Commencement Dress: The Design

This month a chapter that seemed like it would never close, turned over its final page. After two and a half years of long nights writing papers, sewing french seams and hand-beading at 2 o'clock in the morning, studying countless inspiring designers, having the privilege of being taught by dedicated, and talented professors that open up your mind to new ideas as a whole world blossoms before you with endless possibility for creativity and artistry-- these years filled with moments of sheer exhaustion when I felt I couldn't work one more hour, but somehow managed to get through...and moments of inspiration when I did not want to stop creating. It was two and half years of getting to learn what I love, designing. But, goodness, did it try me so much more than I could have imagined, and how wonderful it is to say I've graduated.

{All inspiration photos found on Pinterest}

 

Since, it is the close of a season in my life, and a moment I have been dreaming and working towards, I wanted to have a special dress to wear for the occasion. I've seen in several old films, from the 30s and 40s, that women would wear white or ivory for their graduation, and perhaps it is the old-fashioned in me (or it could just be my obsession with white), that I really wanted to incorporate that tradition in my design.  Above are some of my inspiration photos, but the one I was most drawn to was the 1930s vintage pattern, with the sweet collar, and illusion neckline.  Because of that I really wanted to have elements that were taken from that time period.  

Initially, I planned on drafting my own pattern, but life rather got in the way, and I knew that I wouldn't have the time, so after sifting through my boxes of patterns (and realizing I might have a bit of a problem with pattern hoarding-- but that's for another day), sketching up several designs, and going back and forth between them, I finally decided on the one sketched below, since it seemed best suited to the chiffon fabric I planned on using.  I did not realize then, how much it resembled the 1930s pattern in my original inspiration. I guess those details really stuck with me.

At first I wanted the sheer element to be lace, but couldn't find anything that I liked, so I went with a silky chiffon that was an ivory with a bit of pink undertone, with the plan to add some lace around the sweetheart neckline of the under-bodice. The design has a six gored skirt, which closes at the side seam with an invisible zipper. 
However, like most projects, there were a few detours that came along, but I'll write more about the process in the next post.