You Shall go to the Ball

It's that moment you receive a party invite and it's for fancy dress! Your brain scrambles to come up with a fun, original costume idea that no one else would have thought of. Tricky isn't it? Well to make matters that slight bit harder the costume had to be from TV or film. I had two options really, Mary Poppins or Elizabeth Bennet. "Elizabeth Bennet??" I hear you cry, yes I know she's technically a character from a book, but I really do love Keira Knightley's rendition of her in the 2005 adaptation. I considered my two options, as much as I love Mary Poppins and her cheery rosy cheeks, I knew I had to go with dear Lizzie. Reasons? Well, 1. I thought there might be other 'Poppins' at the party seeing as the new film had only recently been in cinemas and 2. I have always wanted a regency dress. You never know when you may need one for a turn around a fancy country estate. I can dream!

Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet

So, where do I begin?! I have never made a dress like this before. I didn't even have time to order a pattern, I was going to have to go maverick on this. I tried searching You Tube for some inspiration and I did happen upon some good ones - In particular Micarah Tewer's tutorial which made it look so easy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T1D_C2Zmak

In the end I decided to try adapting an existing vintage 1970's pattern I had. I thought the way the bodice came under the bust combined with the puff sleeves was reminiscent of the regency style.

I had to change the sleeves slightly by taking off some of the length. On the original pattern the sleeves came to just above the elbow, I felt this was probably a bit long for a regency style. 

I made sure to include the easing line and dots

Once I had cut all the pattern pieces for the bodice, I pinned it in place onto my mannequin. Honestly, this is a god send! If you don't have a mannequin, I would definitely recommend doing so. I was lucky as I found this one very cheap in a local charity shop. Pretty awesome find. 

I was quite pleased with how it looked. I was fairly nervous about attaching the sleeves. I don't have a great experience with sleeves, I'm a bit scared if I'm being truthful. I think it goes back to one of my very first dressmaking attempts, I tried doing a short sleeve and it turned out terribly - I couldn't get my arm through it! I was put off ever since then.

I'm glad I've since persevered with them though, as the puff sleeves on this dress eventually turned out well. 

 

Bodice finished, I then attached the skirt. I felt the easiest thing to do was gather a full length skirt. I  wrapped the material around myself, making sure there was enough fabric to go round me (plus a little extra). I did two parallel long stitches across the top and gathered it up. I actually quite enjoy gathering fabric, there is something therapeutic about it.

Yay, it was looking quite like a regency dress now. I'm afraid I wasn't very authentic on the next part. Time was of the essence on this particular project (seeing as the party was the following day) - yep, I'd left it right to the last minute! So instead of using hook and eye fastenings or buttons, I went for the speedy and much easier option of putting in a zip.

I decided to go for an invisible zip. I only had 22 " zips in my stash, so that would have to do. Probably a bit too long, but so long as it did the job, I wouldn't complain.

After the laborious task of pinning it in place, basting then stitching, the zip was finally in. Trying the dress on I discovered that it was a bit loose on the shoulders. I really didn't have time to try and redo the straps, so I put some makeshift darts into the back. It helped to take in a bit of the excess fabric and actually worked a charm. 

I really was making things up on the spot now. 

The last thing was to hem and viola, all done. I couldn't quite rest yet though. I still had the bonnet to complete. I made it from a typical summer straw hat. Another charity shop find! I cut a section off the back, so it would sit in an upright position on my head. I edged the hat with some bias binding and haphazardly attached some light pink ribbon round the base, making holes in the rim to thread the ribbon through so I was able to tie up under my chin. I won't lie, it wasn't by any means perfect, but I was rather chuffed with what I had achieved in such a short space of time. I actually did look like an extra from a period drama film. Now off to the party I go - tally ho!! 

If Elizabeth Bennet did selfies ;)

Posing on a rather windy seafront!