Behind the Dress: Noreen, Fall’s Favorite Dress

We’re excited to continue our Behind the Dress Series with Fall’s most versatile dress: The Noreen Sheath Dress! We sat down with our pattern maker Alma to learn all about how Noreen was created and why she loves pattern making!

Meet Alma

While Alma has only been working at Connected Apparel for a year, she has already made her mark. With over 42 years in the pattern making industry, Alma joins the CA team with lots of experience.

Growing up, her great grandmother, grandmother and mother all worked as patternmakers, so Alma is not kidding when she says that pattern making is in her blood. “I started making patterns when I was 12 for my dolls. Now, my son and daughter are both designers and my granddaughter wants to be a pattern maker. We all have the gift.” While at school in Mexico City, Alma learned all about pattern making, production, and what goes into managing a merchandise company. She has worked in everything from lingerie to mens uniforms, costumes to bridal, and of course women’s dresses. After working as a production manager for a while, she returned to pattern making because it suited her more creatively.

“I always said that I love what I do and I get to get paid for it. It’s my passion.”

Alma loves the Noreen dress because of its figure flattering style and how it gives a younger, fresher take on a classic sheath dress. Everything from the fabric choices to the inclusion of the faux pockets had to be planned out meticulously to avoid making the dress too bulky. After 1-2 fittings with a model, she is able to perfect the final product before it goes to production. “To see the final product on the model is very rewarding for a pattern maker,” she says. When asked about the choice to recreate Noreen in three different styles she said, “it’s very rewarding when production wants to see the dress again in different fabrics. For this dress, however, we had to create three separate patterns because each material was so different. We wanted it to be perfect.”

Perfection is one of the reasons Alma enjoys her new job at Connected Apparel. While she’s been in the industry for a very long time, she says that Connected Apparel is “a very fun place to work with a very unique process. Everyone here has so much experience and how they work is so thorough that the final products are much more perfect than other companies.”

3 Reasons Noreen is the Ultimate Fall Dress

1. NOREEN COMES IN THREE DIFFERENT FALL STYLES

The leaves changing and new colors arriving are one of the best parts of the Fall season. Shades of reds, oranges, and browns can certainly be seen in nature, but especially in women's fall fashion. Noreen comes in three quintessential Fall fabrics: suede, tweed and plaid. And features colors like spice and shades of red, making these dresses a must-have for your Fall wardrobe.

2. NOREEN IS FLATTERING YET COMFORTABLE

Always made from fabric with some stretch to it, this classic dress slides over your curves and is never constricting.

3. NOREEN IS VERSATILE

Not only does Noreen come in three different fabric choices, but she is versatile as well. Accessorize these sheath dresses with close toed black pumps and a blazer for a sophisticated work look. Once your nine to five is up, ditch the pumps for cute black booties and a cross body bag perfect for after work drinks. If you’re heading out to a weekend brunch with friends, simply pair these cute casual dresses with white sneakers and a denim jacket for a more casual look.

Noreen Spice Suede Sheath Dress

This version of noreen is made from sueded material in the gorgeous fall color, spice. This dress is perfect for the office, casual dinner parties or even pumpking picking with the family!

Noreen Spice Tweed Sheath Dress

Noreen in spice tweed is the perfect version of Noreen for when the days start getting a little cooler. Made form stretch knit tweed fabric, this sheath dress will keep you comfy from work to wine!

Noreen Red Plaid Sheath Dress

Noreen in red plaid is the fall work staple you've been searching for. Style this red plaid print dress with a blazer and black pumps for the office. When the weekend comes around, pair this sheath dress with black booties and a denim jacket for a cute, casual fall look.