Retro fifties purple dress

A retro-style dress for a trip to retro Las Vegas.  The pattern I used is a modern version of a vintage Butterick pattern.

From the Stash:

• 4 yards purple cotton broadcloth
• 2.5 yards rayon bemberg lining
• horsehair braid
• bias hem tape

Bought:

• Purple zipper

I started with a muslin mock-up.  All grainlines were thread marked as I learned in Lynda Maynard's Garment Fitting Class (super awesome class, highly recommended, CCSF Fashion 16).  The large bust adjustment with a kimono sleeve was tricky, fortunately I found a tutorial from Texas A&M Extension that helped with that.  I ended up with a dart in the side seam that the original pattern does not have.

The bodice was faced with purple cotton and the skirt was lined with rayon bemberg lining.  The hem was faced with horsehair braid to help it poof, and bias hem facing.  I wore the dress with a full net petticoat and a one layer tricot petticoat.

In the club

And some pictures from the fantastic Neon Museum in Las Vegas.