Aicha Hockx sent me these pictures ages and ages ago, of this amazingly gorgeous modern dress she made that features a Watteau pleat at the back.

You *must* go check out her blog to see the posts she wrote about this dress: this one with more pictures (including the front, which has pockets!), this one with historical references, and this one where she explains it all very clearly!

This would quite possibly the world's best cocktail dress if executed in gold brocade. Actually, if you showed me this in gold brocade I would not be surprised if you also said "Look, it's Prada."

I love this so much. This is the dress I will wear after the time machine is perfected and I visit 2039. (I don't want to look like a hick.)

Janet at Lanetz Living is off to the lake this weekend, but her site is having a 15% off sale while she's gone — through Monday at midnight (CST)! (Use the coupon discount code LAKE in the box on the shipping page.)

And Rita at Cemetarian is having a sale, too, which mean you can get this doozy for 15% off (you can get 15% off anything from now until Oct. 15, with free shipping in the US, too — [edited to add] use the code LUV):

I don't know how you could possibly choose between these two. I recommend grabbing 'em both. On your mark, get set, GO!

Green Dress: Only thirty more seconds, Gladys, and you'll win!

Floral Dress: Are you sure? Am I the last one standing?

Green Dress: Nobody else has a Frisbee on her head.

Floral Dress: Wait. Something's fishy. Are you sure this was a contest? Was there *ever* anyone else with a Frisbee on her head?

Green Dress: Oh, Gladys. Why would I lie to you about something as important as The First Annual Garden Club Frisbee-Hat-Balancing Contest? Ooh! I'll be right back, I think I see Amy …

Floral Dress: Doris, I'm going to wait twenty more seconds, just in case you weren't pulling my leg. And then you're going to see *stars*.

[Today's pattern is brought to you by Sandy at Sandritocat, who is running a sale — 15% off (plus you can combine with her free shipping offers for multiple purchases). Use code "Fall".]

The ridiculously talented Kellie R (you all probably know her from Pattern Review) is having a pattern giveaway on her blog — check it out! Sew *anything* in October and leave a comment on her blog with a link, and you'll be entered in the drawing!

I'm only showing you this one image from this eBay auction (from seller findsbyrebecca) because one should be all you need to click through.

This kind of "back interest" on a dress is so interesting and pretty (although I hardly ever make/wear anything that has it — I cover things up with cardigans too often to bother, I guess). This one is truly gorgeous; if it's your size you should snap it up (B36) because the price is right (BIN under $25!) and it looks to be in decent condition.

(Thanks to Robin for the link to the auction!)

You see why I HAD to buy this pattern, right? It's completely obvious? No question in your mind? First of all, it's a shirtdress, which is 50 "Erin Must Buy" points right there without even totaling up the extra points for the stripes, the standup collar, and the raglan sleeves. Add the insanely perky demeanor of the women in the illustration and you have me clicking the "Add to Cart" button before I even have the chance to blink. (Actually, looking at this pattern, I was afraid to blink, in case the women in the illustration MOVED when I wasn't looking.)

I'm thinking etsy seller tiddlywink might be glad to have this gone from her house. I feel I should put this in a box with something heavy on top, just in case.

And heaven knows what might happen when I actually MAKE the dress. Expect me to be even more chipper than usual, and that's saying something …

Why isn't anyone wearing THIS on the red carpet? This would be what I'd make if I had to do a red-carpet ANYTHING. This would be stunning in old-gold satin, with maybe tulle for that bit sticking out at the side between the scallops. Or a deep, deep fuchsia pink for a blonde. That petal bodice is to die for, and would show off a necklace (and other things) beautifully.

Who would you put in this dress? What shoes? I think NOT strappy sandals, but an open-toed d'orsay satin pump, with a diamante buckle.

[This pattern's from Lisa's Vintage Fashion Library and it's a repro, which means it's available in a range of sizes (bust 32-48) … for only $19.50! And she's running a sale through the 27th, in honor of her last teenager turning twenty! Use the code THOMAS for 20% off.]

The Winner and First-Runner-Up of the World Supercilious Gaze contest pose for newspaper reporters and photographers in Weehawken, New Jersey. The final judging of the contest was delayed twice because the contestants made several judges burst into tears and run from the dais.

The top prize in the contest is a year's supply of eyebrow pencil, donated by Revlon; the runner-up receives a stammered apology and a limp handshake.

The winner, Louisa Mcintosh, refused comment, favoring reporters with a version of her prize-winning stare. The runner-up, Candace Watson, added an eye-roll, which would have disqualified her in competition.

Next week Weehawken will host the World Simpering Contest, which will be held Saturday morning from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Elks Hall. The current winner, Maisie Degabretti of Weehawken, will defend her title against competitors from as far away as Old Lyme, Connecticut.

[Today's pattern from Sheila at Out of the Ashes — she's running a sale through the 27th, use the checkout code CLEANING!]

Last night I clicked through a few screens of Emmy Dress Coverage (or, considering the number of strapless, cut down to there/up to here, and just outright nekkid dresses that were on display, maybe I should say Emmy Dress Uncoverage) and then gave up. I don't have anything against strapless gowns, except that I am BORED TO DEATH with them. Bored, bored, bored. Ditto for Grecian dresses. Ditto for what I call (and you will know immediately what I'm talking about) "Ice-Capades" dresses. Booooooooring. Yawn.

Why don't people try for stuff like this (fur not included)?

The people at these award shows have fantastic bodies; you can't tell me they couldn't pull off something like this and still check the "young" and "sexy" boxes on their event forms. (They could wear burlap sacks and still check the "young" and "sexy" boxes on their forms.) Besides, I'm also bored with "young" and "sexy." Why not "chic"? Or, goal of goals, "soignée"? When everyone is tanned, buff, and evidently suffering from claustrophobia of the shoulders, no one is.

This pattern was available at Glass of Fashion (who wrote about it here) but it's gone now — but Penny at Antique Dollhouse still has a copy (Bust 38)! Check it out here. It has the Dress A Day Seal of Approval for your next red-carpet event.

Thanks to Helen I now have four yards of this fabric — actually, thanks to Helen I now have the LAST four yards of this fabric, because I'm mean like that. But take heart! There are other colorways (some border prints!) of this adorable Yuwa scissors fabric available at PurlSoho, and it's on sale (which means $9 instead of $15, but hey …)

It's only 43 inches wide, and I did only get four yards of it, so I'm not sure exactly what I'll make yet. (It may work for the same pattern as the infamous Target-curtain numbers dress.)

It might just be my monitor, but I think this colorway is very 1930s, especially with the old-fashioned scissors. I can't wait until it shows up … I hope I can get my new sewing room organized before then, so it can hop right into the washing machine and onto the cutting table!

This stunner is available at Cemetarian right now — I really, really like this pattern. The soft shoulder, the round collar, the cuffed sleeve, the box pleats — what's not to like?

This dress just says "fall" to me — in a nice brushed poplin, made up in autumn-leaf colors, worn with sensible oxfords, scuffing through the leaves (not that I will get any falling leaves here in California, I think), going to pick up your library books … you can see this, can't you?

The mustard-y brown in the illustration is a favorite color of mine, but I'm thinking more of a deep peacock blue, or even a jade green. I want jewel tones this fall. And gray, lots of gray. What do you all think?