Jaime's Wandering Wilder Gown

When I first saw images of the Wilder Gown pop up on my Instagram feed, I have to admit I felt a little confused. Is it a nightgown? How would I style it? Could I pull this off? My confusion slowly transitioned to appreciation and then to obsession. I MUST MAKE ONE. A Victorian-inspired nightgown is obviously the garment of my dreams I didn't even know about until now. As soon as the printed pattern arrived at the shop, I was on it. Welcome my most perfect Wilder Gown.

Pattern: Wilder Gown by Friday Pattern Company

Fabric: Viscose Rayon in Chestnut

Size Made: Medium

Modifications: Shortened bottom panels by 1.5" each (3" total)

The Wilder Gown is a voluminous dress with plenty of gathers. I chose this soft and very drape-y Viscose Rayon with a hint of subtle texture in a diamond weave pattern. I wanted the weight of the fabric to pull down the layers a bit (although the flowy double gauze ones I've been eyeing on IG also look amazing). Somehow, the Wilder Gown looks more complicated than it is - it must be all those gathers. This sewed up easily in one session. The raglan sleeve construction is easy to put together, and the ample neck gathers are achieved with a simple casing. 

This pattern is so easy to modify for tons of options. For this first one (oh yes, there will be more), I shortened the two bottom panels by 1.5" each for a total of 3". I am 5'4", and I wanted this to hit mid calf. Since the bottom panels are created from a simple rectangle shape, they are easy to change the size of, meaning an almost endless array of options. 

The most amazing thing about wearing this is that it really does feel like you're wearing a nightgown out in public. It's so easy and comfortable to wear. I wore this on a 4-mile hike in the high desert in New Mexico to capture these photos, and it happened to rain almost the whole time. Is a rayon Wilder gown the new tech-clothing? Probably not. I had to lift it in my hand during inclines and descents, and I couldn't scoot on my butt to get down some slick and steep rocks but it was pretty dreamy. Don't rule out a Wilder gown on your next adventure!