Let's Get This Party Started

So, what am I making for my wedding dress?

THIS:

Elizabeth Hawes "Diamond Horseshoe" Fall 1936/1937

; 

And THIS is the back

So pretty. So much draping and slashing and spreading. Ms. Hawes originally conceived this dress as a long-sleeved evening dress.

The original is made from heavy silk jersey and metallic piping, with 6 panels making up the skirt. The bodice has a pleat and gathering at the bust, gathering at the shoulders and a low v-neck.

The Diamond Horseshoe dress with other Hawes creations at the "high Style" exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum 2009

While I am curvier than the original, I thought, hey, perfect! Bias! Bias makes me look pretty and this dress will not be too Va-VOOM.

My version will be made form 3 ply silk crepe in cream/ivory that I got from my beloved Stonemountain & Daughter Fabrics with metallic gold bias as the piping.

I began with using Vogue 1032 as the base pattern for the skirt.  Draping the bodice from scratch is much better than altering the bodice.

So, here is one my first draping drafts for the bodice. In these I have the bodice in the bodice cut on the straight of the grain. Its not quite right, too much volume in the bust:

Also the bodice is in two parts here, I think it needs to be one piece with just gathering stitches at the shoulder seam. Also, I think pitting the top on the bias will be a vast improvement.

More photos to come of the skirt and the slash and spread extravaganza!