Copyright AriaAustin, 1999 - 2010, all rights reserved.
This gown has a date so far in the future that I am hesitant to make the main body of the gown, though the lower layers can certainly be made ahead of time.
This Dinner Gown will not be the standard coral color from the film. Rather, the gown will either be navy blue, powder blue, or lilac dupioni silk. All three colors can be seen below with the bottom layer laid over. Which one hasn't been decided yet, though navy is coming out as the favorite so far. A nice, forest green is also a possibility.
This Dinner Gown will not be the standard coral color from the film. Rather, the gown will either be navy blue, powder blue, or lilac dupioni silk. All three colors can be seen below with the bottom layer laid over. Which one hasn't been decided yet, though navy is coming out as the favorite so far. A nice, forest green is also a possibility.
A Titanic Dinner Gown in the Making
May 19, 2009: The color for the gown will be the lovely darker blue. The date for this gown's completion is still a year out! I am not happy with a few parts of the upper layer, so will be making some revisions. However, it gived a good idea. The silk dupioni was taken out of my sewing bow without ironing (why iron when it will head right back into the sewing box?) and the chiffon is crinkled. Too bad the camera picked this up so well. I will likely be finished with this layer by the end of the week, save for the last 18" or so that will be beaded after being attached to the gown.
In these pictures, the layers are just laid across the fabric. The finished product will have the hours put in ensuring each layer is perfectly diagonally-straight.
In these pictures, the layers are just laid across the fabric. The finished product will have the hours put in ensuring each layer is perfectly diagonally-straight.
June 6, 2009: The second layer is mostly finished but for the embroidery that will be done on the train after the underbody of the gown has been made. Both of the bottom layers still need more edge beading. The third layer up has been cut, edges finished, and beaded with over 1.000 tiny faceted beads. Yes, I counted them. More will be added, again, when the train is finished. The exact length of each layer can't be determined until the underbody of the gown and train have been finished. Over the coming weeks, beadwork will commence. In the meantime, I have two other gowns finish.
Barely after midnight, June 8, 2009: I'm awaiting a couple fabrics for the othe two gowns, so they're on hold a few more days. Instead I worked on this.
The price of this gown may seem high. At least it does until you know how much time goes into this style gown. This small section took almost every waking minute between Saturday morning after waking up until last night. Save for time at the grocery store and eating, I worked nearly non-stop on this beadwork, a good ten hours on each day. The design is made as I go with plenty of time taken to knot new lengths of thread and knot a finished piece.
I will likely finish this layer over the next couple of days until I return to the other two dresses.
The price of this gown may seem high. At least it does until you know how much time goes into this style gown. This small section took almost every waking minute between Saturday morning after waking up until last night. Save for time at the grocery store and eating, I worked nearly non-stop on this beadwork, a good ten hours on each day. The design is made as I go with plenty of time taken to knot new lengths of thread and knot a finished piece.
I will likely finish this layer over the next couple of days until I return to the other two dresses.
June 9, 2009: The third layer is nearly complete. Down to the rest of the train, which will be beaded after the rest of the gown is complete. All I can do on these layers until the rest of the gown is made is to go back and add the small faceted beads to the edges that are between the edges as they're currently beaded, and the bottom of the larger beads and sequins. This will add some nice weight, in addition to being a small detail on the original.
This top photo is without flash and is the closest I've been able to get of the actual color of the silk.
This top photo is without flash and is the closest I've been able to get of the actual color of the silk.
June 11, 2009: The tiny beadwork on the edging is really doing a number on my hands. To bead the edging on the bottom layer, the layer with the shortest edge, has taken two days. To do each of the other two layers will easily take four or five days each, but I'm human and need an occasional day off.
A toile for the main body of the gown will be begun soon, and then the toile for the shape of the top tier, which is rather complicated.
Excepting the sleeves, the rest of the chiffon is cut from just one piece.The top tier, the bodice, the piece on the left, the piece that wraps around the right, and the back draping. I've found no images showing any seams at all on this piece.
A toile for the main body of the gown will be begun soon, and then the toile for the shape of the top tier, which is rather complicated.
Excepting the sleeves, the rest of the chiffon is cut from just one piece.The top tier, the bodice, the piece on the left, the piece that wraps around the right, and the back draping. I've found no images showing any seams at all on this piece.
Copyright AriaAustin, 1999 - 2010, all rights reserved.