cocktail dress started

[mandie_rw]

I did get the mockup for my new 50s cocktail dress all fitted, woo and hoo. (As I mentioned, it's to wear to the opera next weekend. I know, opera dress isn't technically a cocktail dress, but as we usually go to matinees I'd feel like a total asshole in an opera gown! People in Philly don't tend to "dress" for the opera, so cocktail dress is even too fancy. But I have some standards, haha.)

I'm using a piece of red/green/taupe striped taffeta that's been in the stash for a million years; I think it was de-stash from Maggie? Maybe? I'd mentally earmarked it for a 1780s/early 90s jacket and petti, but since I'll probably never make that, it didn't feel too blasphemous to use it for something 20thc instead. ;)

It's going to be a very fun exercise in Making It Work - there was a piece just under 2 yards and a piece about 1.5 yards, and I wanted a full circle skirt. Yes, it can be done, by piecing in a line of stripes onto the width of the bigger piece and just cutting out a giant circle from it! Good thing this dress doesn't require sleeves...

Comments

[newmoonstar]

Ooh, a 50s cocktail sounds fun. I'll never understand why people don't dress for the theater any more- I'll take any excuse to dress up that I can get :)

[mandie_rw]

Exactly! I think people today are too attached to their sweatpants and leggings, haha! And I say this as someone who lives in those at home! but for me they're not "dressed." But I think our "Grand Old Lady of Locust Street" deserves a bit of respect (she opened in 1857 and has been in use ever since, and imo is exactly what an opera house should be!), not to mention the performers! (Not that I think *they* actually care what I wear! But for me, it's a mark of respect, you know?)

[newmoonstar]

Yes! Going to the theater should be an event- a lot of people have to put in a lot of time and effort to put on whatever play or opera or concert we go to see, so when the audience dresses up, it's like we're saying that we know how special that is. And definitely, if you're going to an older, grander venue like an opera house, it would just feel out of place to sit on a gilded seat in jeans! They originally built those grand staircases to show off gentlemen in tailcoats and ladies in ball gowns, so why should we ruin the architects vision? ;)

[mandie_rw]

Exactly! :D