Thursday, April 21, 2011

My 1932 gown...

I am super, super excited about this latest sewing project for the television theme over at the Sew Weekly.  I knew right away that I wanted to make an outfit inspired by my absolute favorite TV show--Firefly.  Firefly is what is called a Space Western--part Sci Fi, part Western.  It aired in 2002 for 10 of 14 episodes but was cancelled.  Due to the huge fan outcry because of the canceling of the show, a movie with the same characters was made called 'Serenity'. The TV show has almost reached cult status because there is still a huge fan following and the DVD sales of the show are still going strong.

David and I are big fans, we are part of the 'Edinburgh Browncoats' fanclub (there are similar fanclubs around the world).  The TV show is fantastic.  It features an amazing ensemble cast and you really feel connected to all the characters. Definitely check it out if you haven't already!  I believe the Science Channel has been airing the episodes since March.

My outfit inspiration came from one of the characters named Inara Serra.  She's always very regally dressed. Here are a few photos:

I decided to use the Vintage Fashion Library's reproduction pattern of the 1932 DuBarry 1082B pattern:
Isn't it dreamy?  I absolutely love the shape of the back and the lines of the dress!!  The character, Inara, dresses quite a bit in lovely shades of red and gold and uses Chinese and Indian print fabric and I thought that would be perfect for this gown.  I found this amazing medium-weight Chinese silk at Edinburgh Fabrics and knew it would be a match made in heaven:
I love this fabric. It's a dream to sew with and I love the different colors reflected within the fabric itself.  I used a gold crepe back satin for the border of the bodice.

I am quite happy with how it turned out:

I made a belt to match and found an amazing belt buckle (at the last moment) on Etsy from UK seller jemimajay on Etsy that I think goes perfectly with the fabric:

David took some photos of me wearing the dress at St. Mary's Cathedral, which is apparently the largest ecclesiastical building in Scotland the only place that still maintains the daily choral tradition!

 The building is beautiful! Check out the doors:

And of course, the back of the dress is my absolute favorite part:

This dress is pretty easy to put together! The bodice front actually reminds me a bit of the 1934 Wearing History gown I made for Valentine's Day.  Both patterns have a gathered front bodice.  The instructions for the border of the bodice have you sew it on the inside and then slipstitch to the outside (almost like the opposite of facing)!
There is no interfacing at all in the border and it stays put fairly well.  You'll notice the pattern cover shows the dress with two dress clips--which would also look fantastic.

I'm going to try and make this pattern up as a blouse as well for the 1932 spot in my Sewing through the Decades Challenge goal and see how it works.  I think for the blouse version I might use interfacing in the back 'v' section because I plan to use crepe back satin for both the main body of the blouse and for the contrast material.  Don't you think it would look cute as a tuck-in blouse?  I'll let you know how I get on with that!


It has been unseasonably warm in Scotland--the weather was actually perfect for wearing this dress outside.  I'm planning to wear it tomorrow for David's birthday!  We were thinking of revisiting the place we went on Valentine's day :)

The flowers are all in bloom and Edinburgh looks so lovely! Check out this amazing photo David took of the flowers:

And this amazing photo of the church:
And I just have to share this last photo so that you can see how sunny it was in Edinburgh! This is a photo from the Prince's Street Gardens with the fountain and the castle in the background--one of my absolute favorite views in the city!
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40 comments

  1. Those colors are really wonderful on your skin, Debi!

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  2. You look so gorgeous..........Love the fabric

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  3. Holy gorgeous dress!!!Wow!!Applause!! Dress Envy!!!

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  4. Love Firefly! Beautiful dress!

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  5. OMG!!! I would never have guessed you like Firefly!! I'm absolutely gobsmacked. Wow. I think my favourite character is Jayne, he's just too adorable! lol My favourite Jayne moment is when he gets the package from his mum :) I now get my Adam Baldwin fix from Chuck :)
    That dress is gorgeous! I love how elegant and graceful Inara is, I think your dress really captures that. I have dress envy too! :)
    Ashley x

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  6. Beautiful pictures! Beautiful Dress! Love the belt too!

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  7. i gasped when i saw this. stunning. now you REALLY have to do it up birthday wise to give the dress its due! (oh yes, and y'now, to celebrate david's birth. that's important.)

    firefly, you say? i went scifi with this one too...

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  8. Gorgeous gorgeous. Of course, you would find your perfect brocade at Edinburgh Fabrics - they completely saved my bacon when I needed to make a beret to 'match' the brocade suit I made for my daughter's wedding from a couple of years ago. Just an amazing place. Aladdin's cave.We're going to go to Scotland in July, but this time we will be in Glasgow, so no trip to Edinburgh Fabrics, I'm afraid.

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  9. Fabulous, even with Edinburgh Castle in the background all i can see is the frock!

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  10. Gulp, totally gorgeous, you look ravishing.

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  11. OMG- Love firefly, love the dress totally something Inara would wear!
    Great job!

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  12. Oh my gosh! I was not ready for this. You are a ravishing beauty. You look like a star.

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  13. What a dream! You are so talented Debi. People are going to think you are some kind of celebrity if you go out in public dressed like that. Have fun for David's birthday :)

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  14. what a stunning dress! absolute perfection! and you always have the most beautiful backgrounds

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  15. Oh Debi, this dress is truly exquisite and you look amazing in it.

    Love,
    Elise

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  16. What a lovely gown! Don't you love it when sewing serendipity happens and you find just the right bits to go with your project? Lovely.

    As usual, I feel like I might keel over and die in a puddle of green green envy when I look at your shots of the city. It's so pretty in spring! Does it compensate for the cold hard winter?

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  17. gorgeous dress!! :)

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  18. Oh me oh my, what a sensational dress!! Wonderful!! The photos are beautiful and you look smashing!

    I can't believe how warm & sunny it is there! Last time I was there in summer, I was wearing wool jumpers and long trousers! LOL!

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  19. What a great pattern and you brought it to life perfectly! It suits you and the fabrics are gorgeous, well done! :0)

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  20. Beautiful! It's so nice to see this made up- it's a gorgeous pattern but I like it better in person :) Love those photos, too!

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  21. Debi that dress is totally swoon-able! The colour, the pattern ohhhhhh so lovely! Can't wait to see the next incarnation as a blouse too.
    Lovely

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  22. what a stunning dress! and an awesome show to pick! I have always admired Inara's outfits, so regal and beautiful - your dress has certainly done her justice!

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  23. A gorgeous dress, and totally in style with Inara! I was so sad when then canceled Firefly. But I've heard rumours about Nathan Fillion wanting to buy the show to continue it... Hope it's true!

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  24. Great dress, and I love your Edinburgh backdrop too :)

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  25. The dress is gorgeous! I love the last photo - it's my favourite view in Edinburgh too!

    xx Charlotte
    Tuppence Ha'penny Vintage

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  26. Beautiful dress. The fabric is amazing.

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  27. Absolutely stunning Debbi, you outdid yourself again!

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  28. That dress is gorgeous on you, and Edinburgh is looking beautiful and inviting!

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  29. You look fabulous!!! I had to post here also because this is just too good! Love it!

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  30. Firefly is one of those shows that I get sucked into even though I've already seen every episode at least four times. (Same goes for Buffy) Your dress is beautiful, and you look stunning in it. This may be my favorite dress yet!

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  31. Hello, first time poster :)
    That dress is amazing! I've been thinking about becoming a sew weekly challenger and for this week was considering making a skirt inspired by one river tam wears to dance in 'safe'... unfortunately exams ate my free time, but I digress!
    Inara has the most lovely wardrobe in scifi history and your dress looks beautiful!

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  32. What they all said!!! I echo it all. Wow.
    Also, I'm not familiar with the film or TV series but is that the same actress that played Anna in V?? (Which I did see and got a bit hooked on!)
    Px

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  33. Gorgeous!!! I just love the fabric you picked out (and the inspiration is pretty tops, imho! ;) I love Serenity, although oddly I've only seen a couple episodes of Firefly...). Plus you always have the most lovely settings for your pictures! :)

    ♥ Casey

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  34. what a neat fusion of east and west and 30s and modern. Great job!!

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  35. I love your photos, and your gown, and the city is on my list of places to visit in my lifetime. Breathtaking.

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  36. From one firefly fan to another, Your dress is amasing. I am sure Inara would be in awe. Absolutly gorgeous.

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  37. Hi, just found your blog today and stumbled upon this post. Gorgeous dress, gorgeous back drop and fabulous TV series! I started watching it a while after it was released and was gobsmacked that it was canceled! I had to buy it on DVD and was straight to the cinema when the movie was released! I would love the show to come back, but I was heartbroken at the loss of Wash and I think the series would seriously miss him! I couldn't chose a favourite character, they are all so strong!

    Right, I'm off to see if there is a Browncoat fan club in Nottingham!

    Love your blog by the way! :D

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  38. Cation DesignsJune 29, 2012 1:51 AM

    Aaaaah I just came here from your grad ball post, and of course you would like Firefly too! Excellent interpretation of Inara, and these pictures make me even more excited to visit!

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I read each and every comment--thank you so much!

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