Continuing with the Costume College finished project posts, I’d like to share with you my Edwardian lace dress project. This was probably the most fun and creative project I have made since I made my Edwardian dress project from last year’s Costume College.
I bought about 6 yards of this ecru wide cotton lace trim at the LA garment district earlier this year and ended up being positively inspired to construct a whole dress from this trim. I wanted to somewhat mimic the feel of my original vintage lace wedding dress, but have this as a version I can wear to events and such without worrying about damaging an original.
Another trip the the garment district (I forget how many yards I ended up purchasing) and I started draping on my dress form the lace going in various ways until I came up with a version I liked and was simple enough to not be excessively busy. I was inspired, in this case, by the simple elegance of many early 20th century all white dresses.
At first it took on somewhat of a 1930s feel. I had initially meant to leave it straight and do inset gores of lace, but after running out of the length and seeing that it would make the skirt too narrow and later looking than my original plan, I dug around in my stash and came out with some old eyelet embroidered cotton which was used as the insets on the front skirt.
To shape this to the figure I cut into the lace and applied it on top as appliques- similar to clipping out darts for shaping. The whole dress was constructed with a wide zig-zag stitch, with edges abutting, and overlapping the cut out applique, as just mentioned. It was actually not nearly as finicky as I thought it would be, as the lace was quite substantial. In retrospect I wish I had taken construction pictures, but hopefully you can imagine what I am describing as I used up nearly every square inch in this project!
The insets of the lace were trimmed away to taper to a point and them applied the same was as the dart-like shaping, tapering from the full width to a single flower at top. The two front insets are long rectangles which were run with several rows of shirring at the top and a cut out flower applique hides the raw edges at the top.
I wore this with my Edwardian hat I made several years ago. I still love this hat- it is so fun to wear! Under this dress I wore an original vintage blouse. I had originally wanted to make a new reproduction blouse but ran out of time. I did like the overall effect with the vintage blouse, though!
Many thanks to Jennifer from Historical Sewing, who had me as a model for her “Dressing the Silhouette” class at Costume College this year. Since she signed me up for Edwardian it gave me the extra push to make myself a new pretty frock!
Also, many thanks to Jen of Festive Attyre for taking these photographs for me!
Comments
36 responses to “Finished Project- Edwardian Lace Dress”
It is gorgeous. :) It reminds me of the fabulous lace blouse that Emma Thompson wore in ‘Howards End’
Ooh! thanks! I love that movie!
Absolutely stunning! Gorgeous gown!!!
This dress is just so beautiful and you are so gorgeous in it! Anyone would think it was an original vintage piece!
Thank you!
How wonderful! (Although I think the Edwardian dress you made last year is still my favorite thing you’ve made.) Edwardian is another period I’d love to sew from. Maybe you’ll just have to branch your patterns out in that direction. ;)
;)
I’d love to see you sew Edwardian!
And thank you!!
Absolutely beautiful! And the construction is so creative. I like how your other Edwardian dress was early Edwardian and this one has a later Edwardian look. The variation is really neat to see.
Thank you! :)
Gorgeous!! Will you construct a pattern for it?
Thank you so much!
I’m sorry, no pattern for this one, as it the proportion would depend all on what trim you would use and have to be draped to the specific figure.
Oh. My. Word. That is so beautiful. And thank you for linking to your post about your wedding. I hadn’t seen that. I don’t think there can ever have been a classier wedding. These photos are all so inspirational. I wish I had occasions wherein I could wear things like this. You look like Daisy Miller. :)
Lauren, you have outdone yourself – AGAIN! You look just like Mary Astor in “Meet Me in St. Louis.” Now all you need is a World’s Fair Exposition!
Seeing this gown in the photos isn’t nearly as perfect as seeing it in person. And I did! It was amazing.
Val
What a fabulous dress! I love the way you constructed it with the inserts and applique. You’d never know it wasn’t an original vintage dress.
What a lovely dress! You look wonderful!
Stunning!
Oh wow! You are so talented, I wish I could do something like this! I adore that hat
Oh My! I am at Awe, I adore Edwardian peices and you were spot on with every detail! I love it! “Swoon!” :)
WOW! Beautiful!!!!
Amazing skill and finished product! This may be my favorite look on you. And the hat suits you to perfection. The most romantic period look of them all!
WOW! This is such a beautiful dress! I LOVE how it looks with the blouse and with the hat! So great!!
It is SO beautiful! You’re such a clever lady!
This is simply beautiful, you are so inspiring.
Simply amazing!
I am really at a loss for words with this dress–it’s just so beautiful! So if I’m reading this correctly, you pieced together all the trim to fashion a “fabric” of sorts for the dress? Stunning! As usual, I’m in total awe of your skills… The dress really does look like a period-piece! Bravo!!!
That is superbly beautiful!
This dress is amazing! So light and airy.
Absolutely exquisite!
This is just stunning!
Wow, just lovely! I don’t know what else to say but you look as fresh and crisp as a summer’s day.
Oh, how lovely! So summery looking!
Laurie
You have talent Id love a dress like that.
Lovely! I really adore the Edwardian period. :D
Wow! The dress and hat are gorgeous!! You look so elegant :)
Wow. this is really beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing!