Pink Regency Evening Dress

Costumes > Pink Regency Evening Dress

First try at a Regency style evening dress. The ready-made ribbon and trim on the sheer hot pink fabric inspired me to create this dress as it was a very pretty fabric on the bolt. Because of the color and some of the stylings it reminded me of a muumuu as I was sewing it, especially before the belt and the cuff on the sleeves.

Dress Hot pink polyester Regency style dress with gathered sleeves and bodice. Empire waist with attached self fabric belt over grossgrain ribbon. Lining/underlining of cream/off white embossed polyester shows at hemline and under sleeve ruffles. Pink polyester satin lining in bodice. Zipper in lining, hook & eye on belt, lacing on grommet tape under back. Lei flowers sewn on with pearlized beading. Might have been better to sew the pink sheer as one dress and the lining as another and then use the pink as an overlay because both fabrics together made the gathers at the empire waistline bulky. Pattern is an amalgamation from Simplicity 9531, Janet Arnold's Patterns of Fashion 1 c. 1660-1860 p. 49, sleeve shape from Katherine Strand Holkeboer's Patterns for Theatrical Costumes p. 247.

Completed: May 2006