As They Sew In France
By John Richardson
Consultations Welcomed!
Contact John:
(678) 596-4019
Bridal Gowns
"1893 American Midwestern Bridal Ensemble"
We present here a splendid silk satin and damask elegant "leg-o-mutton" wedding dress of splendid proportions and lovely tailoring.
Contact Designer John Richardson
today for a complimentary consultation:
678-596-4019. letsicedance@aol.com
FRONT VIEW
BACK VIEW
FRONT VIEW
This dress is all it's simplicity is a great example of American late Victorian women's tailoring and dress construction. The original was created in 1893 by Marshall Field's in Chicago for a young lady named Franc Chaddock of Allegon, Michigan for her June wedding.
The bodice is bag lined in cream silk taffeta. The lovely sleeves are one and a half widths of the fabric, and are hand gathered in cartridge pleats across the shoulders. Once shirred, the sleeve head is hand mounted into the arm's eye, with splendid results and appearance. The collar is shirred into a pair of butterfly wing flairs at the back, fastened with tiny hooks and eyes. The lovely front belt is hand tucked and hand mounted to the finished bodice spreading in the back to create a faux waistcoat, and a lovely trim detail for the congregation to see as the bride walks up the aisle.
The skirt is built from an 1893 dinner dress found again in the Janet Arnold Patterns of Fashion collection. We used this skirt because it is designed with a cathedral length train, with clever tailoring details on the hips and in the back to create the needed fullness. This choice delightfully matches the look and design of the original bridal dress, since there is no existing skirt pattern taken from it.
The overall look of this bridal gown is simple and extremely elegant and eye appealing.
"1907 EDWARDIAN WEDDING DRESS"
Requested by a bridal shop for a display in their show window, this gown was inspired by the very grand 1907 celedon green damask dinner and ball dress created for Mrs. Peter Burns.
Contact Designer John Richardson
today for a complimentary consultation:
678-596-4019. letsicedance@aol.com
We managed to duplicate the Burns gown quite nicely using a white damask with an overall pattern of butterflies, perfect for a spring or summer wedding.
The additional features with this bridal ensemble for the bodice are swags of crystal beads on the front of the bertha, and on the sleeve hems. The glittering movement caused by reflected light creates a delightful aura around the bride as she walks or dances. The belt is a traditional Edwardian curved and sculpted shape with self pleating silk matte finish satin overlay.
The skirt is the basic seven gore ball gown skirt, with the enhanced train of embroidered sheer in white, draped in two layers. The underskirt of white taffeta with an 18 inch hem flounce is mounted to it's own waist band.
A jeweled tiara of floral designs and shapes would be splendid with this gown. The same embroidered sheer, or an embroidered netting would make a lovely veil for the bride choosing this gown for her wedding. Even with the light hearted choice of fabric for this wedding dress this is a fairly severe and formal selection best used for an evening wedding.