The story behind this lovely dress all started when I was shopping at Joann’s with Beth, trying to get our subtotal high enough to use a fantastic coupon. So after I had chosen fabric needed for my Etsy orders, I glanced down the specialty fabric aisle and saw this beautiful burgundy lace shot with silver threads, and a matching matte satin next to it. It immediately brought to mind Kate Middleton’s lace sheath dress, which I had saved in my inspiration folder a long time ago. So those went into my cart, I used my amazing coupon, and I bought fabric for myself for the first time in a long while.
When you have an inherited stash as large as mine, it’s hard to justify buying more, but this was totally worth it! I even had the exact shade of lining fabric in my stash, so that was just icing on the cake.
I used my TNT pattern Vogue 8766 for the skirt and sleeves, and Simplicity 1606 for the bodice. They were pretty easy to match up, I just moved the darts on the skirt to match the princess seams on the bodice. I liked the Simplicity pattern for this because it is an Amazing Fit version with variations for cup size, and it includes boning. I haven’t used that in awhile but it went well, though I did have to have my husband fit the bodice about a gajillion times to get just the right seam allowance on the sides. That would have been a good time to have a dress form! I took it in about 1.5″ at the bustline and only 3/4″ at the waist.
I actually didn’t even realize how closely it matched Duchess Kate’s dress until I looked at the photo again. In some pictures, hers even looks like it has a metallic sheen! Other than the keyhole in the back on mine and the high mock turtleneck on hers, they are strikingly the same!
I was also ecstatic when my husband let me get a few Christmas gifts early during Modcloth’s incredible Black Friday sale, and these velvet shoes were a match made in heaven with my dress.
The only thing I want to do is adjust the lace around the keyhole in the back, because it does gap just a bit. Otherwise, I think this is the fanciest dress I’ve ever made.
Here’s the sweetheart neckline and lace overlay. The lace had some stretch so it was very comfortable.
The dress was fully lined in fabric from my Grandma’s Stash (thanks Grandma!), in an exact shade of burgundy. I cut the satin underskirt a few inches shorter than the lace, and then the lining about 1/2″ more. The layers all lay together so well and it slips on like a breeze. Zipping it up requires some breath-holding, though!
I even added black ribbon hanger loops, just to make sure the insides were up to the same standard as the outside.
On a final note, I find myself on quite a red kick lately, so be ready for some more projects in that color!
