The theme for this year’s Amanda Young Foundation Ball was “Nautical, but Nice”
(If you have time, click on the link and view the information video on meningococcal disease. Having this knowledge could save a life…)
As usual I had about a zillion ideas for a dress. Was so so sorely tempted to make a completely brand new gown. In fact originally I had every intention of making a whole new ballgown for this event. This was a very enticing thought, there’s nothing I like more than delving into the glamour of the eveningwear section of the fabric store… but I confess not an very eco friendly option really (sigh) After much enjoyable fantasising about such nautical fabulousness as mermaid-like dresses or dresses looking like a breaking ocean wave (I had visions of a turquoise sheath, with a frothy white lower skirt section to represent the surf), eventually I directed my thoughts to my collection of evening gowns already sitting in my wardrobe, and working with something I already had. Last year’s gown had possibilities; this is what it looked like last year…
I decided to re-work this gown and be a Red Emperor, as in, the fish…hehe. In the end, of course, the gown was almost completely re-constructed and is pretty much a new dress.
I removed the red velvet bodice and silk midriff section, and made a new red silk skirt to go over the old lining/petticoat with its attached grand silk flounce around the bottom. Then re-attached the midriff and bodice. I thought this would be OK, but unfortunately the red velvet just looked wrong on top of the dress, otherwise composed entirely of red silk. So I unpicked that off of the midriff section and away from the zip, un-picked and kept the red velvet ribbon shoulder straps to re-use, and made a new bodice, out of the pieces of red silk left over from cutting out the new skirt.
All the un-picking and re-sewing together of seams took ages, about five days. All the skirt sections are hand-hemmed, and I estimated there is between five and six metres of hem altogether in this dress. (Later edit; I just measured, 8.5m!) Luckily, I already done the lower skirt and petticoat last year….!
The new parts are: the wrap-over upper skirt and the bodice. The old, re-used parts of the dress are: the lining/petticoat with the lower silk flounce, the midriff section, the velvet ribbon shoulder straps, and the invisible zip. Yes, I re-used the ZIP! I think I’m most proud of that part of the whole she-bang, silly as it sounds.
If you look really closely enough, under a strong light, you can see that the lower flounce and the midriff section are a different shade of red than the upper skirt and the bodice… from floor up the fabrics sections are old, new, old, new but meh. I think they are close enough to be good enough. Also the different shades are divided up over the dress, so it still looks OK.
So when I had finally finished, I had a kinda new red dress that I am completely thrilled with, even more than last year’s version I think!
But even though it was “red” and sort of “royal”, fitting in with my plan to be a Red Emperor, it didn’t scream “nautical” by any stretch of the imagination. So I gathered a few fishy accessories; the fishing net to be my stole, and I also bought a few lures and a bit of fishing cord from the fishing store to make some jewellery.
So sufficiently nautical, yes?
And when I came out to show the children my costume and asked them what they thought I was, Sam immediately said, “the catch of the day?”
And I wondered if that was a better title than my Red Emperor idea…
Details:
Dress; based on Butterick 4657, petticoat and lower skirt of my own design. Originally looked like this, and my other dress using this same pattern here
Gloves; Vogue 7949, red jersey knit, my review of this pattern here
Stole; fishing net
Jewellery; made by me from fishing lures…
Shoes; Raymond Castle. These are my oldest shoes, I’ve had them since I was about 19…! 😀
a side view…
Beautiful! And clever.
That is just stunningly beautiful! I am in awe. And I love the bold juxtaposition of the scarlet and the royal blue. Very nautical indeed!
I am equally in awe of your mother's jaunty jacket in the last post. I face the same dilemma…I would love to feature my stylish and creative mum on my blog, but fear she would eclipse me! 😉
WOAH Carolyn! That is amazing… Love the colour, but I love your thinking to make it nautical… the fishing net stole is such a cool idea. You look gorgeous and hope you had a fab night. xo
What a great re-fashion. It looks so different from the original. Just love the way you think outside the square to make the theme work.
I hope you had a great evening.
I also love your mum's outfit. You can certainly see where you get your sewing creativity from.
Well done to both of you.
So beautiful!
Really beautiful and so creative. You look stunning.
Simply stunning! The colour is fantastic on you as is the shape.
Your sewing is equally as good as your mums and you are just as elegant as she is!
GORGEOUS… and what fun to have this event to sew evening wear for.
Oooh, you got to wear your red gloves!
This ensemble is just stunning, though I don't know what a red emperor fish looks like. That fish net as a stole was inspired. 🙂
Ah, the catch of the day! That's clever. Lovely, and the fishing lure jewelry is a nice touch.
And another fantastic dress — I think 'catch of the day' suits it.
Also, yes! I will be participating in Me-Made-June, really looking forward to wearing my summer clothes this time around.
If anyone says redheads can't wear red they should look at this photo, you look great, and your poses are wonderful. beautiful dress and I really like the choice of fabric, just right for the style.
Que vestido lindo! Só não gostei dos detalhes azuis, tiraram a atenção do vestido.
What a stunning dress! I only do not like the blue details, they caugth our attention that should be entirely for the dress…
That dress is so gorgeous on you…..the colour & style are beautiful!
That's the best re-fashion I have ever seen! The deep rich red looks amazing with your porcelain coloured skin. Stunning!
That is amazingly beautiful! You look fabulous. I am jealous, I wish I had a formal event to go to!
WOW! I love the dress. The stole and jewelry are inspiring.
I like the way you reworked the dress to make an entirely new outfit.
gorgeous! i love it, especially the fantastic skirt 🙂
GORGEOUS. The skirt has a lot of movement, even with what I assume is a bit of a breeze. It sounds like you had a lot of re-working to do, but it looks like it was worth it.
You look stunning! The belle of the ball to be sure. I love the flow and movement of the skirt.
BTW – Your mother's outfit was amazing. So stylish!
Wow – you look amazing. Great work on the dress and I love your wrap:)
you look so gorgeous! the dress is just perfect:)
I love it Carolyn. I bet you turned a few heads.
Wow! It looks stunning on you. I love the layered skirt.
Stunning and clever reuse! I'm gobsmacked that you reused the zipper, too! Fantastic. The accessories and wrap are absolutely brilliant.
Gorgeous gal in a stunning dress! You're no fish out of water. (har!)
Hi, I read your blog regularly. I cannot believe how much sewing you do – how on earth do you find the time?????
This is a beautiful dress. I love seeing what you do especially to patterns that I also own.
Wow, it doesn't even look like the same dress! Except for the color. I like this version much better than last year's, actually. And even if it doesn't scream nautical, you should be proud of yourself for quite successfully managing to wear the same formal dress again and making it look completely different! (Hey, the money you saved on the fabric means you can get other fabric, right? 😉
Oh my goodness, this dress is gorgeous! I absolutely love the color of the fabric. It's so pretty on you and complements your skin tone well.
I love the fishy accessories as well. Especially the sweet net shawl, definitely nautical for sure.
I seriously can't get over the bottom of this dress though. The different lengths are so lovely looking! And by the way, even after you said it was made from two different fabrics, I still couldn't tell! So it's by no means onvious if you're worried about that at all.
This is stunning!!!
Gorgeous! I see my 30s vamp pattern didn't work for you either.
Oh, I love it, and with the gloves! Sam must keep you in stitches, the laughing kind. 🙂 What a beautiful dress. I hope you'll have occasion to wear it again, it would be a shame for it to languish, unworn …
Catch of the day, I'd say ;). I had to look twice at the photos to try too see the shade difference of the layers. You matched the fabrics perfectly.
I love the unusual color combo with the blue net and jewelery. I've just seen your tutorial on how to make it – clever idea, clever solution.
You look amazing in your beautiful dress, and how clever of you to go as a Red Emperor.
Well, you look fabulous. What a gown. The gloves, jewelry and net help make a perfect outfit. hope you both had a wonderful night.
What a gorgeous remake! It's very flattering on you. How fun to have the nautical theme.
oh you are so beautiful !!!I love to go on your blog because it is always a pleasure but here it's wonferfull !!
The dress is stunning on you and the accessories are a hoot… what a great juxtaposition. I have to go with your son though on the name of your outfit.. it's just way too clever and cute 🙂
Absolutely stunning!!! Much the same red as gorgeous strapless Vogue pattern I made in 1989 to wear to Royal Children's Hosp fundraiser ball. It had HUGE back to front apron made from 10 layers of tulle and chiffon – some 30m of fabric – that fluffed and flowed so elgantly behind and tied in front in huge Jackie O bow. Went to the loo and came out to find bloke standing with about 12m of the fluff in his hand "Sorry – I stepped on your frock…" "Ahh, this OLD thing" I said and danced with him. "He" was Paul McDermott (back in Doug Anthony Allstars days) and we danced wildly…I was a skinny skinny 45kg at the time and we twirled at one stage and my dress didn't. I had the apron at the front and my bodice immodestly around my shoulder blades…
Straps, eh…
Can't wait to see what it morphs into for next year's ball… And apologies for being so far behind, I am sick and been sleeping for weeks (sad little face here) but enjoying spending hours reading your lovely wardrobe.
Hugs, Jasmine
I've just discovered your dress on Burdastyle..via the feature designer article. It's beautiful and suits you wonderfully. I love the colour and the way you have put together the layers. Catch of the day is absolutely appropriate. Red emperor – very clever.
Hi,
Ball Dresses in Perth is the fashion of Dresses. Ball gowns have been a charm amongst all the other evening dresses. They have been in fashion since a long time. I like it.
Evening Wear Perth
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