Behind the Scenes of a Wedding Dress Alteration

Wedding images courtesy of Photos By Courtney

Courtney Collingsworth Metz is a Cincinnati-based photographer.

I had a massive panic attack the night I went to bed with the dress looking like this. You try taking scissors to a girl's dream dress and see how YOU feel! Yikes.

Imposing a bodice onto the dress like this would never have been possible with a dress constructed from satin. Seams are very obvious with satin which would have required a definite waist line. Not what the bride wanted. With slightly ruched lace and strategic bead-work, I was able to imitate the original column shape so it looked like one continuous sheath without a break at the waistline.  

Finding the perfect lace to match the original design was the initial challenge. I whipped up this bodice using a piece of stretch lace I found in my fabric box. That was a game-changer, right there. We decided on using thirty-one pearl buttons up the back seam of the dress to up the elegance factor. The top twelve buttons are functioning closures, but the remaining buttons are sewn to the dress to disguise the zipper and blend the new bodice with the original dress. 

Next step:  Over 500  individual beads and sequins hand-sewn to the bodice created that glimmery, shimmery effect. Tedious, but oh-so-worth it (and actually, my favorite part of any project). I kept adding beads here and there for days..this was definitely not a "less is more" situation. 

AND DONE. Whew!  After a few fittings and double-checks, the dress is ready to make a grand wedding day appearance.

I used the same scalloped trim around the sleeves and the neckline to pull it all together. I thought it was genius of the bride to choose a veil with the same beaded scallop. All the elements mirror each other, which is huge when the goal of refashioning a dress is to make it look store-bought and not slapped-together.

"The hallmark of a great refashion is that first, you can't look away from the awesomeness, 

and second you keep wondering, "Did she do that herself or did it come like that?"'

Quoted from my book, The Chic Girl's Guide to a One-of-a-Kind Wardrobe

The dress is lovely, but the bride is stunning. It was so amazing and terrifying to get to create a dream dress for my sweet and beautiful friend, Sharlenae. You can see more of the bride and her husband travelling with The Collingsworth Family singing group. Their song, It Matters to the Master, is currently on repeat in my playlist. 

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DIY | How To Make A Quilted Sweater

I've never made a quilt in my life, but I'm beyond infatuated with the quilted trend floating into fashion pieces these days (and if Rachel Zoe says quilting is cool, then who am I to argue?) For those of us who can't afford a Chanel bag, we have to create our own alternative, no? Up-cycling a sweater with dimensional quilting is the perfect way transform a piece in time for the arrival of fall. Sign me up for the quilting circle.

WHAT YOU NEED:

--Plain tee, blouse or sweater

--1 yard knit fabric (knit won't unravel when cut)

--Sizzix cutting machine using 2 inch circle cutter (much easier than cutting 60 circles by hand!)

--Thread to match circle fabric

Happy Labor Day!

Anthropologizing GAP: Patagonian Maxi Skirt

Blouse--Marshall's

Skirt--GAP Outlet

Wristlet--Simply Vera Vera Wang

Wedges--Nine West

Watch--AE

Belt--Anthropologie

I rarely obsess over any item of clothing, but to say I obsessed over Anthropologie's Patagonian skirt from last summer is an understatement. I have hounded this skirt on eBay approximately 2, 500 times this year, but nothing. Zilch. Nada. Zero. It must be the best, most comfortable skirt ever 'cuz no one is selling it. When I spotted this dress at the Gap Outlet, I finally saw my chance to own a version of this skirt...which to put it bluntly, is wildly awesome. HA. 

Ok. I know maxi skirts are easy to find in the summer, but generally the best prints come in the form of dresses. Here's the tutorial in case you lovely dahlings want to refashion a similar dress into a comfy skirt. 

Pattern recommendation to make your own (you'll have to lengthen): Butterick 5190