Just in case you’re interested, here are some details about the dress.
The pattern is Vintage Vogue 2903. The pattern is very easy to put together but doesn’t include a pattern for a petticoat or a lining, which I think is remiss. You need the petticoat to complete the line of the dress and frankly, I wouldn’t make an occasion dress like this without a lining, so I drafted my own by removing the pleat sections and the facings from the main pattern pieces. In my opinion the Big 4 patterns are really lazy about details like this and need to sort their act out. Just my opinion.
The fabric is a polyester duchesse satin from John Lewis (where else!). I was going to use silk duchesse from James Hare, but baulked at the cost for a dress I will only wear once. Oh, and this satin totally matches the colour of my engagement and eternity rings, so it was a no-brainer.
The dress is interlined with cotton lawn purchased from Fabric Imports Direct on eBay. I would definitely buy from them again.
I also used dress net to interline the dress. This and the lining (a simple poly lining) were both bought from my local sewing shop, The Buttonhole in Chorley.
If I were making this dress again I wouldn’t interline the sleeves as this adds a bit too much bulk for easing the sleeves into the bodice. I would also perhaps change the armhole to give myself a little more hugging room around the armsyce. But the restriction enabled me to be very ladylike for the day…most unusual!
Oh, and I wouldn’t scorch my dress two days before the wedding either! We weren’t sure whether it was a scorch or a smudge so the dress went to the cleaners, which accounts for slight puckering where the cotton lawn has slightly shrunk! Thankfully we could hide it in the side pleat.
I’m going with the adage that only God creates perfection!
But I do love this dress and when you compare it to the Pastel Outfit of Shame, it just goes to show what a difference careful fabric choices and taking your time over the construction makes.
The shoes are this season’s LK Bennett. The stockings are from Touchable….I would buy a size smaller next time.
The garter (you can see it in the wedding photos…I’m not doing an action shot!) is from Rigby and Peller, a gift from my extravagant and naughty friends Alice-who-isn’t-a-cat and Kelly (who has just the chicest bob ever!)
The pearls are vintage….they were my maternal grandmother’s.
The earrings were borrowed from Black Purl (she of the spectacular feathered hat)
The hat is John Lewis too, although everyone was amazed that it too wasn’t vintage.
Perdita says
Just spotted your wedding on the Love My Dress blog. Wow! That’s a fabulous make and a wonderful wedding. Kudos to you lady!
Paula casement says
Hi Yvonne, I love your dress and your hat, you look fab!! My daughter gets married in august and I’m having a dress made at silver lining Blackburn.really enjoyed your blog
Paula x
pendlestitches says
Thank you so very much for your lovely comments.
I hope you and your daughter have as lovely at time with her wedding as we did with ours. I’m sure you will. And good luck with the dress.
Evie
xx
Lynn B says
Wow this dress is gorgeous! I have just spent quite some time looking at your blog for the first time and I absolutely loved my visit here. Your wedding photos were gorgeous, I note you had your reception at Northcote Manor which is about 3 miles from where I live, I visit there for lunch quite a lot so I know it is a lovely place!
I was particularly enjoying reading about your adoption stories, how lucky they are to have such a talented Mother who makes their clothes and puts a lot of love and attention into everything!
I have just bought some sewing patterns and fabric today after a long break from sewing, but after seeing your blog I am certainly inspired to get my sewing machine out again!
I am sure I will visit again!
sam says
OMG! I love, love, love your dress, I have been looking for the same for ages, I love Grace Kelly in High Society, please tell me where did you get the pattern?
PendleStitches says
Thank you so much! The pattern is a Vingtage Vogue that’s still in print. The number is V2903. The fabric is a poly satin from John Lewis (I couldn’t get silk in the shade I wanted at a price I was willing to pay). I hope this helps and would love to see your version.
rutheh says
Enjoyed reading your post with all the details.
All the best to you. You look lovely and should be proud of your accomplishment. Classic and classy.
PendleStitches says
Thank you so very much.
bernieandi says
Wow. I adore the dress, you look gorgeous! I am not usually a wedding dress person but your look changes that! Fab hat too!
PendleStitches says
Thank you so much. I’m not really a wedding dress gal either. In fact I didn’t try on a single traditional gown, just went for it with this dress.
Marna says
That was the pattern for MY wedding dress! We did it in cream duchesse with mushroom duchesse for the trim and for the loads of frogging and I love it so very much. Congratulations, and you looked stunning.
PendleStitches says
Thank you so much. It’s a lovely, lovely dress, for sure.
Joan Hume says
Thank you for sharing this- my daughter will be married this May and I am drawn to vintage styles. This is elegant and such a beautiful color! Beautiful job. 🙂 I saw this pattern for the first time yesterday at a fabric store and knew it was the one I wanted. I really appreciate the advice you give for sewing it; it will come in handy, I’m sure.
Here in the States hats are almost never worn to weddings. Such a pity. I am some of my friends plan on changing that- with my daughter’s blessing! 😉
PendleStitches says
Thank you for your lovely comment. I have to say that this pattern spoke to me too. I didn’t even try on any other dresses! This was it and I am still so happy with it.
I’m glad that you’ll get to wear hats. There are so few events these days when you get to wear a decorative hat rather than one to keep your ears warm.
I do hope your daughter’s wedding is as joyous as ours. And I wish her and her new husband much happiness together.
Fiona says
Just beautiful. I’d be too scared to attempt to make my own wedding dress, frightened of every stitch!
That blue duchess was an absolutely gorgeous choice
PendleStitches says
I was terrified…and it’s far from perfect. But the colour is an exact match to my engagement and eternity rings. It had to be!