Story

The Meadow Dress is my reinterpretation of a beloved vintage dress in my wardrobe. I bought that vintage dress, a knee-length fit and flare with a voluminous gathered skirt, kimono sleeves, and two bows tying up the back, many years ago, and I wore it so much that it got so ragged and stained as to be no longer wearable. I kept the dress in my closet despite the fact that I couldn't wear it anymore, as if one day perhaps it would magically become de-stained and un-ripped and ready to be worn again. That day, unfortunately, has not yet come, but after many months of staring longingly at my old dress on its hanger, I realized I could fill the hole in my heart by recreating the dress I so missed — and making it a lot better in the process.

How could I improve upon my much-adored vintage dress? The first thing (clearly!) was to add big, roomy pockets. Second was to fully line the dress (having to wear a slip with a dress is such a pain!), and then I went full-on into design mode and improved the fit, adjusted the sleeves, changed up the neckline, and — perhaps most importantly — doubled the number of bows on the back. By the end, my new design wound up quite different than my inspiration, but it still retained the essence of that dress I fell in love with many years ago: with the understated femininity of its bows and the bucolic elegance of its silhouette, it brings to mind a long, slow day spent picking flowers in a sunlit meadow.

Design Details

• Main: 100% silk crepe de Chine from China
• Lining: 100% organic cotton double gauze from India
• Designed, cut, and sewn in Arkansas, USA
• Fit-and-flare silhouette
• Four bows on back can be untied
• Invisible back zip closure on skirt portion
• Hidden side seam pockets
• Fully lined
• Measures 36" long from shoulder
• Hand wash cold, line dry, warm iron as needed (learn more about garment care here)

Materials

This dress is made of 16mm silk crepe de Chine from China. The fabric is delicate and drapes beautifully, and like a true crepe de Chine, it is matte with only a subtle hint of sheen.

The cloud pattern is a custom Margu print that I designed with inspiration from the layered transparency of watercolors and my love of cloudy weather. The fabric was printed in the US with biodegradable and non-toxic inks using a waterless digital printing process. It has a blush-pink background with semi-transparent ivory-colored clouds scattered about that almost look like oblong polka dots from a distance. The dreamy blush hue of the fabric pairs excellently with ivory, and I've also found it to be a perfect complement to navy blue.

The dress is lined with undyed GOTS-certified organic cotton double gauze, produced in a Fair Trade certified mill in India. Our lining fabric is unbelievably soft and breathable and makes for a perfect lightweight layer against your skin.

In addition to the fabric, this style uses cotton thread, a YKK zipper, a metal hook and eye, and organic cotton labels.

Fit

Take a look at our Size Guide to find your size.

The Meadow is fitted in the bust and waist, so use both your bust and waist measurements when determining your size. The style runs true to size, but if your measurements fall in between sizes, I recommend sizing up to avoid any gaping in the back.

Anna is wearing a size 4 and is 5'8" with a 33" bust, 27" waist, and 42" hip.