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They say that luxury is a craft, not a logo. At least that's what "Quiet Luxury" says. For most people, this type of clothing is inaccessible. What if you could buy these beautiful, high-quality luxury fabrics and sew them yourself at home on a sewing machine to create timeless wardrobe staples for a fraction of the price?
Quiet Sewing
It is sewing luxury fabrics, working with the details inside, and knowing that you are wearing an absolutely unique, quality piece.
I used to think these materials were only for select boutiques. As I started sewing more and more, I discovered that these premium fabrics are available in stores for a fraction of the price of ready-made dresses in a boutique.
I call it quiet sewing. I use high-quality fabrics, I work honestly on the details, even on the inside of the clothes, and I am gradually sewing my own wardrobe to order.
I am not a professional; I am still learning and overcoming my fear of cutting into premium fabric. But no one is perfect right away. The important thing is to start and persevere. The skills will then come on their own over time.
Today I will show you how I sewed a classic, minimalist A-line dress from beautiful dark blue Loro Piana linen.
It is a timeless and sophisticated piece.
Inspiration for sewing a dress from Loro Piana luxury linen
I love clean lines and a sophisticated look. The classic A-cut is about pure minimalism, so the material used stands out. This way, you can take a simple model that even a beginner can sew and elevate it to the highest level.
I used the A-cut deliberately because it suits every figure. It hides what you have and helps you to draw an elegant silhouette. In addition, it is very comfortable. This way, you get an extremely elegant and sophisticated model that will last you for many years.
Sewing Luxury Fabric Loro Piana Linen
When I first came across this fabric in the store, I was attracted by its deep shade of dark blue. It is like the night sky. At the same time, I was a little uncomfortable with the material's transparency. But the truth is that it is precisely thanks to the partial transparency that the fabric shows its masterful workmanship, evident in the laid weave of the individual threads. It is a wonderful feeling to hold this Loro Piana linen in your hand. It is soft, holds its shape perfectly, and at the same time, you can feel the beautiful structure of the whole material when you touch it.
I found this piece by chance in a fabric store where I go to shop occasionally. But I know that these materials can be found under the term "deadstock designer fabrics" of premium brands. Or you can try searching online for the term “Loro Piana Linen Deadstock.”
What Do You Need
Fabric - 3 m / 118 in for summer days, ideally linen; in my case, linen from the Italian fashion house Loro Piana
Reinforcing iron-on strip 5,5 m / 216 in
Sewing machine
Tailor's chalk
Tailor's tape measure
Tailor's ruler
Tailor's mannequin or T-shirt for the basis of the cut
Estimated Time
Around 5 hours of your time.
How to Sew a Linen Dress from Loro Piana Linen: A Step-by-Step Tutorial
A while ago, I decided to buy a tailor's mannequin. It was the best sewing decision I ever made.
I was constantly worried about how my clothes would fit, if I was sewing straight, etc. A tailor's mannequin solved all my problems.
I made the cut according to the mannequin, but if you don't have one, a well-fitting T-shirt will do.
Specifics Of The Dress:
For the inner seams on both sides, I chose a French seam, which is elegant and provides a beautiful finish to the garment, making it look professional.
The dress has no zipper; it is put on over the head, so it is very easy to sew even for a beginner.
Linen A-line Dress Pattern:
Length: 140 cm / 52,12 in
Circumference of the bottom of the dress: 2 m / 78,74 in
Circumference of the head opening: 56 cm / 22,05 in
Wash And Iron The Fabric
It is important to wash the fabric before sewing, as some fabrics tend to shrink, sometimes by as much as 10%, which changes the size of the garment after sewing. Therefore, always wash the fabric before sewing, if possible.
Cut the entire fabric into two equal pieces, each 1.5 m / 59 in long.
Each piece of fabric will make one side of the dress, which you will later sew together.
Take the first piece and fold it in half vertically to find the middle.
Place the T-shirt you will be sewing the dress on in the middle. If you have a tailor's mannequin, pin the piece to the center of the mannequin so the fabric is exactly in the middle.
Use tailor's chalk to mark the sleeves according to the T-shirt. Measure approximately 5 cm / 1.96 in from the sleeves to the width of the sleeves and leave the rest for the neckline in the shape of a boat neckline. For a tailor's mannequin, mark the armholes and the boat neckline with tailor's chalk.
Repeat the same procedure for the back piece.
Unpin the fabric from the mannequin or remove it from the T-shirt and fold it. Add 1 cm / 0.39 in seam allowance.
From the shoulders of the dress, measure 140 cm / 52.12 in down the length of the dress.
From the folded edge of the fabric, measure 50 cm / 19.68 in and make a small mark with chalk.
Place a tailor's ruler approximately 15 cm / 5.9 in below the end of the armhole and draw a straight line to the bottom point to create the dress structure.
Pin the fabric to prevent fraying, then cut it out folded so you have one of the two dress pieces ready.
Quick tip: To keep the fabric from shifting while cutting, I weigh it down with dinner plates or other plates.
Repeat the same process for the second piece.
Sewing side seams with a French Seam
Place the front and back of the dress right sides together, then sew the sides.
Cut off the excess fabric and turn the dress wrong side out. Iron the fabric so the seam is as much on the outside as possible. Then sew both sides again along the entire length. This gives you a beautifully finished, professional inner seam. A smooth and elegant detail.
Sew the top of the dress. If you are sewing from linen, I recommend ironing the reinforcing strip on the wrong side after sewing the dress on the shoulders.
Turn the fabric inside out and sew to create a neat, finished edge at the neck and armholes.
Measure the dress's length from the floor with a tailor's tape measure. In my case, I measured 15 cm / 5.9 in. If you want the dress shorter or longer, you can adjust it to your liking.
Why Is It Measured From The Floor?
By measuring from the floor, you get the same dress length all the way around. Just measure the same length and mark it with tailor's chalk. Then cut off the excess fabric.
Iron a reinforcing strip to the wrong side of the bottom edge of the dress, then fold it twice to create a nice, smooth edge.
Then sew the entire edge on the sewing machine.
Perfect! Your new Quiet Luxury Dress is ready to wear. It's amazing that you have your own DIY Designer Clothes.
Now you have a minimalist, elegant, and sophisticated dress that will last you for years. At the same time, you also have your own unique piece that will warm your heart because you sewed it with love and maximum care.
Let's Do the Math
For the A-Line dress, I needed 3 meters of fabric. In total, I paid 99 EUR / 114 USD for the fabric in the store.
I sewed the dress in less than one working day. Including sewing the inner seams with a French seam for beautifully elaborate details.
If I look at the Loro Piana website, I find linen dresses priced at around 2000 EUR / 2300 USD on average.
I am certainly not denying whether the dress is well-made and how much we pay for the brand. I can appreciate that working on a dress or coat really takes time. On the other hand, I wanted to show you the raw cost.
A Little Courage
The rule of measuring twice, cutting once will help you overcome the initial fear.
Premium fabrics aren't just for expensive boutiques; they are already available to normal people like us who love quiet luxury on an affordable budget without sacrificing premium quality.
You deserve to create with these materials because you are amazing and you are taking your skills to the next level.
We were all at the beginning once, and it is all about gradual practice and gradual steps forward.
I will be glad if you share your experiences and results with us.
If you need some advice, let me know in the comments. I'm here as always. 🌸
Enjoy your beautiful sewing time and good luck with your project! 🧵✨
Have a nice day
Dana
