LACMA Sacque – The Home Stretch (Maybe?)

I have been working on this gown on-and-off for, gosh, a year?  I’m ready for it to be done, but not willing to put in the effort to get it there, lol. Do you ever feel that way?

Basically, it’s the dress upon which I did everything wrong.

Everything.

Frankly I’m amazed that it even fits at all, or looks halfway decent. Let’s just ignore all those little sins. When the whole crazy everything is on – gown, flounces, hair, jewelry, shoes – it might just look pretty good.

So here’s where I am so far. I need to finish up the trimmings by next week, for a photo shoot. It’s a lot of handwork, but I am undaunted (even though I would much rather be working on the waistcoat, or, gosh, anything else)

Sleeve flounces – I just sewed the trim onto the pinked edges, which would have worked better if the fabric had been taffeta and not brocade, which is shreddy as all else. Fray-check to the rescue!

It really doesn’t look that bad…does it? I have two tiers of vintage lace for the mega-flounces at the elbows, and a goodly bit of lace around the neckline, over a proper chemise (and not a tank top), will fill in the neckline.  I’m not decided on the petticoat trims yet – the silver flounce proved difficult to find, and more expensive than I was comfortable with – so I’m thinking something more like this, though remaining fabric is precious:

from Costume Closeup – I also use this example, and the pattern, to “fix” the petticoat over the panniers.

I’ll reserve final judgement for when it’s all fully complete, but I’ll just whisper here and now, “gosh there are a hundred things I’ll do differently next time!”

13 Comments

  • Anonymous

    February 5, 2014 at 9:53 PM

    You sound like me whenever I get roadblocked halfway through a project! 🙂
    It looks rather impressive already, and once you get all the trimming done, any little imperfections (of which I see none anyway) will vanish. You can do it!

    Reply
    • Lauren Stowell

      February 6, 2014 at 12:19 AM

      Thank you! I think I need to re-name this one "The Sacque of Sin," lol, or "SinSacque." I suppose if I end up hating it, I can take it apart and make something better out of it 🙂

      Reply
  • Martha

    February 6, 2014 at 12:14 AM

    The dress looks great and always looks better fully decked out with all the goodies! I have found that it is better when I am pinking the edges to draw a fray check line and then pink. I love your blog. Thank you.

    Reply
  • Rachelle

    February 6, 2014 at 1:45 AM

    It makes me want to find the pattern pieces for my polonaise even more after seeing that. I have to find them cos there's no way I'm ruling up graph paper again!

    Reply
  • fixitfaerie

    February 6, 2014 at 3:10 AM

    You haven't seemed too pleased with this fabric from the get go. The front looks pretty and so do the sleeves. Also I like the back of the dress. It is probably just one of those dresses that may never please you, but, that is okay.

    Reply
    • Lauren Stowell

      February 6, 2014 at 3:20 AM

      Hehe, it's been fighting me all along. I like the fabric, and maybe will refashion something else from it when this thing is done and photographed. I'm holding out for the "suddenly I love it" moment…think it'll come?

      Reply
  • Mary

    February 6, 2014 at 7:17 AM

    We all know this type of loooong project that you don't even want to finish sometimes 😀 You dislike them as the time passes. But in this particular case, the dress is great! So much detail! So much work! It's already indredible! A shooting with the dress in situation would make, I'm sure, pretty pics anyway 🙂

    Reply
  • Augustintytär

    February 7, 2014 at 7:41 AM

    "I'm ready for it to be done, but not willing to put in the effort to get it there, lol. Do you ever feel that way?" Yes! All the time. 🙂

    It's beautiful! The metallic trim looks fabulous with the fabric!

    Reply
  • Kelly

    February 9, 2014 at 4:00 PM

    It's beautiful and I love the trim on the petticoat trim in the black and white picture I think you should definitely go that route.
    As an aside, I have ALWAYS wanted to make a sacque but have refrained because 1. I have no where to wear it (though this is becoming less and less of an issue, I think I'll just make up a place to where it) and 2. I could never find fabric I liked to make one. So I have to ask, no beg you all to tell me where you get your fabric from so I can finally give into temptation and make my sacque.

    Reply

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