I love how this dress came out. I made it without the belt. I usually avoid such straight lines because they can look like a sack, especially for my small stature. But this dress just has the right combination of looseness and style. I made it in black linen and it looks very chic. I started with a wearable muslin of the top before cutting the linen, and I love the top version too!

The Bianca is my new favorite dress! I think an advanced beginner could even tackle this one! Not many pieces, straight forward construction, and a loose fit make this a really rewarding sew. I made mine with a lightweight tencel twill with great drape. The belt was easy to make - I used a mystery cotton or polyester from my stash and stabilized it with a light-mid weight interfacing. Depending on the look you're going for, you may want to use a medium weight interfacing on the wide parts of the belt, and something sheer/light on the thin strap parts.