Sunday, June 9, 2013

A Lace prom Dress,1966 and a Lace Dress,2013

What woman doesn't like lace?

I thought I'd show you the only lace dress I've ever owned.....my prom dress from 1966!! I've kept it all these years. It's very teeny weeny! Sigh!





I still love it and can really understand why I chose it all those years ago. From the salmon coloured taffeta underskirt/lining, the organza layer, the gorgeous white lace,  to the beautifully scalloped border of the lace running down the back, it still gives me a thrill.


I couldn't make my dress form small enough so I couldn't zip it up but closed it enough to show the lovely back.






My 1966 prom dress is not in perfect condition. It has spots and discolorations and even some wear and tear. It was worn to a couple of formals, as a bridesmaid dress, as a costume for a High School drama production at the school where I taught and even as a Hallowee'en costume by my then teenaged daughter.
But pressing it and seeing it on Antoinette has made my heart ache a little for my youth now long gone.
But enough of that.

Lace to me is very dressy and formal and I've been wanting to make a lace dress ever since it started popping up everywhere in the fashion world including the blogs we all love and follow. ( Examples include Diary of a Sewing Fanatic and Amanda's Adventures In Sewing.).

We were  attending an event  that was  perfect for a lace dress and since I had a beautiful navy stretch lace in my stash, I decided it was now or never.

My pattern choice had to be New Look 6000    because the fit was so great in the View B version I just made and showed here. This one would be View A.

I decided to use a black lining although I considered a nude lining, but I knew I'd be more comfortable as an older woman in the more conservative navy/black combo.I left the elbow length sleeves unlined however.

Here is my dress.




The true colour is more like this



My 16 year old grand-daughter thought it was beautiful so it must be OK, I guess.

I cut the dress and sleeves so the scallops, which formed both selvedges, finished the hems.



 That made it so there is more stretch going down the dress than there is across,but that didn't cause any problems. The zipper, which I of course stabilized, did buckle a little but that's in the back and if I can't see it, it must not exist,right? Lol!

I'm very happy with my lace dress ,2013. Of course it doesn't have the magic that my 1966 prom dress still has for me, but then,  at the risk of sounding really corny,my life  after all has really ended up like a fairy tale and I don't need magic anymore.

I wanted to show you a real life shot of my husband and me at the event we attended but I forgot to have a photo taken! Darn!






I hope you will let me know what you think!

More later from



22 comments:

Faye Lewis said...

Diana your prom dress is beautiful and from the times you got to wear it - you definitely got your moneys worth out of it. But your new dress is GORGEOUS, from the color to the fit. You also looked gorgeous in it.

Vicki said...

Beautiful. It reminds me of the dress Ann made for her daughter on The Great British Sewing Bee. I would never have thought to go black under the blue but it looks great with the black accessories.

Unknown said...

Love your dress! May I ask you where you bought your fabric?

Thanks.

Beverly said...

Your new dress is beautiful! You look wonderful in it.

Diana said...

Thank you ladies.
Almeda, I bought this fabric a few years ago at Fabricville (Canada) I saw some just like it the other day again in Fabricville. Fabricville is in Eastern Canada. It is Fabricland in Ontario and the provinces west of it.

Ann Made Studio said...

Your prom dress is beautiful. I can imagine how wonderful you would have looked :) do you have a picture :)
Your lace dress is gorgeous. I love the colour and as always it fits you so perfectly,

Unknown said...

Diana - I can't believe it! I had a pink organza dress with white lace overlay in the 60s as well. Different style, however. Mine was sleeveless, A-line skirt with a princess seam bodice. Just goes to show you... Great minds think alike. It's hard to believe you still have yours after all this time. Mine was donated years and years ago. Where do you store all those old treasures?

Jean said...

Both lace dresses are so beautiful. Your prom dress is so elegant. My nephew recently went to his junior prom and I have to say that the girls' dresses weren't nearly as gorgeous as yours -- some actually bordered on tacky! Your 2013 lace dress is beautiful as well -- the blue on black really works well.

Diana said...

Thank you Ann,Vernelle and Jean.
Ann, I don't of course have digital photos. I must see if I can photograph one and put it up here. Vernelle, I sture just a few garments (my daughter's prom dress which I made) in a cedar chest.
Jean I've seen tacky dresses on young girls too. What a shame.

Juliet said...

Your navy/ black dress is beautiful AND it suits you so well. Well done for keeping that prom dress for 47 years.

Juliet said...

Your navy/ black dress is beautiful AND it suits you so well. Well done for keeping that prom dress for 47 years.

EmSewCrazy said...

Both of those are beautiful dresses. You look great in your updated lace version!

Enid said...

Both of your dresses are gorgeous...and you look wonderful in your recent dress, just as I know you looked in your prom dress in 1966!

Debs - debslosingit.com said...

The prom dress is beautiful, and your daughter is right- so is this dress! The color is great on you!

Diana said...

Thank you all so much! Really love getting the feedback!

Anonymous said...

Both dresses so beautiful. You looked very elegant in the dress. Christine

Anonymous said...

Wow this is a beautiful dress and the colour is lovely..... What a great way to be inspired by a piece like your prom dress...

Sharon said...

Wow, love the lace, such a classic style!

Jenny said...

Wow, two gorgeous dresses! How amazing that your prom dress still looks beautiful and stylish today. I fear that is not the case for those who went to prom two decades later. :-)

Sueannsews said...

Very, very nice. Your lace dress is perfect, one of the best examples I have seen of the new trend. Thanks for sharing.

Sueannsews said...

Very, very nice. Your lace dress is perfect, one of the best examples I have seen of the new trend. Thanks for sharing.

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