by Carol Mann
I learned how to sew when I was 12 years old. I had an interest in fashion very early and wanted to attend design school. When I was in high school I made my prom dresses with my mom. Many years later, when I was 28, I attended the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles. I got an AA Degree in Fashion Design. After graduating I started working freelance as a stylist and costumer for film and commercials.
I made this wedding gown in May 1989 and finished it in June 1989 shortly before my wedding. It is a copy from Janet Arnold, Patterns of Fashion 2 from 1860-1940. I had to draft the pattern from 1/4″ to life-size, so this took a lot of time to do!
The gown is a recreation of a 1900 Edwardian Tea dress. The color of the wedding gown is Ivory; the bodice is decorated with lace, pearl beads and mother of pearl sequins; the back of the gown has pearl buttons going down the back to the waist with loops closing; the skirt is made of silk peau de soie (a soft satin-weave silk fabric); and there is a large silk bow at the waist on the back of the wedding gown that I added.
There are lace appliques on the hemline all around the bottom of the skirt; there are matching lace appliques on the veil. I also had my white satin shoes died ivory and glued the matching lace appliques to the shoes. The wedding gown had a slip sewn into the body of the wedding gown to give it more body; the slip fabric was a satin synthetic fabric in ivory as well to match the wedding gown.
My wedding was on June 3, 1989 in Pasadena, California.