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

Embroidered wedding dress by Felicity Westmacott: views of the back with peplum and contrast waterfall

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

Embroidered wedding dress by Felicity Westmacott: on my way to the church with my daddy and cutting the cake

Mini-me Christening gown in green silk and gold lace by Felicity WestmacottMini-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 detailMini-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 WestmacottMini-me Christening gown in green silk and gold lace by Felicity WestmacottPale 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

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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Destination Vegas. Rockabilly bride. Halloween vibes. 
Sounds like the perfect wedding.

Gorgeous goth Ellie got married in Las Vegas on Halloween. She wanted something alternative, retro and a little spooky. She realised she was never going to find that with an off-the-rack wedding dress. That's where I came in.

I designed and made her white and purple wedding dress with a wonderful blend of 1950’s and 90's shapes, modern styling and subtle Halloween Vixen detail. Harkening back to when Halloween was a little more stylish - perfect for this gothic bombshell. Below the boned bodice, I ruched and layered white satin over sumptuous shot black/purple taffeta and layers and layers of white net. The white satin was spangled all over with hand sewn crystals, ready to sparkle under the Vegas lights. 

My favourite detail? The hand beaded spider web made from Swarovski crystals. Spooky but subtle.
As a seamstress there are certain things that give me the ick. Usually they're pretty specific and unless you're also a dressmaker it might be something you're completely unaware of.

I've always had a ‘thing’ about language generally. I find it really interesting. I've noticed how strong a reaction I can have to people using language differently to what I’m used to. And when I notice that I often go on a bit of a deep dive to understand where that difference stems from. I think coming from a historical costuming background also means I love to know the history of things (and despite my instinctive language-conservative leanings, I do actively work on being accepting and open minded, trying celebrate the differences).

That said, please don’t say your dress has a trail!

Snails have trails - dresses have trains! 🐌
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