Christening Gown for Baby R

It was a real joy for me to create this mini-me version of my own wedding dress for my baby daughter. I used the same green and gold silk, and the gold lace and recreated the fuchsia embroidery. I adjusted the style to suit her age but kept the main design features of the contrast waterfall, switched to the front so it would show on a baby in arms.

Official Pictures by Sebastian Lomas

The dress has a simple bodice with round neckline and gold lace overlay. Long sleeves have a little puff at the top and a gold silk extension, the Christening was on Advent Sunday in December! The waterfall cascades in alternate green and gold either side of the underskirt with hand embroidered fuchsias in Japanese silk thread. The back fastens with buttons and loops, just like my real dress did!

I had also made a mini-me version of my husbands wedding waistcoat for my son’s Christening a few years before, and luckily he still just about fitted in it for this occasion!

Mini-me Christening gown in green silk and gold lace by Felicity Westmacott
Mini-me Christening gown in green silk and gold lace by Felicity Westmacott
green and gold waterfall train wedding dress

Here are some picture of my wedding dress, you can click here to see the portfolio entry.

bride with father in highway man coat

Mini-me Christening gown in green silk and gold lace by Felicity Westmacott
Mini-me Christening gown in green silk and gold lace by Felicity Westmacott: hand embroidery detail

Details of the embroidery and button back.

Mini-me Christening gown in green silk and gold lace by Felicity Westmacott: button and loop back detail
Mini-me Christening gown in green silk and gold lace by Felicity Westmacott

I made the dress quite big on purpose as I hoped we would get a chance for her to wear it again! She was eight weeks old when she first wore it for her own Christening, and here she is again at 19 months. It was the perfect length and just about squeezed on around her middle and arms! Luckily she has always been on the small side, but it was lovely to pop her in the dress again for her cousin’s Christening ceremony.

Mini-me Christening gown in green silk and gold lace by Felicity Westmacott
Mini-me Christening gown in green silk and gold lace by Felicity Westmacott
Pale blue and green silk mini-me christening dresses by Felicity Westmacott

Here are me and my sister with our daughter’s, both wearing mini-me versions of our wedding dresses. You can click here to see more pictures of Baby A’s dress and here for Eleanor’s wedding dress.

Pale blue and green silk mini-me christening dresses by Felicity Westmacott

felicity westmacott wearing a hat

Felicity Westmacott

I write about all aspects of weddings, dressmaking, fashion history, and the human relation to clothing. I welcome comments and debate.

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This Bridgerton-inspired wedding dress is so versatile!

Of course, underneath everything there first needs to be the proper shapewear to give that Regency pillar silhouette, in the form of stays and a petticoat.
Then along comes this beautiful white and gold duchess satin dress.
And this is where the fun begins...

I created some many different accessories and options for this outfit:

You can add something deeply dramatic, with a period-accurate presentation train. This one is super long and gilded in gold lace.
Or you could go for some detachable puff sleeves, finished with an ornate pearl trim.
Then there's the bow, which can be added on top of the train, or just straight onto the dress, with the long sash-tends working as a sort of mini train.

And of course, the final, and most essential accessory for a look like this: fun, whimsy and a love for the dramatic. It also helps if you're obsessed with this current season of Bridgerton, of course...

Which Bridgerton character can you imagine wearing this bridal look?

If you think this might be the dress for you, it's currently for sale on my Etsy page (🔗 in bio) - it's heavily discounted compared to my usual bespoke orders, so claim her whilst you can!
If you're living in the UK, even a lower income means you're one of the wealthiest people on the planet. Even if you work full time on (the UK) minimum wage, you're in roughly the top 4% of global earners. I know, it definitely doesn't feel like it.

When we spend money on sites like Temu or Shein, that money doesn't go to the workers making the clothes. It goes to a handful of billionaire owners and they don't need more unearned money. 

But there are simple things you can do, if that feels like something that doesn't sit right with you. 

Choosing a local maker, a small business, or even a second-hand piece keeps money circulating in real communities, going directly to the person who made it. It means sometimes being more selective about what you buy. Like buy fewer clothes, for example, but choosing things that are better quality and more likely to last anyway.

When life feels so hectic and stressful, it's hard to give any thought to things like this, but every little thought that leads to action is a change that makes a difference.

What are some changes you've been making to try and combat this capitalist hellscape?

#rickandmorty #everythingsfine
The heat from this season of Bridgerton is really bringing to the forefront the beauty and chemistry of an older romance. 

There's something extra special about finding someone later on in life, as Lady Violet is showing us all. Someone who has lived a whole life before meeting you, who has their own baggage and their own wisdom. Combining all that with all your own experiences to make something truly profound.

It's always a joy to hear from older brides who have found their own Lord (or Lady) Marcus. So of course I had to celebrate all the gorgeous mature brides who have chosen me to help them look exactly the way they want to when their love stories took centre stage.

Are you watching Lady Violet's storyline? 💜

Photography:
Adventurous - @t.frost.photography
Vibrant - @lucysugdensmith⁠
Dramatic - @georginapiperphoto_
Unique - @smilingtigerstudiosuk
Stylish - @greggbrownphotography
Elegant - @christellephoto
Colourful - n/a
Romantic - @duncanireland
Beautiful - @duck_photo
emailme@felicitywestmacott.co.ukTEL 07762 543230TOUCHGet in
from design to completionbespoke wedding dressesFelicity Westmacott
Dorking, RH4 1RT241 High Street• Visit the Studio •
Dorking, RH4 1RT241 High Street• Visit the Studio •
emailme@felicitywestmacott.co.ukTEL 07762 543230TOUCHGet in