The Erté Dress

[jennylafleur]

The plan for my really-should-not-but-I-can’t-help-it costume! I know most don't worry about the theme of CC but it’s been bugging me that I wouldn’t be wearing any ragtime costumes. It seems a shame, especially since it’s a favorite of mine. I was originally going to make the Butterfly as my token ragtime frock but as you know but gave up on that a few months ago. I can’t deal with two labor intensive frocks that are being complete butts. Particularly out of two periods and at the same time, which is exactly what the Bee and Butterfly are. One had to go and as I was more motivated about the Bee, that will be my show-piece of the year. *crossing fingers*

So what could I make that was ragtime but not a complicated, potentially sanity losing sort of project? A day dress for the tea seemed reasonable, especially as I have the most dreamy length of black & white sari fabric a dear friend was kind enough to give me last year. The theme for the CC Sunday Tea is 'Tea with Erté' so of course this project has been christened the Erté Dress.

Inspired by sewphisticate’s fabulous new outfit (dare we add a WWSD to the LJ lingo?) I hopped online and started trolling through the options. I came across the 1911 Kimono Dress from S&S, and thought ummm…


It struck me that one of the options looked a lot like the Deck Dress from Titanic. A bit of tweaking and it could look quite similar to the Deck in fact (more tweaking and it could be a perfect copy but I’m frankly not interesting in that much work at the moment even if I had the right fabric, which I don't :>).

So I took the plunge and ordered the pattern. The deciding factor was really that this design would be a great use of my sari fabric, allowing me to really show off the borders. Also if I run out of sari fabric I can make some parts either black or cream and it would look like that was I way it was supposed to be. Heck, I may just do it anyway!

I need to wait until it arrives to see exactly how I’ll be changing it but just wearing a period corset underneath will make it look more like the Deck. I may try to the change the neck to the Deck's lace trimmed "V" but I’m thinking a little turn down collar like my Rohan dress might be fun. I don’t know how period that is but I love that little collar, it’s great fun to wear and flattering to my face.

I want my pattern now!! Come to think of it I want my new sewing machine now too! I haven’t heard from G Street yet. *mreh*

Edit:
Just trolled through the S&S forum. Saw some examples of the Kimono dress made up and looks like it’s a sack/tent with a belt. Should be pretty easy to fit to a corseted figure, right? :> I'm even more curious to see how it's constructed with the second skirt layer now...