Pearls and Lace

Posted by: formalsandmore on: July 29, 2010

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Well, it’s finally finished – actually it has been done for over a week. My internet has been down, which has been preventing me from posting.

Last Tuesday I brought it to try on my youngest daughter (who will wear it in a Fashion show next week). It fir her perfectly, so all I had to do was measure for the pearl drapes across the back. I’m very pleased with the over all look. Again, please try to see beyond Dolly’s (my dressform) sway-back. Everything hangs a bit crooked on her since her accident.

Here is the front view. I used a champayne colored silk charmuese for the draped bodice and the underskirt. The lace is white, and with the background of champayne silk, it shows up better than if I had used a white underskirt. The slit top sleeves are also of the lace, with small pearl and crystal buttons at the top of the shoulder and at the hem of the sleeve. The hem of the sleeve is also bordered with small white pearls.  At the left side front of the skirt, there are 5 horizontal pleats, detailed with larger pearl and crystal buttons. The raised waist curves downward in the back to the natural waist. It is adorned with a trim which includes several different sizes and colors of pearls. The flared hem is finished with a 2″ lace trim that has a row of small white pearls along the top of the lace. The lining has an attached  crinoline to help the flared hemline to do it’s ‘thing’.

Here you can see the sleeve detail.

Bodice detail.

Pleat and button detail.

Here you can see the lowered back with the pearl drape. The dress is slightly fitted through the hip, but not overly so.

And finally – the pearl drape. I really wanted this to be the focal point of the dress. It took several trial and errors to get the length right and deciding on my pattern, but I am pleased with the way it turned out. It is detatchable on both sides, with a small button that is attached to the inside of the back of the bodice, and the string of pearls has a small button loop on each side.

I am very pleased with this dress. I will show it this weekend at the Flat Creek Bridal Show in Peachtree City, Ga, and again next Friday night at the Fashion show for ASG (AmericanSewing Guild). I will also be showing my Feather Fantasy Gown.