Sunday, June 9, 2013

A Lace Dress,1966 and a Lace Dress 2013

This may be silly but since it appears my Google followers anr still not receiving my feeds from Sew Passionista by DIANA, I'm going to publish this post on both my blogs ,just this one time.because I think this is a good one.

What woman doesn't like lace?

I thought I'd show you the only lace dress I've ever owned.....my prom dress from 1966!! I've kept it all these years. It's very teeny weeny! Sigh!





I still love it and can really understand why I chose it all those years ago. From the salmon coloured taffeta underskirt/lining, the organza layer, the gorgeous white lace,  to the beautifully scalloped border of the lace running down the back, it still gives me a thrill.


I couldn't make my dress form small enough so I couldn't zip it up but closed it enough to show the lovely back.






My 1966 prom dress is not in perfect condition. It has spots and discolorations and even some wear and tear. It was worn to a couple of formals, as a bridesmaid dress, as a costume for a High School drama production at the school where I taught and even as a Hallowee'en costume by my then teenaged daughter.
But pressing it and seeing it on Antoinette has made my heart ache a little for my youth now long gone.
But enough of that.

Lace to me is very dressy and formal and I've been wanting to make a lace dress ever since it started popping up everywhere in the fashion world including the blogs we all love and follow. ( Examples include Diary of a Sewing Fanatic and Amanda's Adventures In Sewing.).

We were  attending an event  that was  perfect for a lace dress and since I had a beautiful navy stretch lace in my stash, I decided it was now or never.

My pattern choice had to be New Look 6000    because the fit was so great in the View B version I just made and showed here. This one would be View A.

I decided to use a black lining although I considered a nude lining, but I knew I'd be more comfortable as an older woman in the more conservative navy/black combo.I left the elbow length sleeves unlined however.

Here is my dress.




The true colour is more like this



My 16 year old grand-daughter thought it was beautiful so it must be OK, I guess.

I cut the dress and sleeves so the scallops, which formed both selvedges, finished the hems.



 That made it so there is more stretch going down the dress than there is across,but that didn't cause any problems. The zipper, which I of course stabilized, did buckle a little but that's in the back and if I can't see it, it must not exist,right? Lol!

I'm very happy with my lace dress ,2013. Of course it doesn't have the magic that my 1966 prom dress still has for me, but then,  at the risk of sounding really corny,my life  after all has really ended up like a fairy tale and I don't need magic anymore.

I wanted to show you a real life shot of my husband and me at the event we attended but I forgot to have a photo taken! Darn!






I hope you will let me know what you think!

More later from


19 comments:

  1. I think you look wonderful in your 2013 version of the lace dress. How fantastic that you have kept your original one after all these years.

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    1. Yes and I still absolutely love it. It's made me so nostalgic all week!!

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  2. Your dress is gorgeous and you look stunning. I love that you kept your prom dress, the look is so classic. Thanks for sharing your story.

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    1. Thank you Loru. It's funy because I can't bear to take it off my dressform. It's so pretty!

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  3. Just beautiful! The colors, self edges and fit are on target. As my skills increase, I will be trying to do a lace dress. I'm so inspired by seeing you and other sewists accomplishing this trend.

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    1. Thank you Robin. I love to know that young people like you are keen on sewing. It's just so much fun and fulfilling. Enjoy!

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  4. Your prom dress is quite an artwork isn't it. Love your new navy lace dress, so simple so chic.

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    1. Thank you Gail. It was a dream. I still love it. My 2013 dress is very comfy and easy to wear.

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  5. You look absolutely elegant in that lace dress. Sophisticated. Classy.

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    1. Thank you Gwen. That's just how an old Gal like me aims for.an

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  6. I love your navy lace dress (navy is maybe the most flattering color ever) and I absolutely ADORE your prom dress. It is fabulous. The lace, the bow, the salmon...and the silhouette looks so flattering. I wish I could've worn that to my prom in 2007.

    Now I think you have to post a picture of you wearing it to your prom in 1966...

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  7. Thanks Alison.So sweet of you. I'm going to see if I can come up with a photo in the next couple of days. The hair will knock your socks off!!!

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  9. Both of the dresses are so pretty, and you look fantastic in that navy. Your '66 dress reminds me a bit of a light blue bride's maid dress I made for good friend's wedding in '72. Was an empire waist but white lace over light blue crepe. That dress is long gone, but I have some photos somewhere............ (edit to correct typos)

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  10. Thanks Linda. I can't bear to take the prom dress off my dressform. It's so darn pretty!

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  11. I love the prom dress, but the short sleeve blue lace dress is so elegant, and the model looks positively classy in it...Oh, I want one so bad!

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  12. Oh my goodness they are both gorgeous !

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  13. Finding this could not have come at a better time. Your dresses are beautiful! I have a question about the navy lace dress. Did you sew the side seams up together or as two separate seams and what about the back seam below the zipper ? I would love your advice on this. Thanks

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