Behind the Design: Our Songbird Dress

Every season, there’s always that particular bag, skirt or pair of jeans that we at Madewell HQ collectively, seriously, very anxiously covet. You could say they’re wardrobe all-stars. And this time around, one of those obsession-worthy styles is the ridiculously lovely Songbird Dress. Naturally, we had to know what inspired it, so we caught up with dress designer Kara to get the full scoop. Check out what went into creating one of the most lovable styles of the season. (And keep your eyes peeled for a fluttery floral version coming in February.)

STUCCO STRIPE:
“The inspiration for the striped version began after I saw Jean-Luc Godard’s film Breathless (1960). This particular kind of stripe totally embodies the perfect mélange of timelessness, irreverence and cool. And who’s a better muse than Jean Seberg?”

DOTTED:
“For this print, I was really inspired by eccentric home decor, vintage wallpaper and artist Carine Brancowitz’s drawings. The bold, graphic element of the ascending dots gives it a fresh twist on the traditional polka-dot dress.”