Nikita’s Prom Dress

Nikita prom dress title pic

I’m grinning like a Cheshire cat and welling up with pride as I sit poised to write this post. Meet Nikita, the sister of Jessica who was the lovely recipient of my first ever hand-made prom dress.

I knew there was another one on order, a year ago. After all you can’t make for one without the other can you?!

But what joy. What an absolutely pleasure to have another opportunity to make such a special dress. I’ve learned one hellofalot in this last year. Fitting mostly. This little beauty only took two fittings. I quite forget how many Jessica’s one took! I’ve learned not to be scared of cutting into the fabric. Learned how to be honest with measurements, how to be brave with fabric choices and mostly that I CAN make a dress befitting of a princess!

Nik modelling dress by the wooden door

Up until a few weeks ago, all Nikita’s dreams of her school leavers prom were wiped out when her school declared no funds for such frivolities, after all, this year. Everyone was gutted for her. Especially knowing how hard Nik has worked throughout her last school years… despite being asleep for most of them! Normal teenage behaviour you might assume but no, unfortunately for Nikita she suffers with narcolepsy. An awful condition which means she has to take very strong medication to keep awake. Lots of things trigger a collapse. Not least of all a fit of the giggles.

I reprimanded her dad recently, for his insistence on telling jokes one after the other but Nikita assured me it was fine because his jokes were so rubbish! She has the best S.O.H. ever!

It was such a relief when her school confirmed the prom would actually go ahead. But then a little panic set in when I realised I had a couple of weeks to pull off the dress.

Nikita wearing prom dress at Fulham PalaceI think by now you have the right to safely assume that Mr Ooobop, AKA the lovely Daniel Selway has been behind the creation of these blinding photos!

Helped by a scorching summer’s day and the beautiful setting of Fulham Palace, he has blown me away once again with his amazing self-taught skills.

Nikita wears ooobop prom dress at Fulham PalaceThe dress itself is fashioned from the same materials as Jessica’s, only in stronger colours. Red Duchesse Satin and Black polka dot tulle.

The halterneck bodice section is Simplicity 3825. Inspired by Nikita’s leaning towards a Marilyn-esque dress.

simplicity 3823 sewing pattern

I’ve had this pattern in my collection for some time and I’m so glad it came into good use.

I basted a layer of the dotted tulle over the bodice pieces and treated them as one for the outer pieces. Inside the bodice is self lined with the red satin. Its a good medium weight and gave the dress some necessary structure whilst not losing out to optimum swishy drape for the skirt.

Oh just look how divine her smile is!

By the fountain at Fulham Palace

The skirt is a full circle, of course. One can’t pose over street vents if the skirt doesn’t rise above one’s head! But actually a more demure pose was to be found next to a water fountain in the grounds of Fulham Palace!

Nikita sitting by the fountain in her prom dress

And lest I forget! There are the now signatory and obligatory 10 metres of soft-as-you-like dotted tulle that adorn said circle skirt. And no tears this time. I knew what to expect. I knew to pin section by section and I knew to baste… and to breathe!

walking barefoot in Fulham Palace gardens

walking away, barefoot

The back of the dress is genius in design. It has a wonderful elasticated panel which keeps the bodice fitted nice and snug with no gapes. I just love the effect that is created with the gathered netting over the liquid shiny satin.

back of prom dress bodice

 

ooobop prom dress in the parkI can honestly say that this dress is testament to everything I love about sewing. Not only about what I get out of the whole deal but what everyone else gets too. Nikita loved her dress and I feel so honoured to have made an original number for her. Mummy Tina was delighted to see her daughter have the best time in her new dress, Daddy Tim was very happy that I’d fulfilled the brief of a ‘modest’ dress and we are all so happy with Daniel’s outstanding photos.

Nikita will do well with whatever she choses to do. Of that I am sure. Nothing is going to hold this little lady back!

prom dress front

In the apple orchardAnd the talents didn’t stop there, oh no. Nikita’s lovely sister Jessica did such an amazing job of her make up for the prom and also today before the shoot. I’m so miffed I missed out on todays events. Slogging away in an icy office when I could have been out on location with the dream team in Fulham Palace!

Jessica doing Niks make up

So thank you girlies, for making a crazy sewing lady so happy and thank you Daniel for making my blog so pretty and thank you lovely readers for making it all worth it.

Portrait of Nikita

30 Replies to “Nikita’s Prom Dress”

  1. What an amazing collaboration between you all! I’m so glad that Nikita got a prom after all and that the dress was such a joy and privilege to make.

  2. Beautiful dress and a lovely story. It’s so nice to hear that both you and Nikita have gotten so much enjoyment from this make. Very inspiring!

  3. Beautiful work once again 🙂 I love your use of dotted tulle on both prom dresses. I’m now feeling inspired to go away and be creative with my vintage dress patterns xx

  4. Oooh that’s super! You’re lining yourself up for a prom dress business!
    I’m actually working on something in spot tulle and honestly believed it wouldn’t shirr well. You’ve happily proved me wrong!!

    1. Thanks sweets. Haha I’d be terrified! It isn’t shirred. It’s casings with elastic inside. Looks very much like shirring though and I thought it was when I saw the line drawing. 🙂

  5. I love it , …… am blown away with the back, what stunning detail, can visualize it as a front too.

  6. She looks wonderful, you did an absolutely beautiful job on the dress and I’m so glad the school came to it’s sense and allowed the dance to go on.

    1. Thank you for your lovely comments. I love how your blog name serves to remind me of a very important procedure! 🙂

  7. Oh how absolutely STUNNING and isn’t she just a beauty! Wonderful job, beautifully constructed and I LOVE LOVE LOVE that netting over the red – there is NO way in HELL she could have gotten a nicer, cooler or more generally awesome dress in the shops. You should be very proud and I’m sure she’s super stoked 🙂 Well done.

  8. I love how Daddy’s requirement is a modest dress! Hurrah for Dads. She is such a beauty…and so is your dress.

    1. Thank you PS. Dad’s requirements v teen’s requirements was a tough brief but I think I pulled it off!

  9. Oh what an absolutely gorgeous dress! You certainly did more justice to the pattern than the photos on the front of it…! I love that back too- so clever!

    1. Thank you Louise. The skirt is self drafted and the overlay gives it more oompf but I’d love to see it with a petticoat too!

  10. This is gorgeous! Making dresses for special occasions is so rewarding, even if they don’t get worn as much as other handmade clothes. I made my own grad dress this year, and although it was a lot of work, it was worth it!

    Great photos, too! She looked stunning.

    1. Thank you so much Shannon. And oh my, what a beautiful grad dress. Far classier than all the others! That colour is so lovely on you! Amazing job!

  11. You’re amazing! The dress is stunning as is my gorgeous daughter Nikita, and as for the photos they are out of this world.
    Next project ‘A wedding dress’ maybe for Jesse lol.

    Thank you so much

    1. Thank you lovely Tina. It was a privilege and an honour. Still terrified of making the most important dress! But you never know. Might have more confidence by then! 😉

  12. That is just the most lovely team effort from start to finish! You did a really beautiful job with the dress. She looks so happy, and your husbands photog skills are making me envious – we need him to run a course for partners-of-sewists! 😉 Brilliant and heartwarming. Love it.

  13. She looks absolutely stunning! The dress does too! I always find it much harder to fit clothes for other people since you don’t want to have them standing around in a muslin for too long…
    You did a great job!

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