Remake: Ballgown to Evening Dress

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When I was at university some of my cousins would host historic dress balls for fun. I made many period costumes for these balls over the years, but one year, I decided to just make a modern ballgown. It was made from a beautiful ruby coloured satin (with the textured side out and the shiny side in) and was fully lined with a tiny little dragging train. It was a beautiful dress; simple in style, but very elegant. I wore it for the ball it was made for as well as for my 21st birthday party. The sad thing about such a magnificent dress though is that there are so few places that it can be worn without seeming very overdressed! 


I kept it packed away for years in its original state but sadly never wore it again. After having my first baby, my body changed shape enough that I knew I would never be able to wear it again. So there it sat, beautiful, but of no use to anyone. Until one day I had a bright idea. There was so much fabric in the skirt of that dress that I could probably make a cocktail length dress out of it!

With an invitation to someone's wedding on the fridge, I had the motivation to get to work. I used the Butterick 6319 pattern and managed to cut out all the pieces by carefully using every bit of the old dress. I even cut the lining from the original lining. It felt a little scary cutting up the ball gown as it was worth more to me than a $5 dress from the thrift shop, but the finished dress was well worth the effort. For the price of a new zipper, I had a new evening dress, perfectly fitted and finished. 

I never did get to wear the new dress to that wedding though, Covid-19 restrictions came in the way of that. But I did wear it for our 8th wedding anniversary (in lockdown) at home. Thankfully it still fits even after having a second baby, so I'll look forward to wearing it to another wedding or party or something else formal in the future.






 

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