Ideas for The Dress had been floating around my since my guy and I decided to tie the knot last December.  Of course, since dressmaking is kinda my thing it was extremely important to me that I make my own wedding dress.  It would have been weird for me to buy a dress that is actually The Dress.  This is the big one, you know?  If ever I were to be asked “Did you make it?” this is when I wanted to say “Yes, YES!”.

So, since I happen to dream (in black and white) of being Myrna Loy, a long, lean, and drapey gown was what I wanted most.  I also wanted a sheer silk chiffon . . . ivory with green sprigs of flowers.  Alas, if there’s any two things I’ve learned during my engagement it is 1) even brides don’t always get what they want and 2) there is an end to the internets and that end is, apparently, ivory sheer silk chiffon with green sprigs of flowers on it.  The fabric that I eventually fell for is off-white, synthetic (sigh.) chiffon printed with silver rings.

The dress in my head, of course, had amazingly intricate bias cut panels on the sides and back of the skirt, but since I was working with a symmetrical pattern (the circles are all line up in rows) the design had to be simplified.  Another issue related to the fabric was that the pattern was not printed exactly on the grain.  Getting everything to line up AND getting the proper drape was a challenge.  It took two rounds of bodices to get the neckline right – one side would just stretch no matter what.

Horror stories aside, I am pretty proud of my work and was extremely happy with the outcome.  Actually, “extremely happy” sounds lame.  This was The Dress after all.  I really don’t have words. I will say that I might have cried a little when it was done and I tried it on.  Good tears.

So, in a nutshell:  The entire dress is sheer, which means LOTS of really long french seams.  I made a separate satin slip to wear underneath.  The original intent was to have a simple gray, velvet ribbon at the waist, but I wanted to feel a little more “pulled in” so in the eleventh hour I added a fully lined waistband with gathered fabric hand stitched in place. I added an extra triangular piece to the back for drape and a slight train.  Then, bias cut (at least I got something) ruffles along the bottom and up the back.  Mostly I did this for weight since the fabric is so light.  Also, who doesn’t like a good ruffle now and then?  I mean, c’mon.  High-cut v-neck dress over low-cut slip.  Side zip.  Ruffles for sleeves.  Ta-daaaa!

And yes, the wedding was nothing but wonderful, sweet, lovely (and love-filled) fun.  I AM a happy girl. 

I may not have to do any back to school shopping these days, but autumn does mean cooler weather and a shift in wardrobe regardless.  Goodbye tank tops and airy colors.  Hello sleeves and scarves.

I found this particular plaid a couple years ago.  I was going through a plaid phase at the time and was really drawn to the very vintagey color combination.  Now that I think about it though, the fabric looks an awful lot like the cushions in the 1974 travel trailer that my family spent summers vacationing in.  Maybe not the best inspiration (consciously made or not) for a dress.

I do think, however, that I should add lots and lots of simple sheath dresses to my dress collection.  I also am a big fan of 3/4 length sleeves.  There’s something so elegant about them.  I can’t put my finger on it, maybe it’s just the bit of exposed wrist or the option to add bracelets.

Maybe what I really should have done was turn this fabric into  a blanket.  With fall here and winter coming, I think blankets will soon be my outfit of choice.  In fact, I see lots blankets in my future.  

Blankets and books.

One of my ongoing goals has been to be able to answer "Why, yes." when someone asks if I made my dress.  For the wedding weekend festivities, I tried to sport my dresses as often as possible.  Believe or not, people asked and I got to answer in the affirmative. 

I wore my Umbrellas of Cherbourg dress for picnicking and flower arranging.  (If only I had done something with my hair.  Ack!)

My Uhura-inspired sheath (and, again, I am not a Trekkie (not that there is anything wrong with that)) was the perfect outfit for a wonderful dinner out as friends started coming in to town.

For the "night before mixer" (incidentally held at the bar where Doug and I met/had our first date one-day-shy-of-three-years prior), I wore one of the sundresses from the Dress Extravaganza of September 2011.  Although the unmatching cardigan diminishes some of the cute, I had one friend tell me the dress was very Anthropologie.  Ultimate Compliment Alert!!  

By the way, that's Rachael.  She gets to be in the photo because this is the only pic I have in which I do not have crazy blazing demon eyes.  (Why does that always happen to me?)

Off to sew or make rice or something.  OK! Bye!