BurdaStyle Sewing Vintage Modern Contest 2013 - Scala Dress
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4426
Description
The story of this dress is quite exciting and adventurous if I think it well. A few weeks ago I found out I finally got the chance to get a ticket to the opera at the La Scala theater in Milan, which has been my dream ever since I had moved here. So I HAD to make myself a special evening dress for the occasion. The same day I got the ticket, I went on Burdastyle.com and saw the contest, and I got the idea of participating with my “Scala” dress (since both the original contest deadline and the day I was going at La Scala were the same day, 8th of February). I immediately bought the book on Amazon.it, it arrived not long after, and after quite some procrastinating on frabrics, I started working on the dress. The faith, though, did not want me to wear it at the opera, because 2 days before the show I found out I was supposed to have a job interview on the day of the show. So this is how I ended up at La Scala on Friday in my interview clothes… and this dress will end up in my Etsy store. But anyhow, it will remain my contest dress here on Burdastyle.
So here are the facts:
1. master pattern used from the Sewing Vintage Modern book: the Elizabeth Gathered-Waist Dress
2. pattern modifications:
- I altered the neckline using the instructions in the book for obtaining the pajama set top, in the front, and designing my own V-neck in the back
- I added a “reversed” collar that I drafted myself, which has the ends at the back instead of at the front
- instead of using the straight gathered skirt that the pattern originally had, I used a flared skirt (almost semi-circle) that I also gathered at the waist for extra-fullness
- I added 2 options of sash: 1 black and 1 striped, and 2 options of bows: 1 black and 1 striped, in order to give more possibilities to create different looks
3. Fabric:
- black silk shantung for the bodice and for the black sash and bow; I bought this fabric almost 3 years ago in a cute little store in Montmartre in Paris, it was the first “Parisian” fabric I ever bought
- black and gold diagonal stripes silk taffeta for the skirt, collar, and striped sash and bow; this one I bought at Tessuti Raponi in Milan and I never quite knew what to do with it until having the idea to make this dress
4. Construction:
- for the entire dress I used a straight stitch for uniting the pieces; the collar is interfaced, so are the neck and arm facings
- all seams are finished with my serger
- the hem is very narrow and also the edge inside is serged
5. Styling
- the dress is pictured in all the photos with a full tulle petticoat underneath for extra-fluffiness and for a more authentic 50s look
Material Notes
silk shantung
silk taffeta
Difficulty
Intermediate
Categories
Credits
- Sewing Vintage Modern
http://www.burdastyle.com/pattern_store/patterns/elizabeth-gathered-waist-dress
23 Comments Sign in to add a post
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Feb 24, 2013, 01.12 PMby Florentina Taudor
Sper din tot sufletul sa castigi , pentru ca meriti !
1 Reply
Mar 1, 2013, 06.49 AMby Elochka
Multumesc mult pentru sustinere!! :)
Feb 23, 2013, 06.51 PMby anabella68
nice!!!
1 Reply
Mar 1, 2013, 06.48 AMby Elochka
Thanks a lot Anabella! :)
Feb 22, 2013, 07.51 AMby Sally-Ann Hoyne
Your design choices for this dress is clever, well chosen but not over the top. Well done. I especially like your use of moving the striping to different angles away from the narrow waist. Anyone wearing it will have that ‘hour-glass figure’ look. This is enhanced with the way you’ve made the belt to give a flow right at the waist, moving the eye one way, then the other, then blending right down into the skirt of the dress. They ‘sway’ effect is there, even while it is on the dress mannequin. This shows a great deal of thought and skill in your design. I voted for you, but I really think it’s a winner.
1 Reply
Feb 22, 2013, 09.52 PMby Elochka
Thanks a lot Sally! It was tricky to work with all those stripes and I was constantly wondering if I got the right side of the fabric well (the stripes are in various shades of gold and black/grey), but in the end I’m also pleased with the result. :)
Feb 22, 2013, 01.45 AMby Nikolene
This is just exquisite. Lots and LOTS of time put in to making this dress and sewing with silk can be tricky! I admire your effort and the result is fabulous. You win, in my book!
1 Reply
Feb 22, 2013, 09.49 PMby Elochka
Thank you so much Nikolene! Yes I was afraid of this silk for so long but then I said to myself “what the hell… if not now, when?” Anyway silk shantung and silk taffeta are more manageable than crepe de chine or silk satin or silk chifon so are a nice idea for who wants to start to approach silk.
Feb 21, 2013, 06.35 PMby tomari
Елочка Успеха и всего хорошо!
1 Reply
Feb 22, 2013, 09.48 PMby Elochka
hm… how do you say thanks in Russian? спасибо!
Feb 21, 2013, 05.36 PMby Petrila Sergiu-Valentyn
FRumoasa sper sa castige …..
1 Reply
Feb 21, 2013, 06.28 PMby Elochka
Multumesc mult!
Feb 21, 2013, 01.01 PMby Lucia Rotundu
Beautiful dress and indeed a vintage classic … I love the fabric and I loved how you played with the black and the stripes!!
1 Reply
Feb 21, 2013, 01.36 PMby Elochka
Thanks Lucia! and to think I had these fabrics in my stash since forever and it had never occured to me before that I could actually combine them! :)
Feb 20, 2013, 12.54 PMby Buburuza Bubu
A very pretty vintage gown. Well done, kiddo! Good Luck!
1 Reply
Feb 20, 2013, 01.06 PMby Elochka
Thanks so much!! :)
Feb 20, 2013, 12.29 PMby karina33
Mult noroc fetita draga!
1 Reply
Feb 20, 2013, 01.06 PMby Elochka
multumesc Karina!
Feb 20, 2013, 12.27 PMby Ingrid Cotala
Bafta!
1 Reply
Feb 20, 2013, 01.06 PMby Elochka
multumesc sa fie!
Feb 20, 2013, 11.16 AMby Capsunica Prajiturica
foarte frumoasa rochita! mult noroc! votat, Elouise
1 Reply
Feb 20, 2013, 12.20 PMby Elochka
Multumesc Elouise!! <3
Feb 20, 2013, 09.47 AMby emmancita
beautiful dress, just like you, congratulations!!
1 Reply
Feb 20, 2013, 10.02 AMby Elochka
Thanks Emma, fingers crossed! :D
Feb 19, 2013, 08.33 PMby luisa59
Cia Ela, inutile dire che sei la mia favorita, sei bravissima!!! Un baccio LUISA
1 Reply
Feb 20, 2013, 10.02 AMby Elochka
Grazie Luisa, sei un tesoro come sempre!
Feb 19, 2013, 02.48 PMby anietta
Complimenti, bellissimo vestito!!!! Anietta
1 Reply
Feb 19, 2013, 07.46 PMby Elochka
Grazie Anietta, incrociamo le dita! :)
Feb 15, 2013, 11.37 PMby jaslyn117
Very beautifully done! :)
1 Reply
Feb 16, 2013, 12.09 PMby Elochka
Thanks a lot!
Feb 14, 2013, 10.14 PMby Pamil Vera
Pur si simplu minunata,felicitari si succes!
1 Reply
Feb 16, 2013, 12.09 PMby Elochka
Multumesc! :D
Feb 13, 2013, 07.28 PMby christinaz82
Beautiful dress! Great job :)
1 Reply
Feb 14, 2013, 08.42 PMby Elochka
Thanks Christina!
Feb 11, 2013, 03.12 AMby kisses
Lovely dress and the fabric is beautiful
1 Reply
Feb 11, 2013, 08.38 AMby Elochka
Thanks a lot!
Feb 11, 2013, 02.02 AMby MojoHollz
Absolutely gorgeous! It looks fantastic and you did a great job!
1 Reply
Feb 11, 2013, 08.38 AMby Elochka
Thank you Monique!
Feb 10, 2013, 09.47 PMby krice
This is fabulous! I really love your choice of fabrics and what you did with the pattern!
1 Reply
Feb 11, 2013, 08.38 AMby Elochka
Thanks krice! Sometimes being fabric-shopaholic and having a huge stash is positive! :)))
Feb 10, 2013, 09.28 PMby Elochka
Thanks Mary, thanks fashionfreek! Fingers crossed! :D
Feb 10, 2013, 09.19 PMby Mary Athey
This is a stunning dress!!..i love everything about it. Good luck xx
Feb 10, 2013, 09.07 PMby fashionfreek
Beautiful Dress and fabric. You look great!:-D