In my junior year of high school, while researching costumes for a play, I purchased “Everyday Fashions of the Thirties As Pictured in Sears Catalogs.” A particularly beautiful dress with dramatic sleeves caught my eye, but it wasn’t right for the show. Over two years later, my theatre design teacher in college gave us an assignment it was perfect for. I used the dress for a costume design, but only a design; the dress wasn’t actually made for anything. In the years since then, I have tried to find a pattern to make that dress. I always thought of it as the quintessential 30’s dress, and I didn’t want to bother with any other 30’s dresses until I found it.
In 2010, I bought fabric for a costume contest that ended up being canceled. I thought the fabric would make a great 30’s gown, and I went looking for patterns again. THE DRESS was on the front page of the Eva Dress store. I had a bit of a shrieking, flailing, omg moment. So obviously, I bought the pattern. And then I lost my job. And then it was the holidays. And then I started working on a show. So it had to wait. But when the contest was announced, I decided, come hell or high water, I WOULD FINISH THIS DRESS. Because I have been waiting for this dress for…12 years. I will definitely be wearing this, I don't care how fancy it is. I plan to wear it to DragonCon this year for sure.
I made a couple of changes, taking the seams out of the front of the skirt, and adding a little godet fishtail in the back. I also opened up the back neckline, because my muslin mock-up fell open while I was trying it on and I liked the look.
The picture from the Sears catalogue
The design I did in college.
And THE DRESS
