Edwardian Evening Bodice with Historical Haute Couture Techniques

My inspiration for the design of the bodice was based on just looking at a lot of net & silk bodices and gowns that survive today and taking what I was seeing into consideration for what worked best for my body, the time I had available, and what materials I had at my disposal. As much as I can joke and tease about how Edwardian era dressmakers must have just thrown lace and trim at the wall and just used what stuck (cause some of these bodices are just pure decorative chaos), I understood how easy it was to keep going with applying trim and decoration. I stopped where I did, mostly out of time, and I got everything I needed on the bodice stitched down...but I totally could have kept going.

This bodice was made using Victorian and Edwardian sewing techniques that I found in my collection of antique bodices and is mostly hand-sewn. The seams of the silk taffeta lining were sewn by machine, but everything else had to be sewn by hand.

00:00 - 7:04 - Pattern Drafting, First fitting, Pattern adaption & Squarespace
07:05 - 11:13 - Lining Construction, Second Fitting (ft. Nicole), Stitching up the back, adding the satin & net overlay
11:14 - 13:00 - Draping the front placket, sleeves, and belt on Chrissy
13:01 - 18:15 - Final sewing (trim, gauze, sleeves, sequins, hooks & eyes)
18:15 - 19:30 - Final Reveal
19:30 - 24:32 - Cost break down of the project & how it compares to Edwardian prices
24:33 - 25:15 - Bloopers