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Sunday 27 March 2016

Lady Danger - Vogue 1426 and 2931 Mash Up!

Julia Bobbin - Lady Danger Dress - The Vogue Mashup

It happened to me; the moment every seamstress dreams of – I got invited to a wedding and the dress code? FORMAL!

Happiness levels to the MAX!!



After lying on the floor in a pleasure stupor, my brain short-circuiting with non-stop ideas of sequins, tulle, floor length gowns, diamonds and our Queen Beyonce, I slapped my self across the face and started to focus my ideas.

It was always going to be this; a floor length, fishtail, red strapless gown.

Please say hello to my little friend, lady danger.


Julia Bobbin - Vogue 1426 + Vogue 2931 Mash Up!
Julia Bobbin - Vogue 1426 + Vogue 2931 Mash Up!
Julia Bobbin - Vogue 1426 + Vogue 2931 Mash Up!

DETAILS

Pattern
This dress is the lovechild of two Vogue patterns. From waist up it is Vogue 1426 and from waist down it is Vogue 2931



Why? BECAUSE THESE TWO WERE MEANT TO GO TOGETHER!

Fabric
A wool/polyester blend that I purchased from the Fabric store. It is soft but with a medium weight and has a lovely matte finish which I think adds a sophistication to the look.


Julia Bobbin - Vogue 1426 + Vogue 2931 Mash Up!

The dress is lined with this stunning fabric that I bought from the Alannah Hill outlet in Brunswick Street for $5AU a metre. I basically want to line everything I ever make in this stuff because … ballerinas.


Julia Bobbin - Vogue 1426 + Vogue 2931 Mash Up

Construction
This bad boy is made up of an interfaced outer fabric + lining + foundation for the bodice with boning. I’m pretty sure you could throw a rock at my stomach and I WOULDN’T EVEN FEEL IT. #sewingarmour

There is an invisible zipper down the centre back and a hook and eye to close.


Julia Bobbin - Vogue 1426 + Vogue 2931 Mash Up

Changes
I had to move the princess seams slightly on the skirt front to match the bodice seams and luckily the back matched up perfectly!

I made this dress in a size 14 and didn’t make a muslin first. GASP!!! Scandalous I know! I don’t normally cheat on something like this, especially something so formal but having a 3 year old and a baby means all my good planning usually ends up in the ‘leave to the last minute’ pile.
PLUS I figured that regardless of the many layers to this dress, it was in essence a simple princess seamed dress and they have to be one of the easiest things to alter after it has been made.

I did end up taking in all the seams a LOT and really should have cut a 12 or even a 10 (hello weird post baby body shape) which is why muslin's are important but hey, who doesn’t like to learn a life lesson when they sew? I also removed a lot of excess fabric in the bust area which has to be the first time I've ever done a small bust adjustment on these girls.

I then took in the skirt at the knees to exaggerate the fish tail shape, but still giving myself enough room to be able to move.


Julia Bobbin - Vogue 1426 + Vogue 2931 Mash Up


Here are some movement shots to show you just how awesome this skirt is. You're welcome.

Julia Bobbin - Vogue 1426 + Vogue 2931 Mash Up





Lastly I added horsehair braid to the hem of the dress, which I blind stitched in place. This just gave the hem a bit more form and helped it to fan out more once again emphasising the fish tail shape.


Julia Bobbin - Vogue 1426 + Vogue 2931 Mash Up
Julia Bobbin - Vogue 1426 + Vogue 2931 Mash Up!

Features
When I first saw Vogue 1426 I was instantly drawn to the shape of the bodice because what I liked about the neckline was that it was sweetheart shaped, without being too sweetheart shaped, youknowwhatimean? But I wasn’t the biggest fan on the skirt. Then I saw Vogue 2931 and I loved the skirt but wasn’t in love with the bow halterneck bodice. Then the idea to merge the two hit me and I couldn’t get it out of my head.

Julia Bobbin - Vogue 1426 + Vogue 2931 Mash Up
Julia Bobbin - Vogue 1426 + Vogue 2931 Mash Up!

I love how the shape emphasises the female form and does it with flattering princess seams. The foundation with boning gives great support and helps maintain the shape.

Problems
If I was ever to make this bodice again I would make it slightly tighter on top as the ever so slight looseness meant that the bodice slid down a little during the night and I felt like I was forever readjusting so I didn’t keep exposing my bra.
I would then close the dress with hook and eye tape to relieve pressure on the zipper.
With a more fitted bodice I would also be able to add bra cups so that I could avoid a bra all together.

Conclusion
I finished the dress the day before the wedding and luckily I love how it turned out!
A dress like this is a statement dress and I definitely felt like a bit of a rock star wearing it that night.


Julia Bobbin - Vogue 1426 + Vogue 2931 Mash Up
Julia Bobbin - Vogue 1426 + Vogue 2931 Mash Up!

And so another me-made dress now hangs proudly in the closet.

Until next time folks! xx

51 comments:

  1. It's an amazing dress! It's a real red carpet dress! I think a waist stay would also help to prevent the bodice sliding down.

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  2. This is so good! I now need to name everything I make, though not sure I can top "Lady Danger"...

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  3. This is so good! I now need to name everything I make, though not sure I can top "Lady Danger"...

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  4. Stunning ..... simply STUNNING! This dress is amazing on you.. Magazine cover worthy xx

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  5. Just gorgeous. And as Anthea mentioned above I'm sure I've read somewhere a waist stay can help with bodice drop but I can't remember if it can still be done without a waist seam.... That fishtail hem is divine.

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    1. I think it could, being fed through thread chains at the front along the seams, and tacked at the side seams?

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  6. Amazing!! You sure know how to make a statement girl!
    That IS a lot of fabric for your ladies to be keeping up so I can see why you would need to keep hitching it back up. I vote for a waist stay too, I've used one in a vintage strapless dress and it worked a treat.....although it did limit how much I could eat! Ha!

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  7. Your dress is gorgeous! It's actually very similar to my wedding dress, so I'm pretty drawn to this silhouette. =). You look stunning in it. As already mentioned, a waist stay helped my wedding dress stay up and I had cups put into my dress and it definitely made wearing it easier.

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  8. Wowee! Gorgeous dress & you look amazing in it.

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  9. Wowee you look amazing.

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  10. WOOOHOOOOOO! This is stunning and gorgeous and all that!!!

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  11. Omg! I'm absolutely jelly. You look so oooooo Jessica Rabbit... congrats on the awesome invite!

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  12. Omg! I'm absolutely jelly. You look so oooooo Jessica Rabbit... congrats on the awesome invite!

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  13. What a knock out dress! Mashing those two patterns was genius.

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  14. This is brilliant. The chance to make something formal doesn't come by too often but you NAILED IT. That lining is a stroke of pure fun.

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  15. Absolutely gorgeous! I love the colour!

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  16. Holy smokes! Really hitting it out of the ball park! I'd be surprised if you didn't steal the show from the bride!

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  17. Remarkable! You look "sew" beautiful! Congrats... FYI Zac Posen has something similar at Sacs for $6K. http://www.polyvore.com/zac_posen_strapless_sweetheart_silk/thing?id=150403060

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  18. You look awesome, and just a tad dangerous.I greatly admire your panache :)

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  19. Wow this is amazing! Beautiful fit and you've blended the two patterns perfectly! I want to go to a party in a dress like that!

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  20. Beautiful dress! Looks great on you! Looooove the ballerina lining.

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  21. Awesome, awesome, awesome. You look stunning and I love the color.

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  22. Sublime! Stunning; beautiful and just so gorgeous, there really are not enough adjectives for you in this dress. Love it

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  23. Stunning! https://ladysewstheblues.blogspot.co.uk/

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  24. You funny clever girl! A formal dress is a beautiful thing, but getting to wear one to a special occasion is just downright delicious! Thanks for the giggle in this post!

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  25. wow it looks stunning! The lining is amazing. You wait till you get invited to make a gown. I just started a strapless dress and I have absolutely no idea when I'm going to wear it.

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  26. My goodness, that's so beautiful and you look amazing in it. You did an excellent job! I currently don't NEED this dress, but I really WANT one. And I know what you mean about feeling like you're wearing armor; that's what I love about boned strapless bodices. I feel like Wonder Woman when I wear mine :)

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  27. Beautiful. Though, tighter is not the way to go. Your boning should be doing the work to keep the dress up. A waist stay, as well. Once the waist is secure enough (with a ribbon and hook and eye), it does the work to keep the boning up where it belongs, and the boning keeps the bust covered. If you rely on "tightness", your dress will never stay up.

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  28. That dress will definitely leave its mark. fabulous!

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  29. I totally enjoyed your post today! You silly, beautiful, clever girl! Your dress is beautiful and you rocked it! And the whimsical lining was just the touch it needed to take it to stellar! Well done, looking forward to more from you.

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  30. Beautiful! When I make a boned bodice, I add an inner laced panel (like a corset) to take the strain off the zip and to also help anchor the bodice in place - it works! Also next time, try using a waist stay, it helps support the weight of the skirt, which will also help stop the dress sliding.

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  31. siiiiggghhhhhh.... Really, could you be any more lovely?? This dress is a dream come true! Such a classic, sexy, silhouette! Perfect for you! You look phenomenal!

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  32. This dress is so gorgeous! You look beatiful :)

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  33. Wow, that's hot! I'm sure most wedding guests forgot who got married. Love the cute lining as well. I know nobody really gets to see it, but you know it's there...

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  34. Wow, that's hot! I'm sure most wedding guests forgot who got married. Love the cute lining as well. I know nobody really gets to see it, but you know it's there...

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  35. That is wonderful. I thought it was gorgeous from the first pic, but that lining is just the icing on the (wedding) cake.

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  36. Gorgeous ... simply gorgeous!

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  37. Hi gorgeous dress! I echo everything said about waist stays. Also Melissa's suggestion of an inside lace panel would probably work well. Something else you can do is sew a bra (minus straps of course!) into the dress, either temporarily or permanently, as this does a similar job to a waist stay when you fasten the hooks at the back of the bra. So if you do both your dress should stay put, your bra will never show as it will always be inside the dress, and you won't need to make the dress any tighter, which might result in puckering at the seams which would be a great shame.

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  38. your dress is just gorgeous!!

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  39. Wow, this is one hell of a dress! You look amazing!

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  40. Stunning. You remind me of Kate Winslett in the Dressmaker.

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  41. This dress is stunning. I have a semi formal wedding this summer and am stalking ideas...but this is to formal..but wow it is beautiful.

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  42. You look stunning, like a movie star on the red carpet. I wonder what jewelry you wore with it.

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  43. I love the lining! So unexpected and fun :)

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  44. This is just my dream dress. So lucky to be able to have the opportunity to wear it. You look fabulous. Great sewing job too! I just found your blog by accident but will certainly be back. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  45. Hi. Do you mind linking the fabric you used? It's beautiful!

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