Orange wedding dress 1950’s with ivory sequin lace tea length

I made an orange wedding dress 1950’s style for Clare’s Florida wedding. She commissioned a flamboyant 1950’s style dress made in burnt orange satin and ivory chiffon with beaded lace and tulle.

Official wedding photographs by www.gingermidgett.com

The fitted and well boned bodice had a sweetheart neckline framed with straps that narrowed on the shoulder. The bodice was made in burnt orange satin layered with scrolling beaded lace. Pretty scalloped edging was used at the neckline and to highlight Clare’s waist. The back fastened with a lace-up back of wide ivory ribbon through loops over an orange modesty panel.

The skirt was made of two layers of gathered ivory tulle. I lined the skirt in orange satin so the colour just glints through. The same lace as used on the bodice cascades down, longer on one side than the other. Then a sparkling sequin tulle comes down longer still. I hand cut each layer of lace carefully around the design, giving a pretty edge that flows into the next layer. A layer of orange chiffon backs the sequin tulle to give another lift to the colour theme.

I also made Clare a simple ivory chiffon stole.

Details from the fittings

Detail of the back fastening with ivory loops for the lacing on the bodice and a concealed zip in the skirt

Detail of the beaded lace with a delicate scrolling floral pattern. Here you can see the sequin tulle and the pretty scalloped edging used for neckline and waist.

The finished dress all steamed and ready to travel to Florida!

Final Fitting Pictures of the orange wedding dress 1950’s

Making Clare’s Dress

Above, the original design sketch for the dress. Below, Clare in the ‘toile’ or practice run in cheap fabrics before the real fabrics are cut and made-up.

To see another orange wedding dress 1950’s I made head over to Rebecca’s bespoke dress

I love making for brides for all body types. I have had particular compliments when making for my plus size brides

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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! 🐌
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