Miscellenia
Published on May 1, 2011

A couple for Kate

written by The Dreamstress

In the last wedding post of my bridal binge, here are a couple more designs for dresses that Kate might have worn (had she more interesting taste and a historical inclination).

First, a sophisticated art deco inspired design from Lauren of Wearing History (don’t you love the lines over the hips?)

And then, my design, inspired by the 1799 wedding dress I loved so much, Princess Charlotte’s 1795 wedding dress, Queen Victoria’s 1840 wedding dress,  and Queen Elizabeth’s 1947 wedding dress.  With a tiny nod to Grace Kelly’s dress for good measure.

And the back and under-dress:

15 Comments

  1. MrsC says

    Both gorgeous designs! Love them both. Not enough big skirt for a royal wedding, which does limit the options, but rally, given how few of those there are, who cares! I want to see these made up. Any takers to get wed in them so our clever sewphists can make them real? 🙂

  2. Hana - Marmota says

    I want to see them made up, too. All of them… They don’t necessarily have to be wedding dresses, do they?

  3. LauraP says

    I can definitely see the top design in jewel tones as an evening dress. The bottom one, I’d do in soft pastels. I love the coat-plus-underdress layering.

  4. Elise says

    You know, I agree with the others, that your (beautiful) dresses are wonderful ideas for gala dresses! I love the ruffles in the first one, and I suppose that my body is built for that. I love the second one, too, and wish so much I could look as beautiful in empire-waist dresses as others. Thank you for sharing!

  5. Madame Ornata says

    Oh yes it would be lovely to see all these gorgeous designs made up!

  6. Lauren says

    Thanks so much for posting my sketch 🙂 Whenever I have the budget for a bit of new fabric I’m going to try to make it up and make up an excuse to wear it 🙂
    I just love your design! You referenced so many wonderful historical dresses, but it still looks unique and new! I agree with the others- I’d love to see you make it up!

    • The Dreamstress says

      Well, I REALLY want that 1799 wedding dress, so I might adapt my design to make it just a tad more historically accurate and then make at least the robe. Not so sure about the underdress though…not least of all because of the difficulty in getting silk tulle.

  7. Carolyn says

    Hee hee, that’s funny – I was just looking at a picture of the Elizabeth Hawes dress (titled “Diamond Horseshoe) the top sketch references with the style lines over the hips. It’s at the Met:

    I’ve been staring at it longingly for some time now thinking about the 5+ yds of ivory 4-ply silk crepe I’ve had hanging around for about 10 yrs now. I’m seriously thinking of knocking this off for my next Garrison Ball dress, but I think I’ll get it dyed, maybe blue….or RED!

  8. Carolyn says

    Humph, that link doesn’t seem to have worked. Let me try again. (front view)

    if this works, go to the alternate views and it shows the back.

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