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Amber's Red Hot Holiday Romper

I've been dreaming of making a holiday romper—something to wear to fancy gatherings, but ideally that can also get some regular wardrobe rotation time. I've had my eye on this brick-red silk noil since last holiday season, but, honestly, we couldn't keep it in stock and it kept slipping out the door before I could get my hands on it!

Amber wearing a red raw silk noil romper doing a high kick in front of a brick firehouse with white doors.

Pattern: Shelby Dress & Romper by True Bias (View D, Full-length Romper)
Fabric: 5 yards Silk Noil in Brick
Size Made: 8
Modifications: Lengthened leg 2-1/2", used 7 snaps instead of 5 buttons

Amber in a red romper in front of a red brick fire station with white doors, smiling looking off to her right.  Photograph is from above the knees up.

When Shelby by True Bias arrived earlier this year, I didn't immediately realize there was a romper version! Once I saw it, I knew it had to be my red holiday romper.

Amber waist up view of the backside of the silk noil romper show the tie back on the romper.  Amber is in front of tall white doors of a firehouse.

The full length romper calls for 5 yards of 44" wide fabric, which seems like a heck of a lot. This year I was able to secure myself enough dreamy red silk, and it's a good thing I got five yards because I really didn't have any room to spare. I lengthened my Shelby 2-1/2 inches in the legs and I had to really work to get my pattern pieces to fit, since I didn't get extra yardage.

Amber taking large strides in her red silk noil romper in front of a red brick firehouse with large white doors.

I decided I wanted a more minimal look on the front, so instead of buttons and buttonholes, I chose to hand-sew seven, size 3 snaps (1/2") for the front closure.

Upclose image of red silk noil romper showing buttons were exchanged for snaps to close the top.

To give the snaps the cleanest look possible, I was careful to have very little stitching show on the front bodice. When sewing the front snaps, I made sure to catch only the inside facing when stitching the four sides of the snaps. For stability, I then tacked the facing to the front bodice, just at the center of the snap, by sewing a few stitches from front to back through the center hole of the snap. When sewing the back snaps, I sewed the four sides of each snap through both the bodice and facing, since it doesn't show. I really love the result of using hidden snaps!

Amber in red silk noil romper in front of a red brick firehouse with white doors that are open into the firehouse.


This romper is magnificent. I feel super fancy, but I also feel like I'm in my pajamas in the very best way. I can do high kicks, sit cross legged on the floor, climb ladders. I can eat too much pecan pie and still breath. Basically I can take care of business while looking like a holiday dream.

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