evolution of a dress

yes yes, i am still alive. back with a thrilling update on life... nah, just some pics of a dress i've been working on in draping. this is my bias draping project- initially intended to fit ME in the end, i've been foiled by the bizarro shape of the dress form that only resembles me in circumference measurments... i am not shaped like a Y. it is a very pretty dress, a copy of a Madeline Vionnet dress from the '30's. I was looking forward to wearing it for something, but... alas.

first, we have the dress form, as i padded it out to match my circumferences...

then, the dress form with the style lines marked on the form with style tape. i should probably find a pic of the real dress to show what i was basing this all off of... as you can see, this is NOT the shape of my torso. silly WOLF forms, making forms for what, all swimmer-bodies? one of the reasons draping frustrates me- the forms are rarely shaped anything like the person. i think i would have to use a child's form and pad it out huge, which would be somewhat depressing. but, i don't really know anyone who is Y-shaped like this... oh well.

here is the dress with the first bodice layer draped and pinned...

and then, the dress with the bodice and skirt draped and pinned. also a close-up of the skirt yoke detail. i like that!

and, here i am figuring out the bodice front drape and the back details... the dress looks like a crazy sack on me, but Mlle Dressform now has a nice evening frock.

i'll be sure to update with pics as i finish it up... i now have to re-cut the bodice drape front and back, sew them, sew the hem and finish edges. it has to be done by wednesday morning, so new pics will come soon. i'll also try to get some pics of my man's 18th-century coat- THAT was pretty, even just in muslin. haha. next up, watteau-back gown!