Friday, June 21, 2013

High Society Dressing

One of the perks of my job is getting to work on interesting custom pieces I don't usually get to tackle. Recently one of my most stylish clients asked for something a little bit different, a re-production of a Grace Kelly movie dress she had fallen in love with.

In the movie High Society Grace Kelly wears an amazing sky blue and white stripe dress by Edith Head as her character Tracy Lords sweeps into magnificent room to dazzle the reporters from Spy Magazine. Big sleeve, big skirts, and big glamor!

At first glance it seemed a fairly simple construction, but a glimpse at the back, and a showcase at the V&A showed a more complex meeting of solid and sheer fabrics that Ms Head was famous for. On top of that tracking down a strip silk in just the right size stripe, and just the right shade of blue took some serious supplier sleuthing. Fortunately I contacted a silk supplier in NYC the week they happened to get in the perfect fabric!

The project took a lot of experimentation to get the right drapes and translucency, as well as more than 17 yards of pure silk!




A few changes here and there to fit the lady who would be wearing it, but certainly an enjoyable challenge, and one I was sad to see leave the studio! (The waist on the dress is actually much smaller than the display mannequin, hence the gap on the over skirt band)




13 comments:

  1. I saw the original dress in real life, and I must say, it's the exact same copy!! Excellent job.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So lucky! I wanted to see the Grace Kelly exhibition so badly when it was on. I have to say though hearing it's so close from someone who's seen the original in person makes me happy!

      Delete
  2. Gorgeous! I'd definitely wear it. =)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow, you're amazing!

    i'm still trying to perfect my envelope pillow :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Those can be a bear to get just right! I bet they look great when you've finished with them :)

      Delete
  4. oooh my god this is just too good to be real! It´s absolutely beautiful! I just wonder how you got the pattern? I tried to find some :/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much! I'm actually a professional clothing designer, so the pattern was one I drafted myself from scratch to my client's measurements. Spent a few weeks digging up as many photos of the dress and details, then created an original pattern as close to the movie dress as possible without being able to look inside the actual garment.

      Delete
  5. This looks just stunning and like Grace Kelly's if you were to sell it. I would be first in line to order! You have great talent!

    ReplyDelete
  6. It is a very informative and useful post thanks it is good material to read this post increases my knowledge. Australian Designer Fashion Dresses

    ReplyDelete

 

Based on layout and code by Lena