Leopard Dress and Cross Over Party Dress

Alright! Here they are! The dresses I've told you about but which I've never actually shown you the finished products of...was that good English?

Anyway, both of these dresses have had their debut, but I was too lazy or whatever to take proper shots of them at said debuts.

 Leopard dress was originally opening night dress, but it got bumped for the 1940s crepe loveliness. Its debut was at the Masquerade Party which was I think much more appropriate. At the party I had a black domino mask and was super foxy, ask anyone. The foxiness does still come through w/o the mask though...

My cross over party dress was originally going to be a repro of a Balenciaga dress, but it was too expensive and I waited too long so I made this little beauty out of some fabric I brought with me. The dress is a basic two dart bodice with petal sleeves and a gathered and flared skirt. The neckline is what I like to think of as leotard neckline, so fetchingly scoopy in the back. I wore this to church today with a green cardigan, such a Sexy Sunday.

I love my cross over party dress because the shoulders and hip a-symmetry are fixed perfectly!

Overall the issues I have with both dresses are very minor. I'm getting better and better at this!

Project: Opening Night Dress: almost done

I just need to hem the skirt and sleeves and put the hook and eye at the CB. This dress was one of the easiest ever! The only thing I had to redo was one side of the zipper. Ka-chow!

The picture's not fancy, but I'll post some better ones when I'm all done up for the par-tay.

Project: Opening Night Dress: in fabric, almost there

I got some work done today! I leave for Cedar on Tuesday and I don't want to do any more than finishing touches on my opening night dress when I get there bc I'll be sewing all day. The plan was to do the final in red and on a whim I bought sparkly leopard to do another mock up after my muslin, but then I ran out of time and money so the final's going to be leopard! It's either going to be super smokin' or totally trashy. Either way it's going to be festive...

the beginnings of the top

The fabric's not the greatest, the sparkles are just the plastic glued on bits that are obnoxious, but it's pretty fun right? I didn't mean to but it looks like I got that diagonal pattern to repeat onto the bodice. I also brain farted and even though I thought I was working it out to make the right side on top (girls are always right) I ended up with a boy dress (boys are left over). Too lazy to fix it. I need to finish the lining by hand, do the sleeves, sew in the zipper, finish up the back, and hem it. All in all not too terribly much to do.

It doesn't look the greatest on the form, but that's probably because my torso is a good 2" longer than the form's! I really hope it fits. There's no reason it shouldn't, but I always get nervous w/ my own patterns!

Part 2: The mock up
Part 1: The inspiration

Project: Opening Night Dress: Mock Up

Threw together the mock up for the Opening Night dress today. I draped it on an 8 form which has my bust and waist measurements. I added 1" of length to the torso and used my skirt sloper to add to the hips and trace the right shape (I say shape when I mean straight line from waist to hip). Knowing my shoulders are slanted I fit the mock up w/o them seamed. I thought about calling someone savvy ab fitting and driving up to Provo, but then didn't feel like it.

Front bodice and front strap

Back Bodice

skirts (accidently cut at waist before I thought through lengthening torso)

self gusseted sleeve from sloper

B/W so you can't see my underwears!

I fit most of it in the mirror then had my sister take pictures for a better look. I didn't set the sleeve since I knew the shoulders would change. I'm pretty gosh darn proud of my draping and patterning for this one. I'm also happy I'm so similar to an 8. The bust is perfect. Like I thought the shoulders are off, the torso needs another 3/4" or so in length and there are a couple spots that need tension released. I'm not sure what to do about my high left hip though. In skirt patterns I add 3/4" to the right waist, but I'm not sure what to do w/ an empire waist. I don't have my books with me so any suggestions would be appreciated. I might just move onto the leopard print tomorrow! Although I need a lining for it since this is not a facing situation.

Every girl that wears straight dresses take note: there ARE NOT wrinkles across my hips. This means the dress FITS. Also, when I sit it doesn't sprint 4" above my knees. This means it FITS. Novel idea right?

Project: New Opening Night Dress

I'm SO tired! I've been getting ready for ACTF all week and am exhausted. I'm not really that in the mood to blog, but I remembered I haven't told you about the new dress I'm going to make for opening night! I found this hot little number on Modcloth.

I didn't go to the opening night party for USF last summer seeing as I left the next morning, but now I realize that opening night parties are kind of a big and fun deal and a chance to get spruced up, which is my favorite.

This dress is stretch poly/nylon, but I'm going to make it pretty structured and not like a sausage casing like it's meant to be. I've already draped it, need to make and true the pattern. Of course the neck's going to be a big higher and I'm gonna make it with elbow length sleeves.

Get me my spanks and some pearls and I'm good to go! The goal is to make the actresses look like crap.

Now I just need a dress for the crossover party between summer and fall and the fall opening party.