A pinafore inspired by a Japanese (also reads "really expensive") design

Sometime back (Dec 2008) when we had a chance to go window shopping, I saw this new piece of clothing and knew I had to make something similar. So I quickly snapped a photo of it as reference when the salesgirl wasn't looking.



Then I went to Spotlight and bought some matching fabric. After slightly more than three hours of sewing, redoing the top section and frantic attempts to unpick (due to dreadful thread) and redo the hem, here is the product.



In my mind, I had intended this piece to be a dress but as you can see, the straps are too long and would not be adequate in ensuring my daughter's modesty so it has become a pinafore dress instead. On hindsight, the piece that I saw in the shop was probably also a pinafore dress.

I am thinking of a matching hat but oh, these fabrics are really difficult to work with! But I have bought new thread so hopefully it would be better.