The Redemption Wedding Dress

Last year the lovely Leisl from Jorth and Nichola from Handmaker's Factory put on a special night called 'The Dressmaker's Ball'.

The evening was a fabulous get-together for seamstresses alike to wine, dine and make merry while wearing beautiful frocks that they had made themselves.

Of course I used the opportunity to get dramatic ... and make what is basically a wedding dress.

#divaforlife

THE DETAILS

Fabric

The bodice is made up of the most beautiful guipure lace that I purchased from Tessuti Fabric years ago and had saved for something special.

It has such a beautiful pattern that is a little different to the typical 'floral' pattern that a lot of laces feature. But the best part is the selvages! It has two different finishes; a beautiful scallop on one side, and a delicate fringe of lace on the other.

The skirt and the underlining of the bodice is made from a drape-y polyester/wool that I purchased from The Fabric Store which just seemed to match the style and the colour of the lace perfectly.

Racer back tan for life

The Pattern

The bodice is one of my own designs, with a lace back, and an underlined lace bodice front.

The skirt is Vogue 2931 from the waist down and fully lined. I've used the pattern before for the skirt of this dress:

The princess seams of the skirt add a flattering silhouette, while the low lace back and front adds drama and a little bit of sexiness.

Oh hey sports bra tan!

Construction
The seams of the bodice and lace are finished with bias binding. The dress is closed down the centre back with an invisible zipper
I added the long delicate fringe edge of the fabric along the waistline for a soft, dreamy look, which helps create a flow from the bodice to the skirt.

Conclusion
This dress turned out just how I hoped and I love the dreamy, bohemian feel of it.

I got married back in 2011 just after my two year sewing anniversary. At the time my sewing was still pretty green so I purchased a wedding dress and made a dress for dancing in at the reception. Our wedding dance was a salsa routine so there was no dancing in a full length wedding gown!

Though I loved my wedding dress, there was a little part of me that was sad that it wasn't made by me.  It's like a rite of passage for seamstresses and usually the most special dress you get to make. I was still pretty new to sewing then and hadn't yet developed my style, so it was probably a good thing I didn't make my dress!  This dress is in a way my redemption wedding dress, five years later.

Lady Danger - Vogue 1426 and 2931 Mash Up!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Until next time folks! xx