After years of liking the idea of having one, lots of research, hard work paying off most of our responsibilities first, and saving enough of our tax return this time, Mike was able to get me a dress form!
Meet Louise.
Theo was a great help putting her together.
I chose to order from TheShopCompany.com, because they had everything I wanted in a dress form and excellent reviews. I also went back and forth about getting the one with the collapsible shoulders or the one with the skirt-length cage. I even asked for advise on IG.
Then, after having to wait a few more months than I thought, Mike graciously said that “if we’re going to do this, we’re going to do it right,” so he let me get the one with both!
I measured myself extensively and settled on the size 8 because it matched most of my structural measurements. My waist and hips are just slightly bigger, but I don’t think I’ll pad it because I know my measurements and they actually keep changing as I continue to get in shape, so I felt it was better to buy a size based on my bone structure, which won’t change. And it turned out to be a good decision because my burgundy lace dress (above), the most fitted thing I’ve sewn, fits the form perfectly (with about an inch of room in the waist).
I named her Lousie because, when I was a little girl, my mom used to call me “Sarah Louise.”
And now she is not only so incredibly helpful for fitting, but I also think she wears my “hero costume” well.
I am very blessed to have a husband who understands and supports my sewing, and I am so excited to use Louise from here on out for everything (except pants, of course!).
