog for ages and didn’t know that you were Erin McKean?Chapters/Indigo books in Canada also has Christopher Moore as the author of That’s Amore!and I think this may be one of my favourite dresses ever! (well, that and the one from Feb 13th)
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Erin, if you’re afraid of the dress just wear it with a black cardigan. That way you won’t break any hearts- no pun intended, by cutting it in half, and it can look skirt-ish. Great photo!
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i don’t even know you and i feel famous by association. 🙂
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This dress is fabulous! I’d wear it all the time.
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The dress looks adorable on you! Don’t cut it down!!
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Maybe my taste is more flamboyant than you lol, but the prints you choose to use and the styles of the dresses you create I don’t often find pretty. I actually prefer this to most of your other dresses.:)
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What a lovely dress and colour!
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This dress is fabu. I would love to have it.
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Cute dress. Here is a more recent link for thearticle. http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/February-2007/Strike-a-Pose/
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