Tessa commissioned me to create two outfits for her daughters to wear for their baptism day, I designed a mini-me christening dress and romper suitable to their ages. Tessa wanted me to use the fabric and styling details from her own wedding dress. This is a traditional use for a wedding dress after the big day and a really lovely way to make christening gowns very personal, as well as being environmentally friendly with the up-cycling of materials!
The original wedding dress
Tessa’s wedding dress was ‘Bowbelles’ by Ian Stuart, a very beautiful taffeta dress with a crossover ruched bodice and full skirt. There was diamante detail at the neckline, a large bow, buttons and silver corded lace on the skirt which we incorporated as features into the children’s designs.
The dress before we began work
Original design sketches for the two outfits.
As the girls were different ages we wanted their designs to compliment each other but also be suitable to their needs. So we designed a traditional party dress for the older girl with a full skirt and using the cross over ruching and diamante detail of mum’s bodice. The baby’s outfit was actually a romper suit with removable overskirt which featured the silver lace in a side split like Tessa’s wedding dress. I also made her a bonnet trimmed with more of the silver corded lace. Both dresses had puffed sleeves, button backs and large bows so they echoed each other.
The baby’s romper suit design meant she was not hampered by the longer skirt and could crawl as she pleased once the ceremony was finished. We trimmed the bottom with more silver lace.
Final fitting pictures of the two outfits.
Making the Mini-me Christening dress and Romper
Cutting out the pieces for the baby’s romper and overskirt.
Creating the pattern and cutting out all the pieces for the larger dress.
The bonnet, embellished with scalloped silver lace edging from mum’s wedding dress.
The removable skirt on the romper attached with little buttons and easy to use elastic loops.
Details of the finished dress, back fastening with buttons and beaded diamante neckline.
The whole collection finished and ready for collection.
Romper suit with over skirt for the younger baby.
Details of the romper suit included silver lace applique to the breeches, sides and on her cute little bottom and we moved the ‘Something Blue’ button that had been sewn inside mum’s wedding dress to the knee cuff.
To see another example of a christening dress I have made using an Ian Stuart wedding dress head over to this blue and gold example. And this one in ivory taffeta was also made using her mother’s wedding dress
