A good six months ago, on a trip to Rathdowne Remnants, a chum goaded me into buying a remnant of silk organza in a print I’d been humming and hawing about for a dress to wear to an upcoming wedding. “Carn,” she said. “If you do it I’ll take you out for cocktails in it to test it out.” Can’t argue with that, so I snapped it up.
It’s 3 metres of buttery yellow with completely barmy Toulouse-Lautrec can-can dancers on it. Of course. But since then I’ve been a bit stumped about what to do with it that will a) show off those dancing ladies and b) best work with organza.
Organza is tricksy stuff. It’s very sheer and light, yet crisp, too. So it needs lining. And doesn’t drape. Hmmmm.
The oracgoogle showed me that these are the sorts of frocks that are made from organza.
Source, apparently here, eventually, but I can’t find it within the site
(I apologise, I saved last a while back and now can’t find where I pinched them from. No credits. Bad form.)
It’s an organza bonanza! Emerging themes are overskirts, fine pleats and sheer showcasing. BUT there’s a nightmare side to organza I’m sparing you from… the bridal frou-frou, fluffy, frilly, Catholic-child-confirmation horrors. Not me at all.
Question: can I pull off this daring exploit? I’ve been trawling patterns for a while but I’m a bit stumped. I thought about modifying Simplicity 2250 to dump the spaghetti strap idea, and just use the bodice:
…but I’ve since seen some versions made up and unless it’s done in that tiny thin striped fabric, the bodice pleats can look a bit clunky. Maybe nice crisp organza would be OK. I WILL need a full skirt for wild drunken wedding attendee dancing.
What do you reckon, internets? Got any ideas? I’ve got about a month until I’ve got to have the frock finished…well, sooner, if I take up the generous cocktail test offer.
That green dress is amazing!! I think that Simplicity pattern could work – You wouldn’t want anything too crazy fighting with the print of the fabric. 😀
All those dresses are so tempting. Love the ideas for silk organza.
Those are all lovely- I think your Simplicity choice would be great. I think that fabric is totally drooly!