Custom Silk Wiggle Dress & Customer Photo

This was a fun project, the client sent me this beautiful silk print fabric with a great wide border, the basic dress shape was inspired by a vintage dress she saw on Etsy. She wanted set in sleeves to the elbow and pockets added. The border placement was the most tricky, getting the shoulders to line up and switching the sleeve border so it matched the under-bust border direction, The entire dress was sewn with a cotton underlining to support the silk and then a full nylon lining. The pattern i made by using a basic 50's empire waist dress and draped the front bodice. She was wonderful enough to send a quick picture of the dress on as well :-)

There's No Business Like Show Business-Marilyn Monroe's- Beige Bow Dress

 This dress styled after one of the many amazing dresses worn By Marilyn Monroe in the film "There's No Business Like Show Business''. The fabric i used is a beige stretch suiting with a fine gold thread running through in both directions, it's very pretty up close. Sadly this was the last of this fabric so i will have to find something else should i make it again. I draped the pattern for this dress about a year ago and  i believe there is at least one earlier version of this dress already on this blog but i thought id share this version, since i really like the fabric. Below are of course are some photos of Marilyn in the original dress :-)

Have a dress made through my Etsy shop Morningstar84

Something's Got to Give-Marilyn Monroe's Black & White Sarong Wiggle Dress

 These dresses I made last year and apparently forgot to post! Styled after the dress worn by Marilyn Monroe for the unfinished film ''Something's Got to Give'' in 1962. The first one is a cotton fern print fabric that was my first test of the dress. I later found this very light silk fabric with a larger floral print that i used the second time. I used bullet bra cups  and boning in the side seams. I am out of both fabrics and am on the look out for something that is closer the the original print used for the movie. There aren't a lot of pictures available of this dress just some costume test photos and film tests. I took some screen grabs from one of the film tests below so you can see the back of the dress. I watched this short test so many times trying to figure out where all the seams are and how its put together, i think my final design is pretty close, though id love to see the original dress i'm sure there is some detail that i'm missing!

May's Marilyn Monroe Projects

Styled after the one worn by Marilyn Monroe in There's No Business Like Show Business.
Light blue fabric with bow sleeves, fully lined in cotton, boat-neck with collar and low scoop back, covered buttons, fitted skirt. Back zipper under button flap. Mid-calf length with back slit.

Made from tangerine orange satin and chiffon. Ruched body, features thin straps with slight sweetheart neckline. fitted to knees with full lower skirt, center back zipper, Boning support, built in bra, beaded fringe trim and matching shawl.

Sexy wiggle dress styled after the dress worn by Marilyn Monroe in Niagara.
Cap sleeves low scoop neckline with tie front and diamond cutout, ruched midriff. Zips up back instead of hooks up the front, mid calf length. made with stretch satin. Bullet bra cups were included.

White Satin Halter Dress & Pinup Tops

 Above was a custom request, she wanted this style dress but couldn't find it in white. I used stretch satin, lined in stretch satin, the bodice is gathered with a band running from sides to back into the halter tie. Push up bra cups are sewn into the lining and boning was sewn into the side seams. Simple fitted wiggle skirt style, back invisible zipper.

This top was made using a pattern i made about a year or so ago for myself when i couldnt find any tops i liked. I have been making a few when i have a spare moment using fabrics that i have sitting collected over the years. I used a vegetable print cotton and red satin accents for the side bands and front tie. fitted midriff with center front gathers at bust. Peplum skirt, back zipper elastic across the back and at the waist. This is available at my other Etsy shop Psychedelic Pinup where i have been posting vintage and sample items like this one.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/150995422/sample-pinup-halter-top-50s-style-sun?ref=shop_home_active

This super cute top was made with a retro kitchen print cotton, again i used a pattern that i made a few years ago but went with a different top. Scoop neckline with tie straps, fitted midriff with gathered bust. peplum skirt, back zipper. 

available at my other Etsy shop Psychedelic Pinup

https://www.etsy.com/listing/151124389/sample-pinup-peplum-top-50s-style-sun?ref=pr_shop

This top i made years ago and ran across when i was going through some vintage to list. 

Sample halter top made with floral cotton fabric, underlined in cotton, halter strap at neck, pleated bust, corset style midriff with boning front back and sides, smocked elastic back for comfort and separating center back zipper. This has already sold.



All photos shown in this post belong to Morningstar84 and may not be used without permission in anyway.

The Girl Cant Help It- Navy Blue Dress-Jayne Mansfield

     This dress is styled after the dress worn by Jayne Mansfield in the movie ''The Girl Cant Help It'', there aren't a lot of great pictures of her in the dress, i had to watch the scene of her wiggling her way down the street quite a few times to figure out the dress details.

     The dress above I made a couple years ago using a pique knit fabric that is self under lined. Below is the same dress in a larger size and this time i used a navy blue stretch bengaline suiting, as you can see it has a slightly shinier appearance when photographed, of the two fabrics i liked the bengaline better, it was easier to work with, though cutting the dress out the opposite direction on the fabric is still a little strange to me, since the stretch goes lengthwise. It feels so wrong!

All photos with the morningstar84 watermark my not be used without permission in anyway.