Bias cut satin bridesmaids dress

bride and bridesmaids art deco wedding

I made a 1930’s style bias cut satin bridesmaid dress in soft peppermint satin for each of Katherine’s bridesmaids. I designed flattering criss-cross seaming, cowl necklines and an elegant necklace back detail.  The bridesmaid dresses I made perfectly complimented the dress I’d made for the bride and suited the age and figure of both grown-up and teen.

Official photography by Debs Ivelja

I also made Katherine’s wedding dress click here to see her dress entry.

mint green bespoke bias cut dress
cowl neck bridesmaid dress with sleeve
necklace back satin bridesmaids dresses

My design for a low back necklines reveal the girl’s beautiful shoulder bones, highlighted with the delicate necklace back detail.

What is bias-cut?

Bias-cut or ‘on-the-bias’ is a technical term for the orientation at which the panels for a dress are cut from the fabric. Instead of being cut out longways or cross-ways from the fabric roll, they are cut out dianonagally! This creates a unique drape when worn. Non-stretch fabric will gain an ability to stretch slightly around the figure when used on the bias. It was a popular way to cut dresses in the 1930’s era.

original design sketch by Felicity Westmacott bridesmaids dresses

Original design sketch for the bias cut satin bridesmaid dress

bride and bridesmaid in church wedding bias cut

Bias cut satin bridesmaid dress design for a teen

Designing a bias cut satin bridesmaids dress for a young teen is a careful balance of ensuring the child feels elegant and grown-up while keeping everything age appropriate. I made sure the front neckline was modest and everything was cut to ensure her underwear choices could be accommodated.

pastel green satin teen bridesmaid
dancing bridesmaids plus size slim fit
bride and bridesmaids dancing train hookup

Each bias cut satin bridesmaids dress came with an unusual side ‘hook-up’, requested by the bride. This meant the length could be pulled up and out of the way for dancing later in the day.

To find out more about ordering your own bespoke bridesmaids dresses you can head over to the following useful information pages

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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! 🐌
I found this sheet music in my house, and I was so surprised by what it was 🎹🎵

There’s a music stand in my childhood home, and when I was having a look, I found this: “Three Songs composed by Ethel M. Lightfoot”. And my curiosity was peaked. So I sat down at the piano.

When it comes to reading music, I can play piano and sing a little. Nothing outstanding but enough that I could put the music in front of me and have a go at playing it. And I was surprised to discover that I found it was really easy to sightread and sing. Ethel liked the same key signatures, melodies and intervals as me. The things I wrote in my teens (usually quite a bit more angsty) were really similar in terms of structure. Her themes were different, of course, like “Cradle Song”, where a mother sings to her child about their father being away at war.

Ethel, as it turns out, is my great grandmother. Ethel was a musician, and it was so wonderful to find some of her published work, play it and somehow feel connected to her through our similarities. Somewhere in my blood is Ethel’s love for music, and it was so special to find her sheet music flowing so easily from my fingertips.

I love learning about history generally, but there’s something extra special about learning about your own personal history 💜

Is there something from your family history that you’re particularly proud of?
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