Marilyn Monroe Pleated Shelf Bust Wiggle Dress

 I shared the lime green dress once before back in 2012 in a quick post about with several other items. Since then i've made the dress in several other colors and thought id do a post just for this one dress. Its one of Marilyn's earlier outfits seen only in a costume test photo, I have no idea what color the dress was originally, if anyone knows do let me know! Made using stretch satin, the dress features a pleated shelf bust with halter strap, buttons in the back with a tie under the bust, fitted midriff with an interesting front pleating detail and curved hemline. 

Audrey Hepburn's Funny Face Wedding Dress

I have been asked so many times about making this dress and i finally got to do it! I used a beautiful medium weight silk satin and an ivory dotted tulle for the over skirt and the cape. My client wanted the shoulders to have little gathers as well as at the bust. The body has four darts front and back with boning. There is a built in petticoat as well as horse hair in the hem. The cape buttons on the inside of the neckline in the back with a hair comb hidden under the little bow of the hood. Below are the images i found most helpful when working on this dress. It really is so pretty in person i almost didn't want to box it up and send it on its way :-)

Ivory Silk Satin Sabrina Dress

 

This lovely wedding dress is styled after the black satin dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in the film ''Sabrina'' I used a beautiful medium weight 100% silk satin in ivory and fully underlined it with broadcloth to support the silk i then lined the dress. The bodice has boning in each seam to keep the waist as smooth as possible. My client chose to omit the center front seam and to keep the unmatched front princess seams. Since the measurements required a larger bust the princess seams sit a little differently as well. I used an invisible zipper and decorative covered button up the back. The skirt has an attached netting slip underneath. The shoulders I left as adjustable ties :-)

Have your own dress made through my shop on Etsy, Morningstar84

The Audrey Hepburn Oscar Dress-Custom Variation

This was a custom request based on the Oscar dress worn by Audrey Hepburn. She chose an ivory linen fabric and a lovely cotton embroidered mesh lace fabric. The lace bodice was made as a removable jacket with sleeves. Fully lined in fine tulle with back button and loop closure. So the top could be worn for the ceremony and removed for the reception. I used a vintage buckle kit to make the waist belt which also has the lace overlay. you can check out the original version listing through my Etsy shop Morningstar84  ''Audrey Hepburn Oscar Dress''

Pink 50s Wedding Dress-Simplicity 1461

 

For this dress I started with a 1950s Simplicity pattern (1461) I modified the neckline and shoulders, adding set in sleeves. I also omitted the front dart and added godets to each skirt seam. Sounds like a lot of changes but each was a pretty simple alteration, i then sized the pattern to the measurements, and chose the dress form that was closest and added a little padding where needed to get an idea of how the dress will look on a body. The fabric is a poly faux silk in light pink, the over layer is an ivory patterned mesh fabric called Point D'Esprit. I sewed the mesh directly to the bodice but left it separate from the high hip down for more flow. It is fully lined with a netting ruffle attached to the lining which was cut the same as the outer dress except for the godets were not added. The sleeves are just the mesh fabric, gathered  on the outer arm to a small strip of ribbon for support. I also made a detachable bow which hooks on to the back of the dress with thread loops. I also added light weight boning to the seam allowance of the main fabric just through the midsection to keep everything smooth. 
In the 1950s the dress would have had a more structured skirt, fully interfaced for that full stiff look you see on the pattern envelope, this would have be done in some 1960s skirts as well. But I wanted to go with a  softer look.