Artanis
This is the first
(and only) real gown I've done. I made it to wear at the Gathering of the
Fellowship in December 2003, finishing a few days the convention. Many hours
were spent in front of the TV trying to get all the beading trim done! The
dress is made of a cream-coloured sheer embroidered with butterflies. It has
floral embroidered white sleeve lining and skirt godets. Because the main
fabric was pretty see-through, it is lined with a cream coloured faux silk.
Trim is of a metallic silver braid and silver seed beads, all stitched on
by hand. The dress laces up the back. It is very fitted in the top, flaring
out from the waist to a full skirt with train.
The braid and
bead trim goes all the way around the sleeve edges and the neckline. Gold-coloured
eyelets and cream ribbon fasten the dress up the back, from lower hip to neckline.
When the dress
is laced up tightly, the approximate measurements are chest 32", waist 25",
though the laces can be loosened to give an inch or two of flexibility in
the measurements. From waist to floor in the front it is about 43" (longer
in the back because of the train), which is just long enough to almost touch
the floor when a person my height (5'9") is wearing flat slippers. A shorter
person would have to wear heels or have it hemmed up. A word of warning though:
this dress is NOT for overly modest wearers! I cut it very low in the front
to wear with a certain necklace, and the sheer fabric tends to show a lot
(look at the top pic- you can almost see my belly button).
The fabric is all polyester, and it is washable. The train gets filthy walking around a convention hotel all day. I wouldn't put it through the machine because I'd worry about all the beads, but I've washed it by hand and hung it to dry.
Price for this dress is $90 "as is". It's been worn at three conventions, gathered many compliments, and caused me to be on TV. It has a few faint dirt stains on the train (it's impossible to get them all out), but they're all on the inside. I have miraculously NOT spilled anything on the outside, even though I've eaten in it at all three conventions.
The fabric is all polyester, and it is washable. The train gets filthy walking around a convention hotel all day. I wouldn't put it through the machine because I'd worry about all the beads, but I've washed it by hand and hung it to dry.
Price for this dress is $90 "as is". It's been worn at three conventions, gathered many compliments, and caused me to be on TV. It has a few faint dirt stains on the train (it's impossible to get them all out), but they're all on the inside. I have miraculously NOT spilled anything on the outside, even though I've eaten in it at all three conventions.
Price for a new
reproduction of this dress would be $220, or $160 without all the hand beading
and trim. Prices do not include fabric cost.
Email me for more information.
Email me for more information.