We have a hat!!!

We have a hat! I'm a little behind in my blogging what with life and all! But we have a hat for the wedding. And I didn't have to make it!

While in Berkeley last weekend Meghan and I went to the Berkeley Hat Shop on Telegraph and I found The One!!

Details below on Berkeley Hat Company. They are this little hole in the wall place in Berkeley that you have to look for to find. They carry all kinds of hats, from funky hipster hats to Kentucky Derby hats and everything in between. Not the most organized shop and you have to dig for stuff, but a great place to kick around. Street parking only and no extra charge for the drunks and druggies hanging out on the corner!

Address-Phone: Berkeley Hat Company, 2510 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley CA 94704 -- Tel. (510) 962-4428
http://www.berkeleyhat.com

Berkeley Hat Company

As you can see from the pictures it is a cross between a hat and a fascinator. I didn't really want the "church lady" look and a small fascinator didn't really work for me (and I couldn't find one I liked). Meghan and I came across this beauty! It has a real 1950's look to it, which works because the dress is from a vintage reproduction 1951 pattern!

Now I know, it's not gray! Well, there was no gray to be had. Anywhere. So since this one fit the style I was looking for, I went with it. It also gives me the option to carry a beige handbag and that means that I don't have to shop for a bag!

So excited since it was also only $60!!!  Seriously. I looked at some hats in shops and online and there was a price range from $100 up to $500. I just wasn't going to pay that. So this beauty was carried home with me!

Now you may ask yourself "how am I going to get that on the plane to go to Europe?"  Well I have the perfect solution! Meghan gave me a floral hatbox she had in her apartment and it worked perfectly on the plane. It was something she picked up at a yardsale for $2 to hold yarn or notions and she gave it to me to carry my hat some with me. The idea was that this would be a trial run for the June trip. Well, not only did it carry the hat without getting crushed. It set on the top of my handle of my luggage so wonderfully it will be no problem at all to take it with me. And my plan is to fold up my dress and place it under the hat so that I can carry the wedding outfit with me on the plane. Fits perfectly in the overhead compartment and I don't have to worry about what to wear in the off chance my luggage gets lost! Yay!

So with the hat purchase complete we are just about done for the wedding! I have the hat, gloves, shoes and handbag. The dress is basically done. I have sent away to have a custom belt and covered belt buckle done for the dress so stay tuned for that post soon!

A terrible picture of the hat in the car!

I was trying to be silly. It came off more stupid than silly!

Wow! Someone needs some makeup!

A great side view

Mother of the Bride dress: Take 2!

So here we go! I have been working on the dress a little here and there during the week in the evenings. I am lucky that right now I am not traveling for work (at least this week!) so I am making good use of the evenings to sew! I want to get as much done as possible in the hopes that I will be on a new project soon and will have to travel.

The main portion of the work that I have done is on the bodice of the dress. It is very fitted and a rather challenging pattern with the neckline and the draping. Luckily I have made up a muslin of this so that I was familiar with the instructions as well as and shortcuts that I may have found.

One of the decisions that I needed to make was how to finish the seams. Since I am underlining the dress, and not simply lining it, I needed a way to cleanly finish the seams. The silk ravels quite a bit and I really wanted a nice, clean finish on the inside. Not only does it make the wearer of the garment feel good, it does extend the life of the garment.

So I decided on a Hong Kong finish on the seams. This is basically when you enclose the seam allowance in bias binding on either side, so that it completely finishes off the seam. It gives a rather nice look and doesn't add bulk to the seams. Vogue Sewing details it out below:

Hong Kong finish

How the finished seams look

I added the finish to the darts as well

The back seam of the skirt, with the Hong Kong finish

 I found that the extra time taken to use this finish really pays off. You have a garment that is as beautiful outside as it is inside! And no extra "threads" hanging around!.

The finished bodice is shown below. I have added all the draping and finished the seams and darts inside. It is hard to tell from the dress form, but it looks lovely on the body! The draping on the lower bodice will extend into a draped panel from the waist of the skirt and will fall down to the hemline. Because my dress form is so much smaller than the "real me" is now, it really is hard to judge the outcome. But the lovely silk fabric has worked up so nice and I am excited to get moving along!

The final bodice, with the draping attached

 Stay tuned for further dress making adventures! Only 8 weeks to the wedding and I still have to finish this dress, work on a gray casual skirt I am making for the trip, find gloves and shoes for the wedding. And then decided on either purchasing a hat or making one. Arghhh!!!

Mother of the Bride dress: Is this the one??

So here we go, the year 2013! As you all know I am going to make my mother of the bride dress for the June wedding of my daughter. There was much talk about me making her gown, but the last time I was visiting in California she found the dress of her dreams. It was a gorgeous strapless gown from a Columbian designer and was an allover embroidery over tulle style. Now, as much as I wanted to make her gown, I understood my limitations and that I could not duplicate this gown. So she decided to purchase her gown instead of having me make it. I was not upset at all because when you find the "one" gown that blows your mind, that takes over. It's her day and she should have what she wants. And she looked stunning in it!!

Now, getting back to my dress. I have been going back and forth for several months about the style of my dress. Meghan gave me no restrictions, it is all up to me. From what I hear of European weddings, they are big on the hat and gloves thing. I am so all over that! It appeals to my love of vintage and if I have a free pass to wear a fabulous hat and gloves in public, I'm there!

With that said you have to have a certain style dress to pull that look off, IMO. So I was thinking a vintage styled type dress, with some modern touches. I also didn't want a strapless dress or anything that really shows my arms. Don't want to scare the relatives!  Also, although I am working on losing weight I am still a bit chubby and want to have a style that is flattering.

So what to do? I think I may have the answer! The following is a vintage styled pattern (from 1951) that should fit the bill. I am concerned that I may be too big to pull it off, but it has the elegant style I was looking for and would look great with a fabulous hat and gloves! Not sure of the color yet (have to match those Dress Blues!!).

So: What do you think? Is this the "one"???