If that was true then I believe that I could have been previously born and reborn some time during the 19th century (1800s) because I seem to be drawn to fashion from the Victorian era and beyond - high-collars, ruffles, puffed and leg of mutton sleeves, narrow waistline, fitted bodice, cone-shaped, tiered/layered skirts, which are some of their most prominent characteristics.
When I started embarking on this journey, I never made it a point to follow any fashion trend. It was always, a "go with the flow" kind of project - what fits and what not, at the time of reconstruction. And the dresses would always turn out the way I wanted at the time.
And looking back at my fashion reconstruction projects, I could see the resemblance of the abovementioned characteristics in some of the dresses I reconstructed.
Having said that, this fashion reconstruction project is no different.
I have chosen an old dress my sister gave me. On its own, it was already such an elegant, light and flowy cocktail dress which, on a more formal occasion, I could always pair it with a long skirt and wear hand socks to extend the sleeves (as my sister suggested).
Since I much preferred wearing a full-length dress, with full-length sleeves, and did not want to go through the hassle of wearing three separate items each time the need arises, I decided that it was high time that someone should give this dress a new look.
Besides, the dress looked a bit too grey and kinda unfinished (3/4 done) because the dress reached just below my knee and the sleeves reached just below my elbows. Having reached a certain age, I am not really a fan of clothes done 3/4-way.
So, with that in mind, I was inspired by my previous Fashion reconstruction #9 project (FR#9), and challenged myself to making another tiered dress (even though I mentioned in my blog that FR#9 was going to be my first and last dress of its kind), but lessons learned, I eased the trauma by modifying the design.
Instead of maintaining the same kind of layering technique for the skirt, I fashioned the tiers into spirals so that it would be easier for me to manage and the fabric I used would make it look as if there was a continuous flow to the hue of colours.
As soon as I have completed the tiers, I realised that the new dress resembled something from the 19th century, hence I decided to finish the look by adding some embellishments to the skirt and sleeves.
This project took me less than a week to complete because the material I needed for the new dress were readily available from my sister's collection and there was little seam-ripping to be done, only add-ons.
If you were wondering why there is no embellishment at the back of the dress, that is because I did not want to sit on those lovely flowers if it was a "sitting ceremony". Sometimes, less is more...?
Perhaps, if it was a "standing ceremony", I could attach floral pins but that is a different story altogether... We will get to it when the need arises... A small matter, really...
But in the meantime, I like it just as it is and cannot wait to wear this new dress for my next formal outing.
Who could tell that this was a cut-and-paste project, if I had not disclosed the facts?
I can proudly say that you cannot find this item anywhere. 💃🐒👌🙋
When I started embarking on this journey, I never made it a point to follow any fashion trend. It was always, a "go with the flow" kind of project - what fits and what not, at the time of reconstruction. And the dresses would always turn out the way I wanted at the time.
And looking back at my fashion reconstruction projects, I could see the resemblance of the abovementioned characteristics in some of the dresses I reconstructed.
Having said that, this fashion reconstruction project is no different.
I have chosen an old dress my sister gave me. On its own, it was already such an elegant, light and flowy cocktail dress which, on a more formal occasion, I could always pair it with a long skirt and wear hand socks to extend the sleeves (as my sister suggested).
Since I much preferred wearing a full-length dress, with full-length sleeves, and did not want to go through the hassle of wearing three separate items each time the need arises, I decided that it was high time that someone should give this dress a new look.
Besides, the dress looked a bit too grey and kinda unfinished (3/4 done) because the dress reached just below my knee and the sleeves reached just below my elbows. Having reached a certain age, I am not really a fan of clothes done 3/4-way.
So, with that in mind, I was inspired by my previous Fashion reconstruction #9 project (FR#9), and challenged myself to making another tiered dress (even though I mentioned in my blog that FR#9 was going to be my first and last dress of its kind), but lessons learned, I eased the trauma by modifying the design.
Instead of maintaining the same kind of layering technique for the skirt, I fashioned the tiers into spirals so that it would be easier for me to manage and the fabric I used would make it look as if there was a continuous flow to the hue of colours.
As soon as I have completed the tiers, I realised that the new dress resembled something from the 19th century, hence I decided to finish the look by adding some embellishments to the skirt and sleeves.
This project took me less than a week to complete because the material I needed for the new dress were readily available from my sister's collection and there was little seam-ripping to be done, only add-ons.
If you were wondering why there is no embellishment at the back of the dress, that is because I did not want to sit on those lovely flowers if it was a "sitting ceremony". Sometimes, less is more...?
Perhaps, if it was a "standing ceremony", I could attach floral pins but that is a different story altogether... We will get to it when the need arises... A small matter, really...
Who could tell that this was a cut-and-paste project, if I had not disclosed the facts?
I can proudly say that you cannot find this item anywhere. 💃🐒👌🙋
