Rocketeer Dress Diary- Part 1

So, The Rocketeer Dress is nearly done, and I still need to post about it! Sorry! I've been so busy lately that I haven't had time to take oodles of pics and post step-by-steps about this one, but I promise I will soon. A few notes about making the dress:

The pattern I used is an out-of-print pattern from Vogue, a Badgley Mischka design that was the only current pattern I could find with the essential zig-zag bias-draped skirt I needed. The rest of the pattern was pretty close, but did need some alterations:

-The front had to get a center seam, and I eliminated the darts in order to add the two gathers for the "buttons". The gathers served the same function as the darts would have.

-The bustline was lowered from the pattern, and I curved it to give it a more sweetheart shape.

-I widened the straps.

-Zipper instead of the buttons up the side that the pattern shows.

It was unfortunate that the fabric I ordered, a 100" silk charmeuse, turned out to be a much lighter momee than I was expecting. It made the draping and sewing a lot harder, and the resulting dress does not have the body I was hoping for. It's also pretty sheer! I had to double the lining to make sure nothing could be seen that I didn't want seen! All in all, it's okay but not great, in my opinion. It still needs the side zipper and the hem and it makes me wish fervently that I could lose 20 pounds before the end of the month (shiny white silk! What was I thinking?!), but I'm glad to have the chance to finally make this dress.

I'll be posting a more detailed dress diary soon; stay tuned!