Its been almost a month since my initial meeting with Nardos where we sketched out two ideas I came up with for a black tie event I have during the Holiday season. I shared my inspiration and we settled on a design for my custom dress – a form fitting black velvet dress with a square neckline and nipped in waist. Fast forward to now, the next stage in the custom dress process is to make the muslin – a copy of the exact dress you want, but in a much less expensive cotton fabric so you can cut, pin, and make all the adjustments you need before working with the much more expensive velvet.
Below is how the dress looked straight off the hanger {it’s loosely pinned in the back by Nardos’ sweet assistant, Delayna} and I’m waiting for Nardos to come in a fit the dress.
I knew right away I wanted to cut the neckline to my lower. I want it to skim the top of the bosom and then be lined with the soft scalloped lace. Nardos got out her big scissors and started cutting, ripping and pinning – she works fast!
She also cut down the back a little and fitted it more to my figure – isn’t this so cool? I feel like we’re really starting to get a feel for what the dress will look like!
Lastly, she fitted the fabric around my arms, and pulled the corset they put on me up to get an idea for what the lace would look like {it will still be different from this, but cool to get an idea!} We are debating about a 3/4 length sleeve or a long sleeve – what do y’all think?
The muslin will be corrected and then used to cut the actual fabric for my next appointment {in a few weeks!} The next time I try on, the dress will be 80% complete – No zipper, no hem, and minimal pinning, but all in all, the structure of the dress will be the same. So exciting!We are getting so close to the finish line now, and I can’t wait to share with you all that next step!
For more information on working with Nardos and her team, click here! And to read about the first step in the custom dress designing process, read my last blog post!