Quest for the Evening Gown, part N of X

[serinde]

Beth and I hit some thrift stores in SF to not much effect. On the other hand, we had a conference with a store owner in Berkeley who used to be in charge of costume acquisition for a theater group here; and he had a few additional suggestions, which I explored last night. (Valuable tip: the Loehmann's on Seventh does have a big evening gown section, but you have to go early in the week, because "by Wednesday the drag queens will have picked it all over", quotha.)

No success. I did find a dress that fits, and is within the price range I reckoned, and does not make me look ridiculous. And I dithered about getting it. But...it's not an evening gown. It's a Bridesmaid Dress[tm]. It smells like bridesmaid. It's that same heavy stiff 100% polyester that every generic bridal palace is stocked full of, and I will be damned and burning in a lake of fire before I lay down a three-digit sum for that shit.

I think I'm making a dress. I felt super-positive about this last night. In the cold grey light of overtired morning, I'm less sanguine. But I think I can do it, and I think it's the only way to get something I'll be tolerably pleased with. I reckon as how I'll work in parallel: start hunting for fabric and sketching out designs this week, and make a few last-ditch attempts on the downtown C21 and the Herald Square Macy's in meantime. And if by some miracle I do find a dress, it's not as if black silk and deep scarlet ... probably also silk are going to go to waste in my world.

Comments

[missionista.livejournal.com]

If you do wind up making something, it might make your life easier to have a pattern, so you don't have to design as well as sew. Many designers issue vogue patterns ("Calvin Klein's 'sad waif' dress, pattern #897). The only time I was a bridesmaid, my bride gave us each one of those designer patterns and some fabric, and the results were great.

Also, may I suggest microfiber as a possible alternative to silk. Probably a bit cheaper, and certainly easier to maintain. But silk is...silk. mmmmm, silk. :)

[syringavulgaris.livejournal.com]

Indeed was looking at patterns online; the current contender is Vintage Vogue V2858 (http://store.sewingtoday.com/cgi-bin/voguepatterns/shop.cgi?s.item.V2858=x&TI=20006&page=1), which is I believe from the 40s. I'm hesitant about those funky shoulder things, and Beth is hesitant about the waist details (because I'm considerably more squat than the languid model), but this is what muslin is for.

Skirtwise, I intend something more fitted, with a separate flare circle at the hemline..Um, er, kinda like the one here (http://store.sewingtoday.com/cgi-bin/voguepatterns/shop.cgi?s.item.V2931=x&TI=20003&page=1) but it the flare bit is a lot smaller and starts a lot lower down. (I saw this on a dress at the most recent Vintage Fashion Show and cried over it being size 6 for about fifteen minutes.) I intend to line it with silk in deepest, heart's-bloodiest scarlet.

[missionista.livejournal.com]

I LOVE the vintage one. I think the shoulder thingies should be fine, and will contribute to a really cute neckline. I am hesitant about the flare thing, but as long as it is lower down, it should be OK.

[nancaurelia.livejournal.com]

Love it! If you want something done right, do it yourself!