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From the first time I saw Lodoss, I wanted to do this dress. It's just so simple but pretty! Senior banquet of my final year in vet school was the perfect opportunity to get multiple uses out of the dress, so I made it for that function, figuring I'd do the ears and wig later.
The dress is a Regency (Jane Austen) style dress. I completely free-drafted the pattern (I drew it myself, not based on any pre-made pattern) which was largely successful, though had some flaws and taught me a few things. I ended up making the shoulders too wide with too little support across the back. With the very full and heavy puff sleeves the shoulders kept falling off so I had to add a decorative chain across the back to keep them up. Fortunately, you can't see the back in the reference photo, so I could do whatever the heck I wanted! My other error was in the shape of the arm-holes. I made them come too far forward which meant the sleeves were very tight to the body (as in, I couldn't raise my arms very high). The dress was workable, but these were definite pattern drafting flaws. I'll know better next time. Satin also shows off every pucker imaginable. Sewing this dress, amongst other things has given me a new committment to quality of construction. There are various subtle construction points of this dress I'm not satisfied with (mostly puckers and pattern draft issues) that are object lessons for me, which I aim to learn as much as possible from.
The color of the fabric is a better match in person - the flash brings out the blue hues in the satin. The dress is made of lavender satin with a sheer overdress in the same hue. The neckline is a burgundy and gold brocade. Going down the free edge of the overdress in front are cut glass beads in a blood red (to match the neckline). I decided that while the decorations were not in the reference image, they could be there, just hidden. I wanted to give the dress some more punch, and not be quite so plain, so I decided to embellish. I also added a small amount of beadwork at the center bottom of the underdress. The hand beading took about 4 hours.
In order to get the fullness to the dress seen in the reference pic without making me look pregnant I used the sheer overdress. The satin underdress is fitted, but the sheer overdress has lots of pleats in the back to make it very floofy back there. The dress also has a small train in the back.
Finally, I also made the necklace to match the one in the reference photo. It doesn't exactly magically fling out behind me, but it's made of 3 strands with appropriate sized lavender and gold beads on it.
Right now I only have photos from the Senior Banquent (since that's the only place I've worn it as of yet) but when I wear it to an event with ears and wig I'll be sure to take more photos.
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