The Perfect 50s Silk Wedding Dress

This dress, commissioned a while ago, has to be one of my very favourite dresses I have created so far, it's always wonderful when a design works out perfectly.
There was a lot of work involved working on the line of the dress and the bodice which has a figure hugging, integrated corset with stays in between it's layers. The just off the shoulder neckline was a real success and in the customers chosen pale silver grey silk, it just looks spectacular. A 50's dream of a dress which I have fallen in love with.

Originally there were to be rhinestones over the waist but when the dress got to this stage it was working it's simplicity and elegance so well, the rhinestones would have been a spangly distraction.  I adore anything that sparkles but this time it was best left be. 

The silk is a smooth taffeta which is very crisp and falls beautifully with that vintage 'Gone with the Wind' rustle as you walk. Plumped with lots of soft tulle underskirts and a silk lining.

This dress titles 'Sarah Jane' is now available as part of the made to order bridal collection in white and ivory.  Take a look in our new etsy shop here. A whole bridal collection is being worked on as we speak.  

You can see fabulous photo's by Julie Bee of the dress being worn here 

Dove Grey Stripes, We love Stripes

The last of this little collection of stripe dresses for now. This dress is a super crisp, heavy dove grey cotton with screen printed fine stripes.
We cut this dress with a classic 50's halter dress in mind with a structured bodice, curvy sweetheart and long fine halter straps. The skirt was cut into quarter circle pannels making the skirt wonderfully full and swapped around the stripes for a geometric pattern (something we stole from a 1940's sun dress).

Fully lined with lots of nets and the compulsory ribbon bow to finish. Available to buy here in our etsy shop.

Pink Stripes

This shocking pink silk was quite a find.  Interwoven with gold and pale gold metallic threads to form this electric pink stiff silk taffeta. I needed to tone it down a little with a layer of black tulle and satin outlines to keep it contained and the as always satin bow is the finishing touch.

We've started using metal zippers in some of our dresses of which this one. It's a little tricky to move away from the ease and invisibility of the concealed zippers but the metal zips are from the golden ages of elegance and always move nice and smoothly. No breaking, sticking or wiggling if the dress is on the tightly fitted!

Singapore

We're in Singapore at the moment for a short break, catch up with friends and a little inspiration time.

The fabric shopping is just amazing all along Arab street, the most beautiful fabrics from around the world.

Today we went to the national museum of Singapore which is an incredible epic space using the original colonial style building bridged with an ultra modern space housing the history of Singapore.



The exhibition design rivals the V&A and New York galleries just a little smaller with maybe not such exquisite examples but equal in style.

This was the fashion section documenting the Western fashion trends Dior to Andy Warhol from the 1950s and the influence on the multi cultured women's fashion in Singapore.



Fine cotton Malaysian batik prints used to make gorgeous 50s dresses.









-- Post From my iPhone

Green Stripes

This fabric is just gorgeous.  A heavy vintage screen printed stripe cotton, crisp and structured used to make our great 50s inspired sun 'stroke' party dress. The long line bodice with fitted hips and changing stripes works really well to cinch the waist and smooth the hips and a little added satin piping adds some subtle detail. This may be my favourite of the stripe dresses we have made so far.

Available to buy here in our etsy shop

Satin Stripes

The first stripe dress in vintage slate grey satin and a super soft cotton shirting with yellow, grey and blue stripes. 

We hand cut the stripes for the skirt in the matching shirting and spend forever lining these up on placer and stitching them in but the finished look is just as I wanted. The bodice was kept simple and classic with matching satin binding to the neckline and arm holes. The skirt was cut with a stiff tulle to line and structure the bell shape, keeping the gathers perky and hem to stand away from the body. 

Finally trimmed with a mustard yellow satin bow to pick up the yellow in the stripes and here you have the finished piece. 

It's a one off and available in our etsy shop here. 

Also loving our new photography lights!

Stripes

So we started with some carefully sourced, hoarded and found vintage stripe fabrics. Just enough to make a dress from each piece and then we turned them into fabulously wonderful party dresses!
Unfortunately the great yellow and cream 40s style cotton was a casualty and though the print was great it's weave was not and ended up in the scrap bin after lots of huffing and puffing and desperately trying to make it into a dress.

The results will follow over the next few days whilst I am away in Singapore.

Sneak Peek at Work in Progress

I have been working away on a small collection of bridal gowns over the last few months and it's nearly time to show you. Here are some sneak peeks of the work in progress for some of the dresses, toiles and details.

Magenta Pink

Recently made again in a gorgeously vibrant magenta pink silk edged in black satin with a velvet bow belt at the waist and a corseted cinched waist with internal stays for a vintage fifties fit.

 Inside a vintage Worth dress with boning and waist stay photo by Sewyourown.

 We have just started to add the additional boning in our cinch waistband with a great vintage tip of adding a grosgrain ribbon belt inside which cinches the waist, helps with the fit of the dress, fastening the zipper and (acccording to Victoria Beckham and many a vintage lady) improves your posture.

Polkadot Bridesmaids

I have just received a gorgeous peek at the polka dot bridesmaids made for a wonderful London town wedding. They look spectacular, very Joan and very, very gorgeous just as I wanted.

The photo was taken by Emma Case and you can view more of her work here on her blog. Full of beautiful photographs and she even made a video for the bride as an added treat.

Purple, Mustard and Grey

Another gorgeous commission specifically ordered in violet purple, mustard yellow and a dove grey silk for pre wedding photos. The rich mustard double bowed sash works perfectly against the dove grey which seems to make every colour pop.
A vintage paste brooch trims the shoulder and the dress is fully lined with structuring to the waistband to nip the waist in.
You can take a look at the same dress in emerald green here with more details

All About Eve

Our 'All about Eve' dress made in the emerald green silk and tulle with net underskirt's and corseted bodice.