Is the Strawberry Dress Worth It? A Couture Analysis of the Famous Cottagecore Dress

[@ahh-chuu]

I used to work for a boutique making kids princess dresses and we used a lot of the techniques you explained in this video in the construction of the dresses we made. People like to treat sewing and tailoring like it's an unskilled craft when in reality it requires so much know how. It really is an undervalued craft in today's day and age. Love the deep dive into garment construction though love all your videos.

[@moth.faerie]

ah that sounds so much fun! yess sewing is so undervalued, i think it's a combination of a lot of factors, like it being a 'feminine' profession and not realizing how much time goes into sewing. i've also been seeing lately that a lot of people don't realize that it's not something a machine can do? like my bf didn't realize that every stitch in things from clothing to like boat upholstery all had to be fed through a machine by a human so it's not something that can be automated

[@Nerdygoddess]

I found it funny when you mentioned that one of the easiest tells for a fake is the amount of fabric. When I was getting married, I was talking to my bridesmaids about dresses and I said that I really like the look of a fuller skirt ( full circle). One of the bridesmaids showed me an A line dress and said that they could just wear a really fluffy petticoat under it to make it fuller. We had a conversation about physics.

[@moth.faerie]

nooooo haha shoving tons of pouf under a narrow skirt is the fastest way to make it really obvious there's not enough fabric!!

[@Saxinful]

I like how this dress really opened up the conversation about reasonable garment cost and labour/materials. Nice to see you being able to use your masters like this! Flex it

[@moth.faerie]

I agree!! I had thought about it on a surface level before bc of making my own clothes but I think it’s great that it’s become a more common topic, fashion generally needs a big overhaul to be more ethical and sustainable

[@Sew_OzzyWar_Made_This]

@@moth.faerie where did you get your master's?! I work in the industry doing production and product development and I'm curious!

[@moth.faerie]

@@Sew_OzzyWar_Made_This I have an MFA in costume production from Carnegie Mellon School of Drama :)

[@anastasiamaliuha5481]

I always wonder if those who complain about too high prices sew themselves. This dress is both tons of work and tons of fabric. Fabrics can be expensive, work should be properly compensated. And then there are all the other costs... Loved all the details about finishing, so many interesting tricks. Not sure about narrowing the zipper though, sure, it wouldn't unravel, but what if it bend out of shape or something? Baby Bat clearly knows what's good for her, I wouldn't want to part with pretty pink tulle either!

[@moth.faerie]

Yeah, once I started thinking about labor costs it seemed absurd that a dress or something could cost only like $7! I don't think the zipper is more likely to bend out of shape than a normal invisible zipper, but maybe I'm not quite understanding what you mean? It might just be a narrower zipper to start with, and I just assumed it was cut but I can't really tell without taking the binding off 😅

[@rachele7398]

ive been thinking about your first statement and for me (a noob at sewing), its more not understanding the concept of having the money to spend on one item. i see a high price tag and my gut reaction is a complaint against my wallet, not the artist that created item.

[@anastasiamaliuha5481]

I know what you mean. Personally, I wouldn't pay this much for one dress, even if I could, I wouldn't be able to justify it. But I can see how much labor went into it and how much materials it took. It would have taken me ages to recreate, so... Honestly, I'm just frustrated that so many people complain how they want a specific designer item that required a lot of resources for cheap just because. It's normal not to want to spend this much on a single item, but it's also normal to accept that it costs this way for objective reasons. Hope I wasn't offensive or anything.

[@chapman1569]

@@anastasiamaliuha5481 I was also thinking that even if this dress is really beautiful, it may be impractical and not be worn often for the price. I guess that many girls that bought this dress dont wear it often and it will stay in the closet as a showpiece, sort of like a wedding dress. I would prefer a dress similar to this but made with a less itchy fabric that I could wear everyday. Buying quality once is better than buying cheap several times.

[@blackmber]

As niche as it might be, I really appreciate this kind of analysis because it shows where all those dollars are going. When buying clothing it's usually hard to tell if you're getting a well constructed garment or just paying extra for a brand name. The casual reviewer won't usually say how well the seams have been finished, or notice the design details like different shades of tulle layered together. On top of that is the mystery of well-patterned garments that tend to flatter everyone, vs cheap items that look great in the photo and make you look like a potato (and not a Rachel potato pinafore look, either)

[@weasel_husband]

I'm so sick of hearing people complain about the price of this dress! There are reasons things like this cost money!

[@melusinenoArashi]

I love this video. You could do a series on "it's worth the price? " where you would explain the construction details.

[@moth.faerie]

Yessss I would love to! Haha maybe once my channel becomes profitable at all I can afford to do that series 😅

[@faitparchristine]

This is the strawberry dress video I've been waiting for, an actual deep dive! Really interesting to get some nice close-ups of everything, I was actually trying to find something like this video not even a month ago. I've been wondering for a long time if I should save up for it, but what's blocking me completely is that I can't try it on in a store. My anxiety can not handle paying that price tag not knowing if I'll like it on me on not 😓 But I get to live vicariously through people like you!

[@moth.faerie]

I’m so glad you liked it!! I think it’s a pretty universally flattering dress, the only things I can think of that might be a problem are the length and the shoulders. I know some people don’t like midi/tea length dresses generally and I’ve found personally that I have to either wear the shoulders closer in than they naturally want to sit or completely off shoulder bc it visually widens my shoulders a little. But everyone I’ve seen wear it looks amazing!

[@rockencheesepuffs]

Excellent work Indiana Jones-ing the dress away form Baby Bat lol. Really enjoyed the tour of the dress! Seeing all the work put into the garment and hearing your deductions on how its constructed is amazing. Super fun watch!!

[@moth.faerie]

Aaah I'm so glad you liked it! Haha she was so not into giving the dress up but the blue fluffy is her second favorite thing to sleep on in my sewing room so she was reluctantly willing 😂

[@ardenboshier7431]

Appreciate this video a lot!! I find looking at clothinf prices as compared to like rough ethical labour costs is both very useful and very horrifying when it comes to understanding how fashion works, and it's something that gets so ignored when people talk about these sorts of things. Thank you for starting with that! I love your detailed look at the construction of this dress, it's really interesting & helpful for making our own projects :) Also your cat is wonderful and I love how they've claimed your very precious lovely dress 💓

[@moth.faerie]

Thank you so much! The more I learn about unfair labor practices the more I get very worked up about it!! It's shocked me how many fashion facebook groups have banned it as a topic entirely. I'm glad you found it interesting 😅 I was so worried it would be boring, but I do think it's so helpful to see how other people do construction so I went ahead anyways haha Baby Bat LOVES sheer fabrics and has claimed all of my nicest dresses and fabric 😭 good thing she's so cute hahaha

[@KittieRoses]

That bodice construction is beautiful and scares me to pieces. It looks so complicated, hopefully one day I will hopefully advance my sewing skills to the point I can construct garments as well as this. Thank you for sharing the dress, it really is amazing to be able to see the construction and to get a professional view on quality.

[@moth.faerie]

it's so much more complex than I was expecting it to be! even so, I believe in you! sewing is all just lots of practice 😊

[@KittieRoses]

​@@moth.faerie For sure for sure, every new project I complete I learn something new and can take that to the next thing. I just finished another dress, so I am attempting to hype myself up for my next project, which will be a pair of riding pants (secret pants).

[@kmscheid3303]

I am not a "pink" or "frou" person, but it was interesting to learn about the construction techniques dictated by the material. I *am* a geek person!

[@moth.faerie]

Haha I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@stevezytveld6585]

This was fantastic. Thank you so much. I think I must have assumed there was a shell bodice made out of a woven fabric like cotton or linen. It's amazing the entire dress is layer after layer (after layer {after layer}) of tulle. Those seam finishes are beautiful. And the ruffle to keep the sleeves poof is just one of those details that breaks me into little wee pieces. The Victorian and Edwardian predecessors would be proud of the work. - Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown

[@moth.faerie]

Yesss I love the little secret historical style touches in couture clothing!

[@stevezytveld6585]

@@moth.faerie Sew the way Granny did and you're couture. Love it...

[@MariaRamos-im6th]

I have been looking for a video like this for so long! Thank you for your service! ;) I am so happy to have found your page.

[@ladyjusticesusan]

Your energy and enthusiasm are contagious. And I looooove your furry supuuuuurrrrrvisor.

[@moth.faerie]

aw thank you so much! hahaha she's 100% the best supurrvisor I've ever had!

[@crazyYTgal]

I really appreciate this video! I tried to make the strawberry dress because the dress is gorgeous but also because I thought it would be a simple project. (Spoiler alert) It was not simple at all (and I failed at recreating it lol 😭), but at the same time, I don't have much exposure to how high-end garments are constructed so it made sense that I struggled so hard. I know this kind of content is very niche, but I absolutely love watching this! I hope you'll continue to make these types of educational videos alongside your sewing videos because this was so informative. Also, I didn't know you have a master in costume production! That must have been a lot of work, but that's so cool!

[@moth.faerie]

Thank you I'm so glad you liked it! I definitely would not have made it correctly if I was attempting it without dissecting it first, I bet it was a challenge! I would love to make a series out of analyzing high-end clothing once I have the funds for it 😅 omg the program was so much work I didn't think I'd make it out after the first year haha, but thankfully the second and third years were a more manageable pace after we did the basics!

[@crazyYTgal]

@@moth.faerie Of course! May I ask where you completed your program? I really want to study something similar in the future!

[@moth.faerie]

I did the Costume Production MFA program at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Drama 😊

[@grimnirnacht]

I was never a fan of this dress, but this was so interesting. Just hearing someone who knows what's what explain was so nice. Especially with something as finicky as tulle

[@moth.faerie]

I'm glad you found it interesting! thank you for watching!

[@KellyAK]

I love this dress so much! This was super interesting, I've never owned anything couture so it's good to see the obvious difference between something like this and a fast fashion dress. Definitely worth the money.

[@moth.faerie]

It's such a beautiful dress! It's the only high end dress I own but I'm hoping eventually I can save up for more of a collection!!

[@bananatiger8371]

I just started sewing and had the idea to recreate this dress but damn, it's miles out my league! Really makes me appreciate the craft even more.

[@moth.faerie]

yeah honestly i don't even want to recreate it, it'd be so much effort 😅

[@afaeryschild]

Really lovely video and a very fun watch. Hope you do more videos in this style as well.

[@cap4life1]

Please do more videos like this! I love your critical take on garment construction using a dress that many can relate to.

[@moth.faerie]

Thank you, I’m so glad you liked it!! I would love to do more videos like this, though I need to get my finances a little more together first haha 😅 hopefully I can do more in the future!

[@justme-qd6qb]

500$ dress:... Cat: ah yes the perfect bed, befitting for someone my status

[@moth.faerie]

literally everything in this house belongs to her

[@clairelehman9925]

I want one of these dresses so much but I don't think I will ever have the money for something so beautiful. The blueberry dress will always have a piece of my heart.

[@AliceinCosplayland]

It was so detailed! Thank you so much for sharing the dress secrets with us ☺️

[@moth.faerie]

Thank you for watching!! It's so big because it's full of secrets 😋

[@josie5056]

Thank you for this! Looking at couture garments is such a good way to improve ones own sewing and designing, but I don't have the resources right now to buy a strawberry dress or similar couture garments, so these deep dives into the architecture of this dress is so fantastic to find. Thank you!!

[@moth.faerie]

Thank you for watching! I know a lot of these brands don’t have physical stores anymore, but my professors advice to me was to go into retail stores and just look at the insides of dresses 😊

[@karenlisseth2815]

I loved this so so much, thank you!

[@barbaraferron7994]

Thank you for doing this video. I appreciate understanding why this dress is worth the cost. I like to sew but I am always in too much of a hurry to finish to go into all that detail work but I appreciate when some one else does it.

[@moth.faerie]

thank you for watching! I'm glad you liked it!

[@coralinestreet]

"This is a really niche video inside a already really niched community" it's funny because it's right, but this type of content is EXACTLY my cup of tea. Loved the video so much. I am planning on making a dress similar to this one eventually, and it's really interesting to see it in all of its details.

[@TheGothicSunrise]

It was great to see someone actually get the dress (yay for supporting the creator), and I loooooooooooved this video!

[@moth.faerie]

thank you I'm so glad you liked it!!

[@jennia.2318]

I found your channel because I was watching cosy videos. I love your videos! I'm just watching your older videos and your sewing notebooks are so awesome! And this video about strawberry dress was so nice to see how it's really made.

[@moth.faerie]

Aw thank you I'm so glad you like my videos!! Thank you for watching! ❤

[@briandavid3010]

I really liked this video and even though you were worried the first parts about fair wages were going to be boring are actually very interesting to me. I love this dress and I use it as an example when I want to explain why some things are expensive but not overpriced (a difference that doesn't exist in my language). I also use it to explain why sometimes I think it's not fair to say "I made this for cheap" when the maker is spending hours upon hours of effort and/or has the knowledge to make whatever it is they're making (although I understand how attractive those titles are). Again, great video, if you want to make more like this I'll happily watch them 💜

[@moth.faerie]

I totally agree! I think people really don't understand that the labor is the expensive part of making a dress, fabric doesn't really have to cost all that much, it's the labor and skill that is worth paying for. I have another one planned after my next couple projects! But luxury dresses aren't exactly in my budget right now so they're more spread out so I can save up for them 😅

[@acuriousmindedseeker]

This is fantastic, and not dry at all. I enjoyed the tour of the dress, I am definitely checking out the rest of your channel. Great job!

[@moth.faerie]

aw thank you, I'm so glad you liked it!!

[@StrongImaginationA]

I feel like I did not understand everything, not being a sewist myself, but I love learning about garment construction so definitely keep those vids coming! :)

[@quicksilvertears921]

I loved this video. I'm not still a beginner sewer but I understood most of what you said. I can't believe the number of layers involved. And the finishes are beautiful inside.

[@moth.faerie]

I’m so glad you enjoyed it and also glad it wasn’t too hard to understand! I was worried it’d be a bit hard to follow since I wasn’t actually doing each step just kind of miming it 😅

[@leefyhill]

Thank you for this video, I find these type videos really interesting!

[@julestrek]

thank you so much for this video. I'm about to venture on making the dress and this video is so detailed it gave me a leg up! Love your channel

[@coreygilles847]

Fascinating to learn all the things that went into the famous strawberry dress

[@moth.faerie]

Thank you for watching!

[@kittycatt738]

Great description! Some illustrations may have helped visualise the whole project :D A beginner might struggle to follow such a lovely description

[@moth.faerie]

ah i had totally not thought of doing illustrations at all, i'll see if i can fit them into the next dress analysis i do!

[@punxie89]

Thank you for such a cool and interesting breakdown of this dress! I'm buying it to be my wedding dress, and this was very informative. I think it's well worth the money, if not even cheaper than it should be given how well made it is and the time it takes to hand make each one. The women that work at their factory are very skilled, she's posted some cool videos of them hard at work. I'm very tempted to save up and buy the pink one for the wedding, and the black one for the dinner/reception 🤔 day/night vibes. I just hope that it's not too itchy, as I'm autistic and sensory stuff can really bug me, but it's so nice that I'd somehow deal 🤣

[@JohnnaJohnson-zf4fn]

Eeek, thank you for this video! So so fascinating to see all the detail that went into this dress. I wasn’t able to tell exactly from the video - can you tell me how many layers of tulle are in the skirt, bodice, and sleeve ruffle? I thought I heard you say two in the skirt but then it looks more like 4 in the sleeve and possibly two in the bodice ruffle?!

[@chapman1569]

From a sewer point of vue, your review is amazing! You describe in detail the seing techniques used, very instructive. We can understand why it is expensive and worth the price.You are right in saying it look deceptively simple. Many commented on the fact that the dress is itchy, I think this dress could be made into another fabric, and more breathable. It would be less spectacular but it could be wearable and glitter wouldn't get everywhere. From an environmental point of vue, glitter is not good, glitter is fine plastic and will not degrade. It pollute quite a lot. If modesty is a problem, it could be worn with a camisole I guess. Thank you.

[@moth.faerie]

Thank you! I didn’t find the itchiness too bad but I can see why other people would. Definitely not a fan of the glitter environmentally, I definitely want to avoid clothing with glitter in the future and just generally move towards using mostly natural fibers!

[@chapman1569]

For some reason I would see this dress in sheersucker fabric, I would do the full skirt, I would not need to do as many layers. There could be a layer of tulle in between the two and it would be comfortable. The ties could be a different color to accentuate the waist details, the pleats could be done with a different fabric as well to add interest. It would be more wearable and breathable.

[@rachele7398]

the breakdown of the price and dress was cool. i can totally get paying the artist that matches the effort put forth. what my brain cant comprehend is having the money to spend on just one item. but thats more due to living on a budget my entire life ps your cat looks like mine, Stiles. super adorable twinsies

[@moth.faerie]

yeah I get that, it's definitely not something I can afford to buy frequently! it was kind of a special present to myself for finishing grad school!

[@rachele7398]

@@moth.faerie congrats on your graduation 🍰👩‍🎓🥳

[@robinsiciliano8923]

Great use of your Masters! Good information.

[@moth.faerie]

haha I'm glad it was helpful!

[@Sew_OzzyWar_Made_This]

I want to be your friend!! We would talk for hours about production! And perhaps product development!! 😭 Edit: I'm loving the fact that you are breaking down and analyzing the dress. That's such a fresh concept! I always talk to people about the amount of work a garment takes and EVERYONE is always surprised with the process. The industry needs to be more transparent about the process!

[@moth.faerie]

haha we can be friends! do you have an instagram? I'm glad you liked the video! My bf was surprised when I told him that everything that has a stitch in it was done by a human and not a robot. I think so many people take for granted how much work and time goes into sewing!

[@firebirb6726]

Very insightful video! Thanks

[@moth.faerie]

thank you for watching!

[@howanyi1997225]

Hi! absolutely love your energy and the video content. i wish there would be diagram inserted into the video when you are explaining the construction since this is such an interesting part of sewing.

[@moth.faerie]

thank you! i made this video about 8 months ago, so tried to include more visual aids in my more recent one about selkie!

[@howanyi1997225]

@@moth.faerie thank you so much for your response! I really like the technicalities of this video that you made x

[@Ompe8]

thanks for this viewpoint! very interesting video.

[@moth.faerie]

thank you for watching! I'm glad you liked it!

[@kzisnbkosplay3346]

It seems like there is a sweet spot between cheap things made from cheap fabric, cutting corners, and not paying their makers and the high end fashion brands that make things that are better made, but super simple and overpriced. This is the place where most commissions sit. But because people are used to the two extremes, they struggle to believe the price is justified.

[@moth.faerie]

absolutely! plus I feel like people who have no experience sewing at all frequently can't really tell the difference in quality and think that it's only being priced higher because of the brand name

[@jessicachuyen7617]

I been wanting to make this dress for the longest time and finally caved so I’m trying to make it in time for my birthday next week! I’m so glad I came across your video as it’s been very useful in helping me understand the construction of the dress. As it’s super last minute, I ended up purchasing 3 different shades of plain pink tulle for the dress. I’m not sure if you’ll see this before then, but I was wondering whether each layer of the lighter/outer tulle has been gather separately/individually or all gathered together? I would assume this would change the look of the skirt and amount of bulk in the waist. I also wanted to confirm whether all the ruffles were made of 2 layers of tulle and if it is the same shade of light pink tulle as the other parts of the dress? Again thank you so much for this amazing video ❤️❤️

[@moth.faerie]

i think they're gathered together, the ruffles are two layers, and theyre the same shade as the outer layer

[@AnniCarlsson]

The 500 for this dress I can understand thw price on. Even if I can't afford it myself. But just that amount of tull is a big chunk of the price and then all the rest. It's wjen the pricetag have 1 more 0 behind it I have issues to see why. Specially with clothes with alot less fabric even if good quality fabric cost alot 1000s of dollars I start to have problems with see if it's really worth that pricetag

[@moth.faerie]

I think it can really depend on a lot of factors! Obviously there will be a certain amount of 'brand pricing' and for that I totally agree with you - it can seem really arbitrary to assign a super high dollar amount just to create a sense of luxury, especially when a lot of those brands are just as bad ethically as super cheap fast fashion. I can think of a couple examples though, such as cost of fabric being so high due to scarcity or the skill needed to create it like sea silk and lotus silk, or large amounts of hand beading or embroidery which can easily up the labor hours into the hundreds of hours! I think in those cases a $1000+ price tag would be completely justified even if I can't personally afford it.

[@lilaclemonadepop]

Loved the video ^^ very cool breakdown! I was so excited when I got my strawberry dress, but as soon as I put it on I was super uncomfortable, there's no lining where the bust trim is and it's just so itchy where the bust and sleeves/underarm area. I couldn't justify keeping a 500$ dress that feels so uncomfortable :( wish there was an alternative!

[@moth.faerie]

Oh no! I’m sorry it was so uncomfortable for you! I had to wear a uniform all through school so I think I’ve learned to ignore uncomfortable clothing 😅

[@lilaclemonadepop]

@@moth.faerie ah that makes sense 😭 I also have sensory issues and sensitive skin so that could be a factor as well😅 I wish there like a softer version of it bc it's so gosh darn cute 😭😭😭😭

[@chapman1569]

I think you could have a lining done to shield you from the itchy fabric, that way you could enjoy wearing it. If you paid that much you should afford a seamstress help to add a lightweight lining to it. It is doable, dont despair.

[@vlewis7209]

I LOVE this video. So wonderful and educational and your enthusiasm is lovely. Immediately subscribbed and binged all your vids. Question: what does it mean when a seam is encased / incased? I googled "encased / incased seam" and nothing came up

[@moth.faerie]

thank you, I'm glad to have you here!! Encased just means that the seam doesn't have any raw edges showing! So that could be a bound seam or a French seam for example. You can also search for enclosed seam and maybe that would turn up more results?

[@vlewis7209]

@@moth.faerie thank you so much!! I appreciate the explanation

[@moth.faerie]

@@vlewis7209 of course, happy to help!

[@176313]

this video was so interesting!! I know almost nothing about sewing but have always been intrigued in the construction of this dress, espeically since I'm looking to purchase it. If youre comfortable sharing, what size did you get/ how much wiggle room do you think the dress has given what the sizing chart dictates?

[@moth.faerie]

i got a medium and i think it could go a few inches larger or smaller in the bust especially and maybe an inch larger in the waist, i think if you're within a couple inches of the measurements you'll be fine!

[@176313]

@@moth.faerie oh my gosh thank you so much for replying!!! that makes me feel better about choosing a medium

[@craftingwithcasca]

This was so interesting

[@moth.faerie]

Thank you I’m glad you liked it!

[@charlene4910]

may I ask what was that blue tulle you gave to Baby Bat, is it a dress?? Love the color~

[@moth.faerie]

it's a mockup my old boss let me keep! it was for this robe 😊instagram.com/p/Bk6MXAOAXhM/

[@talinerdogan]

Just because I know english, I understand everything but I didn't understand anything. You know what I mean :D

[@LadyMisalein]

The thing i question from the beginning... How do i clean it..

[@moth.faerie]

i literally take a shower with it, like a hang it up in my shower inside out, and rub it down with soap then rinse it, that gets it very clean and has minimal glitter fall out! but yeah it's a pain lol

[@LadyMisalein]

@@moth.faerie like really?! Oh.. okay xD.. because i was thinking saving up for it someday but the glitter always made me "it wont last long for that money" xvx... I also only got a bathtub..

[@keyldezaria44]

Dress in 1780

[@necrophiliac.-.cat5695]

When I see a pretty dress online I try and make it myself. It's just way more fun and less expensive

[@moth.faerie]

it depends on the dress for me! if it has a really unique fabric or is more of an artistic piece like this one I like to support the artist and the makers 😊 if its from somewhere that is more generic or I know is unethical/unsustainable I'll try to make it myself. Though it rarely ends up less expensive when I factor in how much I typically get paid per hour and how much time it took me 😅