From the Archives: The Dress Part 1

In case you missed my previous posts, in order to finally tell the story of the wedding, I'm starting over from the beginning and reposting a few recaps I wrote right after the wedding. Next up, the dress part 1.

The concept of my wedding dress started because of the movie Atonement. If you've read the book or seen the movie, you'll know the dress is its own character. It thrusts the main characters into a dramatic event. Ever since I saw the movie, I knew that my wedding dress would have to be made after the green dress from the film.

It had amazing movement in the skirt, was cut on the bias, and was sexy. Not sexy in an overt, here-are-my-breasts kind of way. Sexy in a bare back and subtle hint of lack of undergarments. I look best in a natural waist like this dress had. So that was my goal. 

If you were with me at the beginning of this blog, you may remember I had a pattern once upon a time. There was some talk online that this pattern would create a dress similar to the Atonement dress with a few alterations.

They both appeared to have the same faux wrap around the hips, a slight train, handkerchief hem (although the pattern's was much shorter), and bias cut. However, after a lot of internet sleuthing, I discovered this pattern did not make a dress that looked like the illustration, much less the Atonement dress. This pattern is a 1920s dress, and truth be told, 1920s dresses often are much more sack like than the illustrations appear to be. I didn't like how exaggerated handkerchief hem was nor the low waistline.

So I began hunting for a pattern again. I decided that I definitely needed to be looking at 1930s patterns, since that was when the first half of Atonement was set. You may remember I considered a number of different options.

I finally settled on the pattern below. It met the swishy skirt, interesting back, and natural waist criteria. I bought fabric and notions over Christmas in Michigan and then stared at the pattern and fabric for a very long time. I was scared. Terrified. I made a start at it finally, cutting the pattern pieces out of muslin fabric. And then I stared at it for a few more weeks, unable to move forward.

Eventually I broke down and hired someone. Peter was a local costume designer with experience making historically based garments. I was embarrassed and felt like a quitter. But you all cheered me on.

It took a lot of fittings. First Peter made it in a satiny polyester to get the fit right and whatever changes I wanted figured out. The neckline was lowered, a seam in the skirt was removed (because my fabric was incredibly wide, so the seam wasn't needed), and the dress was taken in more at the waist.

Once constructed in the actual fabric, the dress grew longer and longer because it was on the bias. I debated whether or not I actually liked the neckline and wanted it to be changed. A lot of small adjustments were made. Finally I got to take it home.

It hung in our apartment in a garment bag tempting Mr. Beagle. But he promises he never peaked.