Taffeta Gown

Here's a gown I draped for my final. We had to choose a celebrity and then drape a gown for a red carpet event befitting the celebrity and her style. I was at a quandary on whom I should choose. Finally the form of Busty McBusterson gave me the inspiration of Catherine Zeta Jones. Who else could do justice for Busty McBusterson?? I decided on a simple boustie style top and flared gown using a dark purple taffeta. I'm not sure how well these pictures reflect the color but it was a blackish purple depending on the light. It was to be embellished with this wired piece using aluminum armature wire.


I'm quite pleased with the fit of this gown, which fits like a glove on the dressform. We had a vote on 4 categories in class: best design, best fabric, best construction, and best fit. I actually won best fit in class. I'm very satisfied with the gown outcome

Here's a close up of the wired piece. I took a long time trying to find the right materials to use since I didn't want something too dainty and would hold it's form while being easy to mould. I was also a little worried that it would turn out too much like something out of Xena: Warrior Princess. The front was loosely based off of a Turkish bookmark with Turkish calligraphy and the back was free handed based on feeling. There are places that could use a more polished moulding. I guess that's the best that could be done with just my hands a pair of pliers. For a first attempt at an abstract concept and new material I think it turned out pretty close to what I wanted.

Draped Skirt

Here's a skirt we draped in class. It has gathers at the front princess seams. I wasn't very imaginative since this was the project right before our final pr0ject, meaning I didn't want to waste too much energy. It turned out quite well. I wonder who will fit this??

Radiant Dress

THIS DRESS WAS A TRUE DISASTER. I think not really having any enthusiasm for the project didn't help the situation. Some criticisms my professor gave me were:

1. The pattern is too busy for the design.
2. It wasn't draped with enough pleats to give a correct radiant effect.
3. The dress/skirt detracts from the radiant effect.


I don't disagree with her at all. I think this is my worst project to date. My overall issue was that I couldn't envision this dress while draping it. I didn't know which direction I was headed and had draped it several times. I think the outcome really reflects my inner turmoil with this project. You can't tell how bad this dress is because the pattern is that distracting. I'm too embarrassed to even point them out. Maybe I subconsciously choose this pattern for this reason.

Boustie

I was really excited to do this project. Bousties are like a precursor to the corset. This project wouldn't have been as difficult if my dressform in class wasn't so well endowed. I have started to call her Busty McBusterson for that reason.















This is actually my dressform at home so you can't really see the ample cleavage inherent in my boustie. I had this vision of black lace and red satiny fabric. The satiny fabric became a challenge. And I didn't realize that the top seam needed to be stay stitched since it's on bias (diagonal) and started to stretch without my consent!!!! The lace didn't stay close to the body of the boustie either. It had the audacity to fall away. I learned later I should have stitched it in place. There is also the back where I was suppose to flip the piece inside out but didn't figure this closure correctly. It's hard to explain but I did a bad job. But on the bright side I think the grommets turned out correctly for my first attempt.

Faults of this boustie are: loose/over sized bust/top seam, loose lace, and bad construction at the back. Even with all these faults I still think it turned out decently. And overall it was a good learning experience. My next boustie will be AWESOME!! Whenever I get around to doing another one, that is.

Empire Dress

This was surprisingly easier than I thought it would be to drape. I found this fabric for $1/yard. I really like the pattern on the fabric. I'm hoping to be able to use this pattern for the dress I'm sewing for my couture class. I used a dart at the bust to control the excess fabric. It turns that making a dart in that angle in that proximity creates something of a Madonna pointed bra look. Which was something I wasn't trying to achieve. You can see it if you look really closely. When I have more time I'll convert the dart to gathers to soften the point.














This is Cheeky Monkey modeling the dress for me. I was surprised it fit her. But the fabric has a slight stretch to it, so it was only hard to zip at the band. Now who should I give it too. I guess gonna come down to whoever looks best in it, the only way to really decide.

Gathered Neck Shirt

Our second project in Draping class is the gathered neck shirt. Or in my professors words' "how to control excess fabric." Since I had such a hard time with the slippery fabric of the cowl neck, I stuck with a simple cotton this time. I was semi inspired with this random picture my professor had passed around for inspiration. It didn't turn out exactly as I had envisioned.

I think the problem lies with the material and design. My inspiration picture was made from a knit (t-shirt type material) and my cotton is obviously a completely different material. It's a little too puffy at the bottom. I'm going to release the banding on the bottom and leave it free flowing before I give it away, the either Grip N Flip or Cheeky Monkey (aka Sailor Venus). Depends who looks better in it. Overall I really liked how this shirt turned out. I also really like the design on the fabric, you can't beat $1/yard.

Cowl Neck Shirt

My first official project for my Draping Class. Our challenge the cowl neck. This was sort of a disaster. I don't work well with slippery fabric. But I was lazy and happen to have some around the house. I didn't think it would be that hard. I guess I'll chalk it up to experience and try harder next time.


If you look closely I didn't even sew up the side seams.

Dressform

I don't know what to say. I'm not sure that I really believe that I bought one. It was something I didn't think I would've bought anytime soon. But after my Draping class started and the Head of the Fashion Department BANNED use of the lab other than class use, I found myself in a situation where I was unable to complete assigned homework. I can't tell you how frustrating those few weeks were. And then a search began for a used or old dressform. But luck was not on my side. And after many many many attempts and apparently a sale that I barely missed, I now find myself an owner of a PGM 2008 size 8 dressform.


Though it would have been nice to have gotten one on sale, I was able to get a student discount. I'm not sure if I'll regret this purchase, since it's something I need and will use. But since it wasn't planned and I didn't budget for it, it's still stressful!