AF Retro Dress - Need Feedback on First Recolor

[snowietig]

A trip to the mall with no money inspired me to create an outfit based on a pair of saddle shoes I found. Hoorah, vicarious thrills. This is my first attempt at clothing creation and all feedback is appreciated!

Points of Interest (read: Excuses, Rationalizations, Etc.)
-The pattern along the hem of the dress is completely seamless and has been altered to minimize distortion from the mesh.
-The bump map is completely flat as I haven't gotten up the nerve to play with it yet.
-The texture is intended to be a heavy-ish jersey knit (a la some retro styles), rather than a silky or light fabric.
-I intend to make recolors in "retro" shades and Pooklet's neons.

Creation Credits:
-mesh: Liana (http://www.lianasims2.net/preview.php?cat=meshes&id=198)
-textures: Me, shoelaces are HEAVILY edited from shoes included in the mesh texture
-color: Pooklet (http://pooklet.dreamwidth.org/31124.html)

[JavierMC20]

The shoes look awesome, just one thing is bothering me and that is the dress straps. What type of fabric texture are you going for? Right now they look kind of fluffy to me, like woolish and a bit blurred.

[mustluvcatz]

I agree about the straps and would like to add that they seem a bit too wide.

The buttons look odd where they are, too. Maybe no buttons would be better?

[Vampire_of_Death]

Wow, this is really good and for your first creation? Cool!

I do like the buttons, but the fluffy straps look a bit weird. Can you post a picture of the back texture where the straps meet?

[snowietig]

Good catch on the straps! They look like worn out socks or something. I think I want them to look like ribbon, but I haven't done anything to get them there yet! Definitely something to work on.

I'll take off the buttons and see if I like that better. In the meantime, here's the rough inspiration for the dress design:

http://www.fashion-era.com/images/1970s/tvorangesun.jpg

I feel the wider straps are a big part the "retro" look, but if they look awkward, that's that. Maybe they'll look better if I give them a better texture.

I originally had the buttons smaller, as in the design, but with the low-neck they looked like they were suggestive of something. *awkward*

Thank you for your kind and constructive feedback!

[snowietig]

Can you post a picture of the back texture where the straps meet?

Thanks, Vampy! I wasn't exactly sure what you meant by this request, but I had two guesses, so I just made a collage of both. Hopefully at least one guess was right. :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/tiggggrre/straps.jpg

Left is the actual texture file for the back of the dress, right is a shot of where the front and back strap textures meet.

[thedivineone]

This is really good for a first time!
I agree about the straps, also there seems to be a harsh shadow line on the sides of the dress (armpit area), maybe blur it out a little?
And just a thought but maybe make that dress red and black instead? It seems a bit xmas-y to me right now, you don't have to do it but it would look lovely IMO.
Great job so far!

[snowietig]

Thanks, TheDivineOne! The dress will also come in colors besides red, which may lessen the Holiday Magic effect. lol. I'll get recolors up once I get the textures how I want them.

Here is a quick deletion of the buttons. I haven't quite painted over all of the button-related wrinkles and shading, but this gives a good idea.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/tiggggrre/nobuttons.jpg

It looks nice, but too modern and simple for my tastes. Ah, well. Opinions?

Also, I cleaned up the alpha and changed the texture on the straps, this time going for a canvas ribbon look. Better?

[malfoya]

I actually prefered the buttons on. I think it gave the dress a cute look ^^ It's still looking good, but I honestly miss the two little dots;P

[JavierMC20]

I prefer it with buttons too. :report: The straps still seem off to me. Maybe because they are wide and so straight it's causing some weird shadowing making it look like sheepskin...maybe breakup the straightness of the straps with a retro kind of style to them.

Here's a quick mock-up I did...what you think? I think it would give it a more retro look if you tried something along these lines...just an opinion of mine. :giggler:

[snowietig]

Oh wow, that's just brilliant! I agree, that's a great choice--much more charming and authentic! I love the little starbursts around the buttons. I will play with this idea.

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I'm glad to see so many votes for buttons. They're going back in. :)

[snowietig]

Okay, here's the result of a few hours of playing. I absolutely loved Javier's idea but also wanted to give it my own spin (and also could not reproduce that plastic look, lol). Thoughts?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/tiggggrre/fixed.jpg

[JavierMC20]

Yeah, I think that looks much better. Away with the sheepskin! LOL