26 November 2009

180. Coming Home & Homecoming Dress

Happy Thanksgiving! Hope you're enjoying the holiday, all you who are celebrating today. Autumn is always so busy for my work and I had a bonus trip out of town last week. So I'm extra- glad to be home, with extended family visiting, cooking and eating up a storm, and taking some time off.

I am surprised in the best way at the responses to the coat/dress in my last post! I figured there wouldn't be (m)any polite comments, only from the few who truly appreciated it. I didn't think it would see much support, and I appreciate every comment! When faced with unavoidable opposition I somehow feel fine, but I prefer it when everyone is happy with my work. It is cooling down 'round here so I might get to wear it soon!

A few weeks ago, I happened to work in my hometown for a few days. I missed my high school's homecoming by two weeks! I stayed with my parents instead of bunking in a hotel, and they ended up sending me back to Austin with a bunch of clothes, many new, to refashion. One of the not-new refashion candidates was my high school homecoming dress. (!!!!!) After I got back to Austin, I put it on Clementine and found that it is in the same size range as I am now:


In fact, the armhole princess seamed bodice fits Clementine quite beautifully!:

And from the back:

Not only was I excited to wear this dress in 1990, I selected the pattern and all the fabric and it was made just for me! (Technically, I didn't wear this to Homecoming because I ended up very inconsiderately standing up my date that very day. I was quite a mean little shrew back then. But my would-be Homecoming date and I have def. made up and gotten over it since then. I did wear this dress to the parades and what-not that candidates for Homecoming court attend. But I didn't actually wear this to the dance.....)

How much my tastes have changed in 19 years! I don't wear drop-waists anymore, my sewing is pretty void of frou-frou, and I don't think a shred of this dress includes natural fiber.

And yet... I consider what's right with this dress: the bodice looks like a good fit, the velvet is soft, and there's black involved. I think those are the only redeemable qualities I can see here. I've got my first holiday party of the season on Tuesday, and this dress is screaming out for a makeover so I can re-introduce it to the world, 19 years later, with a kindler, gentler, more mature owner/ wearer. I have some interesting ideas but know that time is of the essence. So I will keep you apprised of developments! (If you have any unusual and simple ideas, let me know! I am considering the simplest version, which includes shortening the bodice at the natural waist and re-attaching a simplified, symmetrical, gathered skirt.)

12 comments:

  1. I hope you keep the awesome ruffles around the shoulders! They're fantastic.

    Isn't it too much fun trying on old dresses from high school? Geesh, I can never believe how short I used to hem things. ;)

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  2. those shoulder ruffles are TO DIE FOR.

    I do love that blue color, especially as a holiday dress for Christmas and New Year's parties. Not sure how you feel about this, but what about making it strapless? Maybe with a little fitted shrug or capelet along the same lines as your last one? Good luck, can't wait to see what come out!

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  3. I can't wait to see what you do with this!

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  4. High School Homecoming 19 years ago? Wow. I feel ancient. :)

    I'd lose the shoulder ruffles and replace them with rhinestone straps, small and delicate looking. Raise the waist, make it symmetrical, and put on a plain skirt, almost tulip shaped, tapered at the waist with darts, straight at the knee. I don't think I'd put a gathered waist on it.

    Whatever you decide, it will be fabulous.

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  5. Looking forward to seeing how you refashion it!

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  6. looking forward to seeing the refashion!!!

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  7. Cool! I also love the sleeve ruffles! Can't wait to see what you turn it into... you always have the best refashions!

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  8. Gawd, I'm just jealous you can fit into something from that long ago - when I find myself going up dress sizes like it's a race!

    My preference is for an empire waist bodice, but that's because I dress for my (lack of) waist. Or you could just use the bodice plus another fabric (in black, perhaps) - maybe make a corset - and use the blue stuff for something else entirely - like a mini dress.

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  9. this feels like a project runway challenge!!!! i laughed out loud when i realized what you are doing. i would probably try adding some wispy silky fairy like sleeve things to it?? but i feel like my hippy-style is maybe different from yours....yeah, i would turn it into a fairy dress, somehow. maybe with a rough, hand woven skirt (like with strips of fabric just woven into a mat) attached on. i can't WAIT to see what you do.

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  10. I can't WAIT what you do with this. It will be excellent. I feel sure that you should use the ruffles for um, er, *cough* some oooottthhher project. You'll do something wildly nifty. Looking forward to the update . . .

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  11. my only comment (since you have a lot of creativity when it comes to refashioning) is on the length - I'm sure you've already figure this out, but for us shorter girls, knee-length or above is always more flattering... I can see that frock turning into something gorgeous. :) good luck!

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  12. i would love to know your reason for standing up your date :)

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