Weddings and Occasions

So, here`s the last one for this, rather self-interested, week. It`s what this week has been building up to - another wedding dress!
This was made with a removable train and to be danced in!
Made from pale green silk satin covered with ivory lace. A full circular skirt with 6 layers of tulle (1 of which was glitter tulle!). Oh, & a multilayered organza petticoat - can you spot it?
Many thanks go to:
Janice Whitehorn for help fitting & making me a tail feather to shake!
Emma Bartlett for my beautiful tiara & help fabric/lace shopping, trying silly things on my head ..
Jenni Waugh for my gorgeous earrings & bracelet
Hilary Thurlow for help stitching edging on to the train
Harrington Fabric and Lace for finding me some wonderful lace & for their tulle, especially the glitter tulle!

@uptightclothing_hq @emmawcreativecostumes @emmawaughcreative @jenniwaugh
@thurlowhilary @harringtonfabricandlace

#costumemaker #weddings #bride #weddingdress #lace #collaborations #anythingbutordinary ...

I do like making for the Mother of the Bride. A special dress for a special person that will probably be worn again.

#costumemaker #motherofthebride #weddings #anythingbutordinary ...

We`re ending this week on a wedding. Simple but elegant; fitted bodice and full skirt with petticoats. Silk dupion with a spotted net overlayer and sleeves. Jacket is the bride`s own.

#costumemaker #weddings #bride #weddingdress #anythingbutordinary ...

Get your hats, we`re off to another wedding. The lovely Rachael wanted a 1950s style dress but with a splash of colour. This we did with a layer of red in the net petticoat and red & ivory ribbon lacing down the back. These splashes of colour perfectly matched the red flowers on her shoes.
Rachael was also a huge help to me - modeling her dress - when I decided to attend a wedding fair.

#costumemaker #costume #weddings #bride #weddingdress #anythingbutordinary ...

So, I wasn`t sure whether to post this next dress, being neither a costume nor a commission. However, it is a very special dress, made for a very special occasion and this lockdown is going on for a very long time.
This dress was made by me, for me, for the wedding of the wonderful Janice of Uptight Clothing fame.
Made from hand painted silk, with internal boning and the design for the skirt was taken from a 1920s dress.
Dragonfly decoration at the back by Janice.
@uptightclothing_hq #costumemaker #costumes #weddings #vintageclothing #vintagestyledress #anythingbutordinary ...

This was a very interesting grooms outfit to make. Basically a 3 piece suit + a shirt but with a twist.
The shirt is a basic `period` shirt made from silk habotai in a lovely cadbury purple.
The trousers are a lovely wool but are fastened with lacing at the side.
The waistcoat from silk dupion is made to look like a waistcoat when worn with a coat or jacket but is, in fact, a corset with centre busk.
The coat is made from a crushed purple/aqua shot velvet and has a removable tab at the back so it can be worn with or without the corsetted waistcoat.
Brides dress by Uptight Clothing

@uptightclothing_hq #costumemaker #costumes #wedding #tailoring #corset #anythingbutordinary ...

July 2009, Edinburgh. Scott is wearing a bottle green/shot red velvet mourning coat, green wool trousers and purple silk dupion waistcoat (to match the brides dress - made by Uptight Clothing).
This is one of the last suits I have ever made as I came to the realisation that, in order to be properly proficient in tailoring, I would need to specialise, & I love making dresses slightly more. 🥺😥💔 #costumemaker #costume #weddings #bridegroom #velvet #silk #tailoring #anythingbutordinary ...

Who doesn`t want to be a pirate bride? This is Rebecca and her sister/bridesmaid Amanda. Rebecca brought a page from a magazine showing the look she was after (see the last photo - I think this was an ad for a washing machine!) She said she wanted to look like a pirate. So, I made her some silk velvet cropped trousers, an open overskirt of silk dupion with layers of soft net over that, caught up with handmade rosettes, finished with a covered button. She then had a corset with straps, red with gold piping. To top it all there was also a jacket with a military/pirate feel to it. Nipped in at the waist with a pleat at the back, a velvet strap at the back & across the front and gold lace three quarter length sleeves.
Amanda wore a matching skirt and bodice but in a lovely soft khaki green.
This is another amongst my favourite makes. The colours, the theatricality, the joy in the wearer.
Dragonflies on the bridesmaid`s top courtesy of Uptight Clothing.
These photos were taken in the show room of Uptight Clothing. All the work in the background belongs to them.

@uptightclothing_hq
#costumemaker #costume #weddings #bride #bridesmaid #pirate #piratebride #theatrical #anythingbutordinary ...

More collaborations with the wonderful Uptight Clothing. I made the flared trousers and velvet coat for Michelle, Uptight made her corset and Margie`s turquoise outfit. I love the matching lacing down the backs. This was also a practical detail, so the coat could be worn without the corset so the shape could be altered to fit. The scalloped edge of the collar with the gold braid works particularly well too.
Tiara by Uptight Clothing
@uptightclothing_hq
#costumemaker #costumes #bride #wedding #corsetlacing #flaredtrousers #anythingbutordinary ...

Good morning! I hope you all had a good weekend and are ready for more photos. 2008was the year of many weddings. Here is another interesting collaboration with the amazing Uptight Clothing. This is actually an Uptight design which I made. Anne, really wanted an Uptight dress but unfortunately they were unable to fit her in to their very busy schedule so, they passed the work to me.
Designer: Uptight Clothing
Jewellery: Uptight Clothing
Corset is midnight blue silk dupion with swarovski crystals.
Skirt midnight blue silk crepe satin.
@uptightclothing_hq #costumemaker #costumes #bride #weddings #weddingdress #corset #swarovski #crystals #anythingbutordinary ...

Not all white wedding dresses are made equal. I love the simple, elegant, classiness of this dress. It also has a very definite nod to period dresses with its slight subtle draping at the front going round to a waterfall at the back which gives the illusion of a bustle.
Alas, no wedding photos, these were taken when Sarah came to pick up her dress.

#costumemaker #bride #weddingdress #weddings #coveredbuttons #waterfallpleats #anythingbutordinary ...

A controversial thought but what if weddings were not all about the bride & groom?! Mothers are important too. So here is Ann, mother of the bride.
Her dress is made from silk crepe back satin with a changeant chiffon over layer. The jacket is a linen look silk/cotton mix. The buckle is her own nurses buckle.
Brides outfit is another amazing @uptightclothing_hq creation.

#costumemaker #weddings #motherofthebride #silk #anythingbutordinary ...

We`re back to the weddings. 2008 was a busy year and the first one was in January. Here is Robert looking rather dapper.
This was another collaboration with the wonderful @uptightclothing_hq who made the bride`s outfit and the embroidered butterflies on his waistcoat.

#costumemaker #costumes #bridegroom #tailoring #weddings #anythingbutordinary ...

So, we are now up to 2007. I`ve been out of college & working solidly for nearly 9 years, the last 2½ of which have been freelance. This is the year that I start making for lot of weddings & not much theatre.*
The 1st of these weddings took place in January so the year before I travelled up to beautiful Yorkshire to meet Michelle & Stuart. They wanted a slightly medieval/fantasy feel to their wedding clothes with some Celtic knotwork embroidery.
For this I had crash course in making & designing Celtic knotwork. I had to merge 2 designs into one, make it go round a curve (& a corner) whilst also going from narrow to wide around the neckline.
Michelle`s dress was made from silk maclaine with a silk satin embroidered collar & turn-back cuffs. It has rouleau loops & pearl buttons down the back & a small train which could be tied up for ease of movement (& so no-one stepped on it). Stuart`s coat was made from mole skin with velvet collar & embroidered cuffs.
I loved working on these 2 outfits & they are on my list of favourites. *please keep following - there will be more theatre stuff soon.

#costumemaker #costumes #weddings #bride #bridegroom #weddingdress #frockcoat #tailoring #embroidery #handembroidery #celticknotwork #celticknot #beading #beads #beadembroidery #fantasy #medievaldress #rouleauloops #anythingbutordinary ...

So, connected to yesterday`s wedding, I give you - the bridesmaids, aka Emma`s sisters Ruth & Jenni.
Going with a colour scheme/palette Emma designed a dress to specifically suit them. This means that they are comfortable, happy & would wear their dresses again.
Win/win
Ruth, in the pale blue, strapless dress, adapted hers for her own wedding a few years later.
This makes me a very happy maker.

@emmawcreative @jenniwaugh
#costumemaker #weddings #bridesmaids #makingthingsforfriends #beads #beading #sun #happyday #sparkle ...

Today it is a real pleasure to introduce you to the amazing Emma Waugh @emmawcreative @personalisedpinnies
One of my absolute best friends & the person I have worked with more than anyone else over the last 22 years! It was an honour to make her wedding dress for her.
Designer: Emma Waugh
Made from ivory silk satin with a georgette overlayer rouched in to a waterfall detail in front. Vthe back has a large pleated godet insert to form a small train. There is beading detail at the neckline & on the train.

#costumemaker #weddings #makingthingsforfriends #bride #beadd #sun #happyday #sparkle #beading ##weddingdress ...

Another wedding, but a dress with a difference (& a cloak!)
Remember a few days ago I showed you my goldwork? Well, I was able to make use of those skills in this dress.
The embroidery design was based around the bride`s necklace.

#costumemaker #costumes #wedding #weddingdress #goldwork #embroidery #handembroidery #silver #silverembroidery #sequins #spangles ...

Today, we shall step away from the theatre and go to a wedding. I made this jacket for a very good friend of mine. I loved making it, it is such a classic design. I also embroidered a small message in the hem.
Alas no photos from the wedding itself. The last 2 here are from one of the last fittings.
@elena_live_love_doodle #costume #costumemaker #wedding #winterwedding #bride #bridesmaids #periodclothing #embroidery #handembroidery #tailoring #rouleauloops ...