Burda Style For people who sew

Description

This garment is inspired by Project Runway (PR), Season 8, Episode 3, entitled “It’s A Party” and has been submitted with my application and portfolio for PR, Season 9.

For this challenge, the designers were required to use unconventional materials to construct a dress. Thus, they were unleashed in a party sore named Glitters in NYC. The designers were discourage to use any materails that replicated fabric.

In an effort to save money and recycle materials, I used ribbons from a wedding I provided floral and event design for last year.

I drafted the entire pattern myself. The bodice was draped on the form and skirt was drafted using a technique posted on BurdaStyle.

My concept for this project was the 1920’s and flapper dresses.

The dress was relatively easy to make, however I encountered the following challenges.

1. After sewing the ribbon on the bodice using a zig zag stitch, the bodice lost some of it’s shape.

2. Once I drafted the empire skirt and attached the bodice, I had to add darts (after the fact) for a more streamline fit. I didn’t realize the skirt needed darts even though it was cut to fit my models frame.

3. Initially, I hot glued horizontal bands of ribbon on the skirt, but after sewing the seams together, the dress would not fold (from the inside out) properly, nor form to the body. Thus, I had to apply the ribbon using smaller strips in a staggered form.

Looking at the finished product, the top is constructed using fabric ribbon, the skirt using a poly satin ribbon and the empire waist line using a suede ribbon. The dress is closed with a black zipper and adorned with a purple crystal-like chains.

I also took the liberty of making the birdcage veil using tulle, a hair clip and a few rhinestones I recycled from a shoe.

For more photos, click here

Material Notes

Ribbon (fabric & poly satin), zipper, thread, tulle, rhinestone, hair clip, crystal chain, hot glue, hot glue gun

Categories

Season

Spring, Summer

For

Women

Garment Type

Dress

Style

Evening Wear

Material

Other

Credits

Christopher Makris, Photographer

http://www.modelmayhem.com/734342

Model

Janell Ramsey

Hair

Karen Kennedy

Make-up

Shanika Bradshaw