In Hawaii it is traditional for the church choir to dress in white muu’muu or white shirt and black skirt/slacks. I didn’t have either and so decided to make a muu’muu-ish, or muu’muu inspired dress for our Easter Sunday choir performance.

Most muu’muu have a yoke and gathering details and a full– or at least loose– skirt. I took these elements and changed them up a little from the traditional. My yoke was really more like a collar on the lowered neckline. It was 1″ thick and extended from centerback and met at the front with a curve detail. And instead of gathering the bodice into the yoke I did gathers down center front topped off with some 1/2″ double sided cotton lace. The bodice and skirt was loosely fit to be comfortable in the warm humid weather but belted at the waist to add shape. 

The dress was made with a sheer polyester fabric and a cotton broadcloth lining, cotton lace, interfacing and purchased belt. Other details include invisible zipper, 2 1/2″ hem, and hidden side seam pockets.

This is the first dress I have made for myself since losing 35 pounds 2 years ago. I had to make a new sloper for myself before hand drafting the pattern. Making the sloper, pattern and constructing the dress took a total of 12 hours. Materials cost $32.